The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-01

hiStaNi't NNN 1850 1FNN
onr report yesterday Of the proceedings Of the Senate on
Tuesday on senator Johnsons resolutions SO mper
feet thatwe give full report Of the debate from yester
days Globe
WITHHOLDING or APPROPRIATIONS
Mr. JOHNSON desire to present d resolution Of in
qury in regard to abuse existing in my State the
sponsibity of which rests upon the departments here
tired Of running the department and asking the
sons for the delay which about bring to the notice
Of the Senate and wish bring the matter before
the Senate and 10 say that hereafter shall pursue the
same with them when they do not attend their
business. ! offer this resolution
eoped That the President requested the
be informed Of the OF the delays which have
during the years 1853 and 1854 in furnishing the
shall OF the western judicial district OF the state OF Arkansas
with the funds necessary deay the Of the district
the United States for the western Judicial district
Mr. President know that the funds referred to in this
resolution have been regularly appropriated from year
year In May, 1853 requsition made by the mar
shall for the deemed be necessary detray the
expenses OF the for the November of 1853 He
information of the necessary amount six months IN
advance but the funds furnished him by the
department until April 1854 Again reqnisition
forwarded about the 4th OF September i854 for the eX
penses of the last November TERM but he funds not
there yet
The laws require the marshals of the United States
make prompt reports to the department of their expend
lures but il is impossible that statements of their accounts
be returned here within the time prescribed by law If
the nbordnates of the department will not take such steps
necessary 10 have the funds at the proper place to
enable the marahas them deray the expenses OF
the Since have been member Of Congress, there
have been constant complaints from the officers Of these
courts in regard to the in which their monetary
affairs conducted by the suhordnates OF the depart
ments.
Sir as have said do not intend to make any
complaints at the departments in relation this matter
but desire to have inquiry made by the Senate 1t is
evident from the facts which have stated that there is
strange neglect outrageous ahuse and whoever
is responsible for 1t should be promptly dismissed by the
President do not know who is the cause Of it. and do
inquire for do not wish to make any personal assault
upon him. but the neglect not clearly and reasonably
explained, he ought unquestionably to be Immediately
dismissed from the public service whoever he may be-
The jurisdiction Of the district court Of the United
States for the western district Of Arkansas reaches beyond
the Limits of State TO the boundary OF New Mexico
The Jurors brought to the from distances Of be-
fifty and hundred miles and witnesses some
times have travel three hundred miles The witnesses
and jurors do not receive their fees in consequences OF the
funds not being there They however, receive certificates
of the which they entitled and they have
sell these certificates in the town where the court is held,
whatever discount may be required am assured that
poor people who have been summoned as witnesses or
jurors have actually been compelled to sleep out of doors
because they had not received the money to which they
entitled. They not able TO get the COM
accommodations Instances of that sort have been
known, and surely it is time that they were corrected
Neglect which leads such should be
/ ly reprimanded.
As have before stated application has been made for
the necessary funds six months in advance and estimates
furnished the department showing for what purposes
they would be needed but they not furnished until
months after the had adjourned. Neglect of this
outrageous that think the officer responsible
for it ought to be Immediately removed unless he can
satisfactorily explain the for the delay. ask for
the adoption of the resolution which have submitted
! Mr. GWIN. Mr. President | glad that this subject
has brought the notice of the Senate by the senator
from Arkansas but sorry that his resolution does
take wider range What he says in relation TO his
State in regard officer is true in regard to all
the branches Of the public service in my State Instead OF
promptly sending there the money which Congress appro-
PIRATES for expenditures the public works half the fiscal
year generally lost before the money reaches there and
/ then the such complicated form that IL is
difficult make the funds available at Sir there is
radical defeat in the system somewhere. It ought to be
cured by executive action by legislation wish the
senator had presented his resolution in such shape 10
authorize the Committee Finance to inquire how it hap
pens that when we have an overlooking treasury with
millions Of dollars appropriated for the public service, The
money does reach the place where Is to he expended
until half the fiscal year expires This is the in my
own State 1t is agreat evil and it ought TO he remeded
/ The PRESIDENT 1t requires unanimous consent TO
consider the resolution
| Mr. CASS. ] should like to hear it read.
/ The Secretary accordingly read il.
/ Mr. CASS / did not call for the reading Of the resou-
ton with any view stop the progress Of the inquiry but
wish to ask the honorable senator whether the money
has been drawn from the treasury
/ Mr. JOHNSON. / do not know how that is. | suppose
il has been drawn it would have reached the mar
shall.
Mr. CASS shall not oppose the resolution. | only
wish that is not well for us here to throw out mpu
tatious the executive officers There is great difficulty
in scattering money profusey all the country We
all know that there are proper guards explanations and
be an abuse hut does follow that there has been
any great neglect abuse because payments have been
DELAYED think that until the facts ascerained is
not 20 and make charges against ang body.
Mr. GWlN The honorable senator from Michigan
knows perfectly well that when appropriations are made
before marshal any other discussing officer get the
money acquisitions have be issued here but those requi-
stons get the officers and they cannot draw the
money There authority given to them 10 draw the
money be expended for the public service They not
permitted issue requsons but the money is drawn,
drafts from the Treasury Department
Mr. CASS No man knows that better than do.
know that in the first instance after appropriation is
made by Congress- money goes from the treasury with
rcqustion from the proper department. and then
warrant from the Secretary % the Treasury the Treas
nrer for the These certificates issued mere
~ on the authority Of the appropriation but in many
cases hedepartmen requires local information Whether
that has been received in this instance not do not know
With the cir Of this particular not ac-
quained. perfectly aware of the fact that money
lied TO he made by the disburng agents. but they cannot
be paid until the regular treasury process gone through
with.
| Mr. JOHNSON. know nothing about the local infor-
nation Of which the honorable speaks bot do
know that money has been appropriated by Congress de-
FRAY the expenses OF the United States know, in
the next place that it is customary for the ashals 70
make estimates Of what those expenses win BE- and how
much money they will require. They 70 furnish those
estimates to The department in time that themoney can
be transmitted the place where the court Is held az the
proper period Ii this case in 1883 estimates trans
mitted the departments six months before the meeting OF
the court and the money did arrive until months after
the court had met and adjourned also aware of the