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

doing So and hereafter propose TO make the inquiries
here wish announce also that unless some
Die justification for such conduct be offered in
opinion the officers guilty Of ought 70 be dismissed iom
the public service d. not however as the senator from
Michigan seemed TO imply wish 10 cast any imputatou
upon them now because do not know the reasons for
their conduct only know that the money has gone
there aud that the delay looks 10 most unreasonable
They may however be justhahe but not they should
be promptly dismissed ask for the information for the
benefit Of the Senate With view to future legislation Il
legislation shall lie deemed necessary and reason
why the resolution should not be adopted.
Mr. CASS shan, o. course, vote for the resolution as
Il Is resolution Of inquiry but in addition 70 what have
already stated wish say hat something often depends
the state Of the accounts o the discussing ohcer THESE
may sometimes be in such condition that the Treasury
Department will not remit him any money until bis ac-
counts be settled Delay often arises from that state Of
things mention this as one Of the incidental matters
connected with the subject know nothing at oil about
the circumstances Of this but IL does not follow OF
course, because the money not instantly RENTED
that there was any fault here that is all have 10 say
Mr. WELLER Mr. President, in my Judgment this is a
proper subject Of inquiry for the legislative department Of
the government We have undertaken 10 make certain
appropriations Of the public money. We alone have tbs
power 10 decide whether money ought To be appropriated
for the public service Ii is the duty, rs understand Of
the executive department to proceed to expend the money
which we appropriate the manner in which it is directed
By lhe legislative branch Of the government Now sir
have occurred during the past year where Congress
made large and liberal appropriations Of public money ioi
works of improvement IN my own State where the agents
of the executive department here utterly failed until more
than half the fiscal year elapsed 10 provide any portion Of
the money thus appropriated
During the last session OF Congress upwards OF S20000t
appropriated for the Indian department in California
but amendment inserted on that appropriation
which required that the existing superintendent should set
tie all bis with the department before any portion
OF that appropriation should be placed in his hands The
President of the United States knowing shat IL utter
y impossible for that superintendent TO close his accounts
within the year. compelled TO him out and TO a
point another his place The from the tate
compelled ucquesce in this, because satisfied
that the interest of the Indian department in State
Tired the 100000 should be expended wi thin the
year We knew the condition OF the Indians; knew
that only nconv but great suffering and hard
ship would in the event of the money not being
pended Not single dollar of that money reached the
State Of California until the very last month OF the year
The superintendent OF Indian affairs compelled to Dor
row money, upon his credit to carry the opera
tons Of his department after the legislative branch of the
| government had made ample appropriation.
Sir, somebody is blame for this and when find an
executive officer derelic in his duty have independence
enough TO say IT. and care not on whom the blame may
eventually attach. / will give another instance. An ap
preparation of upwards Of 100000 made last fol-
navy-yard in California, tut no portion of that ap
preparation reached the agent charged with the expend
ture until the last month OF the yeathe month OF De
cember call the attention of senators TO this fact that
Notwithstanding appropriate the public money time
after time the executive branch of the government, by
failure have it transmitted the proper period, have in
hicted rreparable injury upon some sections of this
country.
/ The resolution agreed to-