Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-15
Leaving an excess of collections
nyar .y no m diiufas IF G.

| Leaving excess of collections
over expenditures of......... S70,S22 90
which has been carried to the surplus fund.
From this it will be seen that nothing was,
in fact, drawn from the treasury during the last
two fiscal years, on account Of the pensions ad-
milted under these acts; but that all those pen
| sions including the commissions of the pension
agents, and the Incidental expenses of the sew.
eral agencies, amounting in all to Sl86. 309 05,
we're satisfied out Of the collections made as
before shown besides which the sum Of $780,
| S22 %, not wanted for immediate use, was paid
back into the treasury.
In view of these facts and to guard against
a recurrence Of similar state of things, it is
respectfully suggested that Congress be re-
quested to repeal the appropriating clause in
the acts alluded to, so as to render it necessary
hereafter to rely upon annual appropriations
for the means of executing them, as in other
cases.
The accounts of the pension agents are at
present adjusted by the Third and Fourth Aud.
itors; the former having charge of those for
paying army, and the latter those for paving
navy pensions, subject to the revision of the
| Second Comptroller of the Treasury Conse.
quently, however faithful and conscientious
these officers may be, perfect uniformity can
not be expected in the adjustment OF those ac-
counts, although no good reason is apparent
why the same general principles should not
govern in respect to each class of cases. To
secure such uniformity is quite desirable, and
this could be done by causing all the accounts
of those agents to be audited in one office. 1t
is also important that these accounts, before
being submitted to the accounting officers of
the treasury, should pass under the supervision
of this department, from which the remittances
to the agents are ordered.
The accounts growing out Of the survey and
sale of the public lands, involving much larger
amounts, have for years past been audited at
the General Land Office subject TO the revision
Of the First Comptroller Of the Treasury, and
the practice has been attended with good re-
suits.
The accounts Of the pension agents could, in
| like manner, be audited at the Pension Office.
with great convenience to the service and ad
vantage to the Government, subject to the
same revision as at present, and so be made to
pass under the supervision of two departments
instead of one, being adjusted by the Interior
and revised by the Treasury Department
Should this recommendation be adopted, all
the advantages above suggested would be
secured, in addition 10 which, this department
wonld have within itself such information as it
is constantly in need of in the administration Of
its financial affairs.
A similar suggestion is made in respect TO
the accounts for the Indian service, which are
at present adjusted by the Second Auditor, sub
iect TO the revision Of the Second Comptroller
Of the Treasury. 1t is believed that these ac
counts could be audited, with equal convent
ence and benefit, ut the Indian Bureau, sub.
ject, Of course, to the same revision as at pres
ent, and that similar advantages would thus be
secured in reference to them, ms in the cases
previously alluded TO.
The feld-work Of the Mexican boundary
survey, ] rejoice to say, has been completed.
The promptitude, dispatch, and eminent ability
displayed in its recent prosecution, reflects the
highest credit npon the commissioner. Under
the severest bardships and greatest prvations,
he has run the line through country gene
rally destitude Of everything necessary to the
sustenance Of human life, in a remarkable
short space Of time, and yet left nothing I'M
done which duty required. The appropria.
tons made for this specific purpose have not
been exhausted, but large balance remains
unexpended. The office.work will now be
prosecuted with vigor and finished as soon as
practicable.
A full report Of the operations Of the Com
mission, when published, will exhibit much
interesting information relative 10 the territory
acquired by the treaty Of the Both Of Decem.
Der, 1853. 1t contains about twenty millions
of acres Of land. The eastern portion Of il is
traversed from north to south BY several
streams, which, though not navigable, afford
unfailing facilities for irrigation The valleys
Of some of the streams are cultivated, and pro.
ducc wheat, corn, and tobacco luxuriantly,
though in general they are better adapted to
grazing.
Gold, silver, and copper, are found in the |
hills, but not in placer; and, in many places,