New-York tribune., 1869-03-01

prises receiving. storing, and delivering DOCUMENTS
as far as the same is done in the Capitol building as
well as materials for folding. That TINS
is not too much in proportion for services
rendered win appear from the fact that in 1868 there
were 296 Documents of which 400 23 were bound
volumes, received stored folded and delivered, IN
the Doorkeeper's Department, which embraces but
about four-ffths of that entire business. This
item, too, does not include tho great expense
of these documents, which consists of paper print
ing. binding and delivery by mails. The Committee
freely admit that great good is done by
the distributions Of these documents. but
this whole expenditure should be cut down at least
four-ffths. But how is that to be donef The
remedy lies just where tho fault ies-that s, with
the Members themselves Perhaps, II every voter
who receives through the mails, from his Representa-
tive an entirely unreadable book would reflect that
worthless as it Is to him, he has paid for ittwice
OF three times over in taxes, and would act upon
that reflection, We might expect more economy IN
this particular Another large item is included IN
what is called the {" Miscellaneous account. IL is
the cost of investigating com aittee. $4224 3d. All
or nearly ALL of this Is thrown away. In many cases
Investigations are gotten mp upon some sensa-
ton stories, sold TO the press Of the country
by the inventor. In few casee perhaps
there is real ground Of complaint, but very ar'iy
CATION In fact. complaints exist usually in the Ex.
ecutive Department Its not that laws are wanting
but they are evaded or prevented. Hence the in'
potence of Congress in the PREMISES whose business
IL is to make, not to enforce laws. Ii is complained
in certain quarters that the number Of the employees
Of the House great This subject has received the
careful consideration Of the Committee during the
entire session Of the XLth Congress. There seems
70 be- among certain classes Of people, remarkable
fOnduess for public employment though 1t pays less
is less INDEPENDENT and certainly less respectable,
than private employment This has involved the
Committee in an almost iucessant struggle to keep
down the list of employees. Every member OF the
dominant party has at least dozen good worthy
men, whom he would Ike to get upon the list, and
tho aggregate pressure brought 20 bear npon the
elective officers Of the House-Clerk. Sergeant-at-
Arms. Postmaster, and Doorkeeper, who make the
subordinate appontments-is very great. Notwith-
standing this tue Committee believe that, subject
10 qualification hereafter stated. the emPloyesOf the
llou se have not been at any time during the XLth
Congress in excess of what was required to perform
the duties put upon them by the House and the
members The qualifications these: Members of
Congress are sometimes ingenious enough 20 pro-
care these private clerks aud messengers. and have
them put upon the roll and paid out Of the Contin-
gent fund This is species Of individual economy
wich tie Committee believe they have now entirely
broken Up Again servceable politicians sometimes
GET their nnnies placed upon the roll with the
intebtnn Of doing no public service whatever.
except that Of receiving their pay, OF course They
receive aR early leave of absence, and the matter
runs on lor months on some pretext, the money
being Ieceipted and the voucher signed by an ato-
nev or agent. This also Is now entirely remeed,
as the Committee believe. Finally during the re-
cent campaign one Of the political parties obtained
assistance from the employees Of the House on tine
distribution of THEN documents as the other did
from the Executive Department and both
parties had their documents folded at the House
folding room at the expense OF the contingent fund
This mischief was complained of by the COMMITTEE
but II had tie sanction of long precedent and al tho
Committee could do was to limit the labor so dl-
vered as FAR as possible to the number necessary to
be retained during the recess. But its success III
even this was by 40 means gratifying. Political
organizations are strong and the Committee them
selves could not but be influenced by their desire
to see their own respective political views
disseminated The comparison Of the House with
its predecessor will show that the Representatives Of
LXth Congress have no reason 10 feel that this test
will exhibit them TO disadvantage The report theu
goes on 10 compare the expenses of the Clerks Office
in 1862 with what il is In 1865 The increase IN th,
expenses Of that office is attributed to the increase IL
Representatives. Tie item Of furniture Is larg,
one in 49, 80 and colt tavenged $4,000 During the
war IL fell of After the close OF the war much OF TIT
furniture required to be renewed, hence, IN 'O8 ant
'G7 the average was $36;05 In miscellaneous acconnb
alone is embraced the item Of procuring attendance
Of witnesses before investigating committees This
In Cs amounted to about 1900 AS has been already
intimated the Committee believe this whole busines
should be almost entirely discontinued, excep
in cases Of impeachment Let Congress eonhn
itself 10 enacting laws and let the country hold ia
Executive responsible for their due execution. Wit
regard 10 large expenses incurred in securing attend
ance of witnesses the report says As the law stands
the SerReant-at-Arms is allowed 10 cents per mil
| for summoning witnesses In addition to his othe
! fees. To summon witness in New-Iork costs abod
So and one in San Francisco, $50 90. The repor
then goes on to state that with the mail facilities
the present dav and the telegraph. these iArg
expenses can BIO avoided. WiilnS VIII
nesses can be summoned by telegraph
at very trifing cost. In case of an unwilling wtnes
a subpoena may be sent by mail to q special deputy
I'm this manner n witness in San Francisco can b
obtained at cost not exceeding SOS. and one in New
York M slO or lcss The item of clerks to committee
IL greatly too large, and during the present Con
eress Is larger than ever before. This item
does not embrace the pay of clerks to th'
Committees of Ways and Means. ApprOpria
tions, Claims, and Public Lands, amounting 4
$780, who are paid out OF the salary fund. The Re
port states that the sorvices performed by the clerks
such as the members should perform themselves Il
assigns as a reason why the members do not perform
these duties that most Of their time is taken up Will
what Is called department business. Tho Depart
ments are almost inaccessible, except to Mem
bers Of Congress, and very often they are
kept waiting when there Is no necessity for delay.
1ha Co,,,nit,ao suvecst that 10 remedy this il for