The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-08-31

d BOnfoly........... $4,000
1
Lost by ten ,928 ll8
| There is within fraction of six million
dollars Of taxes gobbled up by ten de-
taulters, not one of whom has been prose-
| cuted, or ordered to be prosecuted. In all
these three hundred and forty defalcations,
civil suits have only been ordered in thirty
cases, and not one criminal prosecution
ORDER NO. rs.
My friends, we did not meet here as a
matter Of amusement, but for sober and
earnest consultation. You have already
seen that millions of dollars of the taxes
paid by the people are stolen before they
ever reach the Treasury; and I am about
to show you how millions more are taken
from the Treasury in open violation of the
Constitution and the law.
The Constitution says: "Nomoney shall
be drawn from the Treasury except by ap-
preparation made by law" That lnstru-
ment further says: ''The Congress shall
have power to provide for and maintain
Navy" The power to provide for army
and navy IS not vested in the President,
because 1t would make him independent of
Congress and the people. And for the
same reason, it is provided that no money
shall be Drawn from the Treasury but in
consequence of appropriations made by
law.
But President Grant, and President
johnson before him, through their Secre-
taries of the Navy did provide for and
maintain the Navy in violation of law and
IN contempt of the constitution; and in
further violation of that instrument did
arrogate to themselves the power to make
laws, and did draw $3,7000OO from the
Treasury without any Appropriation having
been made by Congress
Early IN January last l learned that the
Executive branch of the Government had
increased the pay of the officers of Navy,
without the knowledge or authority of
Congress. l drew resolution, which was
adopted by the House, calling upon the
Secretary of the Treasury for information.
On the 18th of the same month Secretary
Boutwell, sent to the House his answer
Executive Document 9l) and which, as
you observe, is brief Mr. Auditor Tabor
says that on May 23d, 1866, the Secretary
of the Navy issued Order No. rs, and
therein assumed to increase the salaries of
the Navy one third. This document con-
talns the order. Auditor Tabor says that
under that order there was drawn from the
Treasury and divided among the officers
OF the Navy, from June 1st, 1866, to, Jan
uary 1st, 1870, the sum of $3,763,y8I,
In the same Document, Mr.. Comptrol-
Ter Broadhead says 'The order of the
Secretary of the Navy is the only author
lty for payments beyond the respective
salaries provided for by law.
You will observe, citizens that this
abuse, which originated under Johnson,
was continued under Grant: and in fact,
Mr. Secretary Robson wrote a lengthy
letter to Congress, in which he claimed
that he had the right to increase the sala-
rles of naval officers at pleasure.
1t cannot be necessary for me to say to
you, my countrymen, that such an un-
rebuked usurpation might become dan
gerous to your liberties. II, at his will, the
President, through his Ministers" can
increase the salaries of the officers of the
navy, and of the army, and without the
authority of law, draw money enough
from the Treasury to maintain them, what
assurance have you that some President
will not exercise such unwarranted power
to make himself king.
The act of usurpation on the part of
tia President not only set the Constitution
and Congress at defiance, but it was unjust
and oppressive to the people who were
taxation. The officers of the NAVY were
receiving high salaries when Order No. IS
was issued. In 1860 the highest salary of
any naval officer was 81, 300, but after
1861 the salaries of all naval officers were
increased, and that of the highest officers
had been increased to ten, and was made
by the late Congress twelve thousand dol
lars, or double the salary of Judge of
the Supreme Court of the United States.
Nor did the wrong stop here. The salary
salary of the highest officer, legal or ille-
gal, was not only, increased three fold, but
new and aristocratic grades were intro
duced into the service. In 1861 the high
est grade in the navy was captain. Then
we had as may fleets and as many vessels
afoat as now. To-day we have six fleets
and thirty admirals six fleets and seven
ty-eight commodores Five admirals and
thirteen commodores to feet While one
of either grade is sufficient. We have
thirty eight vessels afloat, with more than
two commodores and nearly an admiral for
each vessel. And all this, while we pay
more taxes than any other people On |
earth.
One of the most difficult duties the
Secretary of the Navy has to perform, is
to find some pretended duty for his legion |
of officers. Here is Executive Document |
No. 42, being a communication from the |
Secretary of the Navy, dated Feb. 7th, |
1870, to the Senate. giving the names and |
number Of naval officers on assigned duty |
at Washington. How many do you sup
pose? Ten admirals and nine commo-
dores, and in all more than one hundred |
officers I now turn to page. 1875 of the
Naval Register for 1870, and here we find |
that nine naval officers are stationed at |
Mound City, on the Ohio riverl
l Will further remrrk thatmor than two |
thousand naval officers are drawing pay, |
while only about seven hundred are doing |
naval duty.
FRAUDULENT ESTIMATES.
As you are aware, the head of each De- |
partments sends to Congress an estimate |
of the necessary expenditures for the en-
suing year. These estimates are sent to |
the Committee on Appropriations, and, |
based upon them, bill is reported.
Permit me to read you an extract from |
my remarks in the House during the de- |
hate on the Navy appropriation bill.
~ desire to call the special attention of |
the gentleman from Wisconsin Mr. Wash |
have to say. I hope he has in his possess
S1OA4 0LO AN1f al III b41C JSdI 10 ~. |
If not then, if he will send page to me, |
1 will send him a copy 1.-THE Naval Reg
lister was sent to Mr. Washburne.1 In |
the estimates furnished by him in his ar |
gument, and upon which this bill was /
framed, l find that an estimate is made for |
the pay of 180 Lieutenants on the active |
list.
Now, sir, if the gentleman who reported
this bill will turn to page 26 of the Naval
Register, he will find that instead of there
being $50 Lieutenants on the active list
there are Only 81, while an appropriation
is asked for $50. Estimate IS made for
masters to the number of 16O, but page
80 of the Register shows that there are
only SO, and pay is asked for 81 more than
there are in the service.
And thus did continue the analysis of
the estimate sent in by the Navy Depart
ment. But 1 will read further from the
debate: Showing beyond contradiction
flor 1 was not contradicted) that an appro-
priation was asked for four hundred more
naval officers than are in the service.
lay these facts before the House in good
faith l invite investigation"
Mr. Washburna of Wisconsin, wish