The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-22
Skirmishing In the Senate
About Specie.
Imitation First. Resump-
ton Afterwards.
The Squandcring Of Public Money in the
Treasury Department.
Inordinate Cost of the Cap
itol Police.



WASHINGTON Jan. q, 1s72
eliminating About Specie I'm the Senate
Imitation First, Resumption After.
wards-Strength OF the Counter Forces.
In the Senate nothing OF general importance
transpired during the morning hour. The regular
order the consideration OF the resolution for the
resumption OF specie basis came on Mr. Mer.
rimon, OF Nerth Carolina, had the noor and spoke
for over two hours. His argument was somewhat
diversified from those OF the other Senators,
though In sections 1t partook Of sameness. 1t
exhibited some novelty In the views taken. AS he
started or confidently, speaking without notes
and showing great familiarity with the compre-
hensive facts and figures OF his subject, one would
have him for al the world in favor OF the
hard cash or specie basis system, and when
he reiterated with emphasis the announce
ment that there was no money but
gold or silver Sherman, who evidently
was counting the chances OF this being
another convert to his theory, with schnrz hard
by also intent recdned !eisurly in his chair, laid
the paper ne had been apparently reading on his
knee and seemed 10 breathe freely under the re-
nection, There is another man from the South for
our side" But what promised at FIRST to be
specie resumption speech become an earnest
appeal for infation. The West and South seemed
happy and eated. Then, while the East, with its
few Western and semi-Southern auxiiaries, looked
awry and were disappointed, Morton thenceforth,
ss he mad frequently done before, nodded his
head acquiescingly to what Merrimon said,
a. II ne were keeping time to
tune Of music, and frequently prompted Merrimon
by SUGGESTIONS while sherman, 10th to yield any
advantage, carechised and corrected Merrimon
somewhat, covering the ieints OF Morton. Merri-
mon might be sand to have been to certain ex-
tent and up to certain time friend Of both
parties for his two propositions were as to specie
payments resumption to be SO declared by law
to take place July 4, 1875, the centennial ami
versary OF our independence, and the issue mean-
time OF currency to the extent OF $100, COO On
his first proposition he said paper could
not be appreciated to gold. What we want
In COLO and silver basis Of exchange and to
return 10 the specie basis soon as possible The
least valuable currency was credit currency, and
that was what the government had adopted. But
1t should not accumulate gold in the Treasury,
cept what was necessary to pay interest, tor the
resumption be advocated in 1875, and meantime
issue gold bearing Eye or six per cent interest
bond at par. Specie payments could not be
reached by appreciation OF greenbacks, and when
returned to the Treasury they should be cancelled
and burned. 1t is an even chance still, near as
the canvass can be made, that the voice OF the
pansIon. But, as money is powerful, there is 40
telling what day may bring forth, and the repre-
ssntstives OF the concentrated capital Of the East
viii not be idle.
More Light ON the Abuses i'm the Treas
ury Observation-Disclosures Pay OF
CLERKS from the Increased RESPONSE
hiiity Fund.
In connection With the Illegal organization OF
the once OF the Secretary OF the Treasury the
House Committee on Appropriations find another
abuse and which has received their serious atten-
,tion and win be corrected. During the admins
tration OF the Treasury Department by Boutwell,
81, 500 were appropriated At the solicitation OF
that of1cer, for what he designated q
fund for the extra compensation of mer
rortous clerks and others of large responsibility
1t having been discovered that the use Of this fund
was abused in the increase OF the pay OF favorites
instead Of being applied to the purposes originally
Intended, the Committee on Appropriations last
session struck the appropriation out. Secretary
Boutwell, at the instgation Of the indig-
nant iavorites, put In an appearance per-
sonaly before the committee and induced
Them to restore the amount At the time
NO particular inquiry was made into the
subject During the recent Investigations of
tho House Committee the present use OF
this fund has been characterized as an impo-
tins amount. though small, matter OF principle.
The application Of this fund and the violation OF
the original intent Of the law may be seen in its
disposition as follows:-The Chief Clerk OF the
Treasury Department., whose salary Is $4,000 by
law, receives $1,000 extra, making $4,000. This
clerk Is now travelling in Europe on syndicate
business drawing fun pay and expenses out
Of the 100000 permanent indefinite appro-
priaton for the expenses OF the national
loan. The Disbursing Clerk OF the Secretary's
Once receives $500 in addition to his legal salary OF
$4,000. The Appointment Clerk receives $1,000. in
addition to his legal pay OF 81, 800, and his AS
sistant 5000 extra. The Chief Of the Warrant Bu-
reau receives $1,000, which is admitted as merited
and his Assistant 5000. The Chief OF the Inde-
pendent Treasury receives 81, 200 extra and his
Assistant $500. The Chief OF Customs-a useless
O0lce, considering that in the same department. is
the Commissioner OF Customs-receives $1,200
extra, or So 900, for his Invisible occupation, and
his Assistant 5000. The Chief OF Navigation
81 200 extra and his Assistant 5000 extra. The
Chief OF Internal Revenue, independent OF the
Commissioners ONCE, 81, 200 extra Assistant $780,
and recent favorite $500. The Chief Of Station
cry 81, 200 extra and his Assistant 5000. The Chief
OF Captured and Abandoned Property, $1,000 extra
Assistant, $500. The Special Agent allowed by law
$500 receives $40 per day. ar 49, $50. The Chief Of
the mails receives 1900 extra or 49, 900; the Chief
OF tine Currency Bureau receives s., 200 extra, and
Assistant 5000; the Chief Clerk OF the Supervising
Architect, 200 extra. and the Chief OF Records
and Files, $500 extra. Among the miscelIaneo US
items, the clerk at the Secretarys desk receives
5000 extra. In the Loan Bureau the Chief receives
$4,000 and has twenty clerks, twelve OF whom
receive the highest paw, three copyists two mes
sengers, one la0orer and two charwomen; total,
s+2iso, paid out Of expenses OF national loan, the
syndicate excursionists and engraving and print
ing. AL these bureaus are usurpations OF duties
legally belonging to other Offices and diverted
IN this manner to manufacture employment
for supernumerary clerks in the ONCE or
she Secretary. since the repeal Of the
salary bill the auditors have been Restored
10 the original pay of $1,000 which places the pay OF