The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-19
HIGH TREASURY OFFICIALS INDICTED
The Swarm of Drones Employed With.
out Warrant Of Law.
THE 60.NoTnINa POLICY or FINANCE.
Puzzling Over Problems with Plenty Of Idle
Gold in the Vaults.

tho Treasury.
The question as to what Is to be done at once
practically to reimburse the depleted $44, 900
currency reserve which Is reported to be as low as
$170 900, 10 engaging the serious attention OF
those who have in view the maintenance Of q
strong condition OF our finances in the Treasury
and the corresponding confidence and consequent
easy condition in financial circles outside Con-
siderable anxiety Is felt in this regard on account
Of the approaching obligations OF the government
and the growing exhaustion Of the reserve fund,
which Is aggravated by the dissentient and do
nothing course OF Congress. While many pre-
tend to be anxious to provide some means Of
relieving the increasing distress, yet the opposition
among the political economists TO the plan of each
other is daily made more manifest here by them
and with the exception Of Mr.. Kelleys plan of re-
plenishinR the currency reserve by the issue of
three-sixty five convertible bond no feasible plan
has yet been suggested. This or some such me tnod
1t is thought, will alone meet the difficulties OF the
case. The only one other resource left the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury is to sell gold OF which the
government has plenty on hand; but the fear then
arises that the urbane 1reebooters and financial
bandits, as Senator Howe called the Wall street
people, would bear the government on gold and
1t would consequently suffer loss by depreciation
OF the value OF gold, or, in other words gold going
down under their pressure, would not
buy as many greenbacKs for q certain sum
as II It remained as high as it now
Is. The Secretary OF the Treasury is reported 10
have avowed himself in favor of Mr.. Kelley's or
some such plan, and was OF the opinion that the
author OF 1t was the only person really and sim
cerely devoting his energies unremttingly to the
early and successful remedial agency so much
needed. Heretofore, 1t Is remarked by several
Senators, the Secretary had some plan or get of
ideas around which, as a nucleus, Congress could
rally, and from the nettle danger pluck the flower
safely. But now 1t Is loudly complained that he
has no suggestions to offer and manifests very
much ofthe same mastery inactivity as displayed
by the Senate Committee on Finance, who are wait
ing to know what the body OF the Senate will ap-
prove. Meantime long speeches are made,
each one occupying nearly o whole daily
session, and the days pass by, the
country stil suffering, when If straight,
downright honest work was meant, the problem
could be practically solved at by the selection
OF the best plan IN caucus and its immediate adop
ton. Letters are moving in here from every quar-
ter. In which bankers and manufacturers complain
bitterly OF the continued unsettled state In which
business Is kept influenced by the dilatory action
OF Congress on the finances which is sensltively
felt By those interests. rejecting as they do the
general policy OF the government and by common
consent, as It were, being governed In their nuc-
tuations accordingly. The united banking and
manufacturing as well as government requirements
VIII be made manifest through the respective
agencies during this week, and it Is believed we
shall reach some practical conclusion to meet the
case.
The Treasury Hordes-No Warrant Of
Law for the Employment OF the Inn
mense Force In tho Pay OF the Finance
seeretaxy-A Rich Field for Rctrench-
ment.
In connection with the developments made by
the House Committee on Appropriations respect
ing the personnel of the Treasury Department it
has been found that the organization is entirely
without warrant OF law. In 1866, when the
business of the department was at Its maxi
mum, the once OF the Secretary proper had
thirty three clerks. In addition to these there
were two comptrollers, six auditors, a treasurer,
reQster ana solicitor OF she Treasury, COM
missioner OF customs and the Lighthouse
Board. Now the committee ind an establishment
OF immense proportions. They will make an in
vestigation, not only for retrenchment but in
order 70 discover by what authority this vast es-
adjustment has been built up. The bureaus OF
the Secretary for which there is no law
are Appointment II clerks Warrant, II
clerks; Independent Treasury, IL clerks; Gus
toms. Is clerks; Revenue Marine, 10 clerks; Navi-
tionery, 8 clerks; Captured and Abandoned Prop
erty, clerks; special Agent, clerks; supervis-
ing Architect IL clerks; marine Hospital. clerks;
Supervising Inspector General OF Steamboats, and
statistics, 81 CLERKS; Mint, 3 clerks; Mail, IL
clerks; Records and Files, 10 clerks; Loans, Il
clerks; Miscellaneous duty, 10 clerks; Currency, II
clerks; Engraving and Printing, o clerks; Light
house Board, 10 clerks, ana Supern tendent OF the
Treasury Building, 200 employees. In addition to
these are the comptrollers, auditors, treasurers
and other branches Of the department regularly
provided for by law. In addition TO the force OF
clerks In these illegal bureaus scores Of copy
lists, counters, messengers, assistant messengers,
iaborers, watchmen and cnarwomen. In the
Bureau Of Record and Files alone are twenty-six
copyists. In this connection It should be stated
that in addition 10 these bureaus Is the regularly
organized service, which again EMPLOYS large
force. OF these may be mentioned the United
states mints assay Offices and repositories, in
ternai revenue, customs, iife-ssving stations,
lighthouse, marine hospital, revenue marine
special agents, special commissioners and steam
boat inspection services, ana the United States
Coast survey. A prominent member OF the
Appropriation Committee remarked that 1t
seemed as n the department, not. knowing
what 10 90 with the immense force, manu-
factured places for them, and, having ex-
hsusted their ingenuity, established q bureau
known as miscellaneous. What duties miscella-
neous bureau has to perform the committee is at a
loss 20 know. They propose. however, 10 have a
statement. by way OF explanation OF the elaborate
establishment thus grown mp without regard to
law or reason. The committee little expected 10
ind extravaganza ON 80 large a scale when they
undertook their examinations, and are daily more
impressed with the importance OF their work
They are not surprised that there Is deacit when
they are brought face to face with such extraord-
nary and unnecessary OUTLAWS.
The Expenditures ~ shs Attorney GEM
erals Once To he Better Guarded
Commtssioatng . Disturbing Omeer.
II appears that committees have been appointed
OF the commencement Of every session TO audit
the expenditures OF the dlnerent departmental
with the exception OF those OF the Department Of