New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-13
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
rEF ct,RY LEAKS CONCEALED ~ TEkAIL SESI Al
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Feb. p, 1874

WASHINGTON, Thursday, Feb 70, 1874
Tlcirvestigatious made by the House Committee
Oh Apuropriations with view to TetreuchIng the
expenses of the Government have led them TO the
conclusion that great many large leaks IN the
Treasury are concealed by the system of permanent
appropriations, and that this system IS vicious
one that ought to be abolished. The work OF
u4oroughly cradicating it the Committee appear TO
think too great to be accomplished III single SEES
siOn III they succeed IN cutting oil the immense
indefinite appropriation for the Bureau of Enerav-
ing and Printing, and make this institution come
IN Congress annually with its estimates they viii
do as much as well be expected. a fan
greater abuse than that by which the Printing
Bureau is allowed to spend hundreds OF thousands Of
dollars without accounting fol It's expenditure, Is TO
be found in the permanent appropriation for the
Customs Service. This Appropriation, together with
the fines and penalties collected makes an aggTe-
cate sum of about SO 100000 annually, which the
Secretary of the Treasury disburses practically as
he pleases the only limitation being that he sbali
nav with n the expenses of collecting the customs
revenue The number and grades OF oitclais III the
Custom houses is not prescribed by law, nor IL their
compensation fixed. Congress has no con'rOi over
the matter under this system. NO list on oincidlo
and employees comes before Congress, ana III uas hc
opportunity of Judging whether then number Is OK
cessive their compensation eXorDltaht' Ihs
| system is admirably devised TO cloak abuses ana
influences brought to bear TO prevent lis beng ln-
eIfeTed with that all efforts to reform IT have mere
| tofore proved ineffective. The subject Is now
| not probable that the Committee will have nerve
| enough TO take hold OF 1t.
| A BILL FOR GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION OF BRIDGE
BUILDING.
The Secretary Of War seat to the House to-day a
draft of a bill giving TO the War Department the
suneryison of all bridges that have heretofore OF
NAV hereafter be authorized to be constructed across
nayieable streams The bill provides that the per-
SONG or corporations interested in any bridge to be
erected over any nayigahle stream shall hrst sub
init to the Secretary Of War the plans OF the struc-
ture general survey of the river at the point where
it is proposed to place the bridge and toposraph'-
cal survey of the banks for mile above ana below
the point, with all otslJr information that he may
desire IL the Secretary of War approves the loc',
ton OF the bridge and plans and " he decides UNIV
the Interests OF avgatIon will not suifer from US
construction then he shall give his consent ana lhe
work may GO By another clause OF the Dali De 10
dlfet I'D ~ prevent tue erection Oi any stfuCuife
"hol M ms opinion would interfere WITH tue IN
tefeett Oi commerce.
TiiE FoErigICATioNs BILL.
The foitications bill was passed by the House to-
iaV h&Eh'9 three OF tie thittee1 regular approprG
tion bJis thus ian sent 10 the Senate. No amend
ments were adopted except striking out the