The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-12
Millions of Expenditure in Com
pensatiOn of IdIeness.
The Army of Drones Lounging
in the Departments.
Salary Caucus Of Repubi-
can Statesmen.
Rumors of Republican Revolt Against
the Confirmation of Cushing.


less Employees Drontng ut Govern
ment Expense.
The House Committee on Appropriations have
considered the revised estimates OF appropriations
submitted in reply TO the resolution OF the House
OF Representatives OF December 15 1873, and have
unanimously agreed that the reductions reported
not, in their opinion, down to the standard OF
an economical administration OF the government.
The committee are indignant that portion OF the
letter OF the Secretary OF the Treasury which says,
"That II the estimates are to be omitted or re-
duced to any further extent IT will involve o
change in the policy and laws OF Con-
gress upon which they are founded, the
necessity or expedency OF which are matters
within its own jurisdiction, and are not
left to the discretion or judgment Of
the Secretary of the Treasury" 1t is the purpose
OF the committee to Investigate the subject and to
see how far Congress is responsible Tor the present
extravaganza in the administration Of the affairs
OF the government. as Is lnslnuated by the
Secretary OF che Treasury, and how far,
as he alleges, the reduction Of the estimates will
involve change in the policy and laws OF Congress
upon which they are founded The different men,
bers Of the committee have been assigned to the
various duties connected with personal examna.
ton OF the subject OF the clerical force employed
in the different departments. TWO considerations
to be observed In these Investigations
first the increase Of clerical labor necessitated
by The increased requirements of the war, and
second the increase required by the natural
growth of business. In the hrst instance, though
the war has now been ended nine years. there has
been no reduction OF the number OF clerks, though
1t Is evident that there has been material dimn-
ution OF business. This applies, in the opinion of
the committee, particularly to the Treasury De-
partment, which, with reduced duties, has con-
trived to increase its force from year to year. and
that without other law than the appropriation IN
response to the extravagant demands OF that de-
partment. General Garfield, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Appropriations, has nearly completed
o searching investigation Of the entire
subject Of the civil service. He begins
his labors at 1850, and takes the business
and employees Of the various executive depart
ments at that time and follows both through the
war, when the maximum was reached in certain
departments. and since which time the duties have
declined, without, however, decreasing the nun.
Der OF employees. Instead of Congress being re.
sponsble for the army OF clerks or, as the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury says, the estimates being en-
tirey based upon laws OF Congress, 1t has been
discovered by the chairman that the departments
have always chung to the number of clerks already
allowed, and each year have asked for MORE when
there Is no evidence to show that they were
needed 1t Is the opinion OF the committee that SO
Tar from being responsible fer the enOr-
nous OUTLAWS for clerks the heads OF de.
partments to blame. The Investigations
OF the committee and the statement being
prepared by General Garfield will present an inter-
estng view Of the workings ofthe executive branch
Of the government. The Treasury Department
shows this to the best advantage The United
States Treasury register, containing a list OF all
persons employed In the Treasury Department,
and Its various branches, gives the names OF 900
employees. The bureaus are also found crowded
with clerks who have other duties, 1t Is charged
than to read newspapers and, perhaps, to answer
or copy q letter or two. either Of which consumes
but few minutes. In going over the bureaus the
committee find that in that charged with the max
Ing out OF appointments In the Treasury Depart
ment there Is q chief who gets $4,000. besides
an extra thousand out Of the fund for the compen-
saton of Gle rks with increased responsibility and
his assistant who receives 400. and, besides, 10
clerks and five messengers and aborers. The cost
Of this bureau is nearly $4,000 year. Passing
over other bureaus also overstocked with clerks
that charged with the Of stationery has eight
clerks, four messengers and five laborers, at cost
OF 81, 900 year. Another branch, equally ex-
travagant, is That charged with the reception aud
making UP Of the department mails. The chief OF
this department. receives $4,000 for doing nothing
and has IL clerks to assist TWO messengers in
dong the work. The cost here Is 800 200 year. The
committee think this rather extravagant sum
for clerk hire for attending to the mails OF single
department. But the best evidence OF the supernuty
OF employees in this department is found in the Bu-
reau OF the superintendent of the Treasury Build
ing. In addition to the custodian clerk, assistant
messenger, storekeeper machinlst, engineer and
stan 6ran toip n Of tho
watch, there are 81 watchmen, 80 laborers and 90
CharwOmen, making total force OF 200 men and
women to watch and sweep out the building, and
at the enormous annual cost OF SOL 900. These are
extravagances which the Secretary OF the Treas.
ury accuses Congress OF requiring him to indulge
In. The fact is the l5o rooms hardly sufficient
to AFFORD desk room for the necessary and SUPER
numerary force employed.
The object OF Mr.. Garneld's exhibit will be TO
check this growing evil, and 1t is his opinion that
hundreds of thousands OF dollars can be thus annu-
ally saved, and for which the government at pres
ent receives no adequate return. The same rule
will be applied to all the departments not affected
by the growth OF the country and natural increase
of government business. It has been found that
large number Of temporary clerks are employed in
all the departments. As these indicate the
supposed increase Of business they will
be cut of. 1t has been found, also,
that there are q number Of manufactured
duties which are not necessary to the efficiency OF
business These places have oeen created to make
room for political appointments. The committee
have generally decided that, in some instances,
reduction OF 40 per cent can be made, but this is
considered the maximum. 1t may be stated, how
ever, that through all the departments the aver
age reduction in the number OF clerks will be from
IS to 80 per cent In the Treasury Department
alone, that is-in all its branchest Is the opinion
that the services OF at least 1000 be dispensed
with. Taking the 600 civil employees the govern
ment, exclusive OF $4,000 postmasters, and reduc-
ton OF % per cent would make TO- persons. At
average salary each OF 81 900 a year, the amount
saved would be $1o,o00,Ooo This would be per-
manent reduction.
The Committee on Appropriations thus far have
been unable to get any satisfaction out OF the In.
Rureau To itarue