The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-10
THE TREAsTTRy DEPARTMENT.

ITS GRowTH-FRoM THE DAYS OF FRUGALITY
10 THE PRESENT TIME.
In his recent speech in the House Mr.
Dawes, referring to the treasury department
said: Some twenty EIGHT hundred persons
are employed there; and yet only about
tour hundred of these are Offices created and
defined by express statute. There is no law
excepting appropriation bills, creating any
of those offices over and above four hun
bred. The scrce of employees in that depart
ment has grown to lis present siz5 during
and since the war from real necessity, grow
ing ont of the increased lab n imposed on the
department do MT know tGat there is
any one employed there who ought not
to be there. But that large establishment
has grown up in this way: Some head of
bureau comes here and satisfies congress
that he needs an additional number of
clerks; then we make an appropriation to
pay them; and, next year, we put on another
patch, and so on from year to year. Take
for illustration one single bureau, that Of
the second auditor OF the treasury, a posi-
ton now held by faithful man, who was
once a member of congress, who has held
the position, i believe for twelve years.
When he went there, there were fifteen men
under him; and now there are between three
hundred and four hundred. The bureau has
grown into its present shape through appro-
priatiOns entirely. / remember thai he
used TO come here regularly every
year, and ask for twenty-five or thirty,
or forty additional clerks; he would satisfy
us that he needed them, and we would make
the appropriation for them. My friend from
kentucky Mr.. Beck win remember that at
one time when this gentleman was before
the committee on appropriations this ques-
ton was put to him: "Has not your long
service in the Office of second auditor sug-
gested to you some change in the mode Of
doing business there that will ecntriEriet c
its efficiency aud economy?'' "C,T IeF Lied
he, "let me take that office and TNri 81
would private establishment. and l will
take the contract to do it for fifty per cent.
of what il costs to-day" Yet be was there
at that time asking for more clerks. The
trouble is that from year to year we go on
making patches upon system which needs
reorganization. Somebody must take hold Of
the work of reorganization of the treasury
from time TO time, have been so burdened
with their regular duties that they bave not
felt themselves able to present to us a new
system of organization; and we whose bust
ness il is 10 reorgapize that department
have waited and waited for reorganization
shape, with its present enormous expendi-
ture. There are other fields that are ripe
for the sickle and white for the
harvest. Mr.. Chairman, I do not know
that / have suggested single practical
fhsve indicated places where some
thing ought to be done. This is all i desire,
except, if possible, to awaken some degree
Of earnestness in the pursuit of the only
remedy open TO us if we desire to maintain
our power. This is not strange condition
Of things. 1t is natural outgrOwth OF the
system which has come to US through the
war. Every thing and every mode of life,
private and official, have been lifted to a
plane of greater cost and expenditure.
DAYS of simplicity and frugality have passed
away. ~