The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-19

snsirs OF his once have been conducted In the
other departments there N q special dIsbursins
0fncer but In the Department OF Justice the Chief
Clerk. In addition to his other and legitimate
duties, has managed to have assigned 10 him the
entire control OF the expenditures OF he.sfiice.
With weak Attorney General this, OF course, makes
d the Chief Clerk the controlling influence OF the
department. lie can grant favors 10 his chief
which places that individual completely under his
control. To prevent any more purchases OF Ian
dauets, horses and harness. for private use, paid
for out OF the contingent expenses OF the ONCE
and the payment OF coachman and footman as
messengers, IL Is understood that an amendment
will be made to the Appropriation bill assigning
the duties OF disbursing agent OF the Department
of Justice to regularly commissioned on1cer.
The expenditures great that II is absolutely
demanded they should be placed In responsible
hands.
the Pay OF Retired Naval Omcers To BE
Reduced and the Force or ldIers DE-
minished.
In the further carrying out OF the economical
policy Of Congress bill is to be introduced In tue
Senate repeating the act which increased the pay
OF retired officers Of the Navy from half to three
quarters, and it will provide for reduction rate
what 1t was before. This Is urged on account OF
the large number OF retired officers doing nothing
while drawing the increased pay, and another
source OF objection arises from the vast num-
Der OF supernuOus officers on duty In the
various navy yards, where they have little
or nothngto do, and will shortly, after reduction
OF the working force, outnumber, it is said. the
men employed. The bill also eontemplates no
allowance OF extension time In the limit at which
the officers are to be retired, and this s to meet
the present attempt the part OF corps Of naval
officers who are here to have the law as retiring
officers amended SO as to make ten years
beyond the age of sixty-two, as now,
fixed by law for the period OF retire
ment. In fact, SO numerous have they become
that Buffnton, the able bodied and humorous
Representative from Massachusetts, says that he
cannot move around in the transaction or impor-
tant private business without stumbling over two
or three gilt edged sons OF Neptune. resolution
Of inquiry will also be introduced in the Senate
asking information from the Secretary or the Navy
as to how many officers of the Navy are now in
washington without proper leave OF absence.
Mr.. Lamison, OF the House Naval Com
mittee, has prepared report and will
introduce resolution accordingly that all matters
pertaining to the merits OF cases OF retirement
shall be finally decided by their Board OF Naval
Of1cers now appointed for that purpose, and shall
not be referred to Congress except in such in
stances where the officers affected have not been
ACTUALLY before Lne BOaru, ana nave not been
examined in person. Illustrative OF the OBJ
lection to the increased pay which the
retired officers are now getting the
case or certain persons in Brooklyn. who are
drawing $4,000 per annum for doing nothing, is in
stanced; and these parties are, BESIDES building
rows OF twenty houses at time. Those who are
urging the bill contend that every one else men,
bers Of Congress ana department officials having
been cut down, it is more than right that these
officers who are doing nothing should also be
raced.
Approprint ions for Fortifications.
An official report has been prepared, showing in
detail the amount Of appropriations which has
been or will be expended in each Of the permanent
forts and batteries for which regular appropria-
lions have been made from the period OF com.
mencement OF each work to the present time. The
aggregate total to February 81, 1873, is $546s6 ss7
The following are among the larger amOuntS:-