The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-13
Another Promised Expos, Exploded.

The Washington correspondent of the Ba!ti-
more american under date OF a, ri 9th, says:
A letter was sent by the Secretary of tho
Navy to Mr.. Beebr of New York. Chairman
of the House Committee On Expenditures in
the Navy Department. In answer to Il letter OF
inquiry from Mr.. Beel.e lis to certain accept
anccs of drafts, at four i,:olt!S, by the Secre-
tary. The fact WAS recently published that
the Secretary has accepted certain drafts. vt
four months, aud Che presumption WAS boldly
put forth that has purpose was to tide over
present deficiency resulting from the opera
tons of last fall by drawing Oh next years APP
preparations. which would be 4 clearly Illegal
Transaction. The Seereaiy's answer is full
and explicit. Concerning the drafts in G,les-
ton the letter shows that tity were drawn OH
the Sth aud l0th of March by P.,ymaster Gen
eral Bradford, at four months, ii fslpur OF Sc
liSman Brothers, tie fiscal naval agents in
London. AID amounted To nearly tXo bul:dr'cl
and fifty thousand dollars. 1t is salt! that
though without special direction from the De-
partmcnt, they acre without dnubt drawn for
the purpose OF putting tile firm iii funds TO
nleet such drafts rs may be draWn upon Them
by Paymastera on forei,s stations. They were
drawn on time the must convenient I.l;rte
of giving to the Department tiile TO gather IN
and utilize the appropriation called PAY OF
the NAVY, NECESSARY, scattered III the handa
OF its disbar>iny officers. and to have adjusted
and transferred ON the Treasury books such
sums as may be du., to said appropriation from
other appropriations Oh account Of expend-
lures made abroad FROM it for their benefit.
These balances are part OF the Hpproi ratinn
for the pay OF the navy, bit it i, necessary To
cover them in and have them settled III the
Treasury, and transferred to THAT appiopri.t-
ton before being applied to the payment Of
tie reg,i.r demands upon if. In short, the
Secretary says explicitly That these. drafts are
not drawn against nor pay able ont of any flu
ture appropriations, bit payable and will
be paid out OF the appropriations tor pay AL
ready made by Congress. ':he ,lsages III the
payment OF our navy ell foreign stations are
fully explained, the facJ being shown that this
system OF drafts has been in existence ev-
er since the Depart eats has had fiscal ;lgnls
lbroaG. Tie alternative is. the letter ~ay>
shall drafts be paid when presented ai,d the
officers and men OF the service Wait until the
balances can be collected intl adjusted in thu
Treasury, Oh shall the Department use its cred
it with its fiscal agents ;ts contemplated by hi.
agreement and sanctioned by tt e custom III
sixty yea to avoid this diff -u.ty: In j,l,tl-
ic;ltion OF the course pursued iii these matters
the Secretary quotes from the judicial opinion
in the case OF the United States against Nc
Daniel, as follows: "A practical ki!nw ledge OF
the action OF any one Of the great departments
of the Government must conlIce any person
that the head Of Il department. il.
the distribution OF lis duties All responSibili-
ties is often compelled To exercise his ,!iscre-
ton He is limited in the exercise OF his ,n.w-
ers by the laws. but it does hot follow that he
must show u statuttry provision for every.
thing he does No Government could be al
ministeretl on such principles. To attempt tn
regulate by law the minute movement of ev,
cry part Of the complicated machinery uf Gov.
ernment would evnce a most unpardoi.ed IL
norance ON the nhiect.'