Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-01-23
INVESTIGATIONS.
What the Democratic Majority in the
House Proposes 20 do for the
Country.

New 5rk Worid.l
WASHINGTON, January 14-nr. Mor.
fison, chairman or the committee on
ways and means, reported back to-day
his resell iors from that committee to
the house, and they were unanimously
adopted. They required the eeTeral
commits Of the house having In charge
matters pertaining to foreign sff4irs, ap-
pfOprlntions, Indian affairs, military a.
isirs, naval affairs, postotfices and post
roads, public lands, public buildings and
grounds, claims and war claims, TO in
that may exist in the administration
and execution OF laws affecting sa!d
branches of the public service, with q
view to promote integrity, economy and
efficiency therein. The committees on
expenditures in the ntate department,
treasury department, war department,
navy department. p9stoffice department,
interior department, department Of iusa
tie@, and on on public Buildings, are Or
dered 10 eearsine iDIo the accounts and
e-F sndltures Of their respective depnt-
ments, and report whether said expendi.
lures in said departments are justified
by law. The claims from time
W GlLLG 6afAEhFA CHu
by the respective departments will ba
examined to sBeertain if they are sup
ported by sufficient vouchers as to their
character and amount, whether such
claims have bsen discharged out of
funds appropriated therefor, and whether
sll moneys have been dis cursed in con-
fol nifty with appropriation LAVE;
whether retrenchnent can be made in
the expenditures Of the several depart
h,ents without detriment to the public
service. The abuses which exist in the
failure to enforce the payment Of mo.
neys which may be due to the United
States from public defaulters, and main
tain the accountability of department
officers, will Ee Temedied. The COM
mittees are required to ascertain
whether any officer belonging to the
branches or departments respectively,
concerning whose expenditures it is
their duty to inquire, have become
useless or unneces ssary; to report on the
expediency Of abolishing the same
aud TO examine and report
the .Uay and emolumentJ OF
eli United States officers, and
send 8 just reduction or increase
thereof. To enable the committee TO
learn the working OF the various de-
partments Of government respectively,
the Investigations oE said committees
may cover suca periods in the past as
each of said committees may believe
necessary for their information and the
protection Of the public interests in the
exposure Of frau is or abuses of any
kind. This power will permit the com.
mittaes to so hack to expose the stu.
Dendous frauds that have been openly
committed by gJvernment officials and
silently covered by investigating COM
mittees Of q Republican house. The
committees ara author zed to send
for persons and papers, and may report
by bill or otherwise. The committee
on public expenditures is specially In
structsd to investigate and inquire into
the matters set forth in the resolutions
in the legislative department of govern
ment, except in 30 far as the senate is
exclusively concerned, and particularly
in reference to the public printing and
building. 3