New-York tribune., 1878-01-07
STANDING AUTHORIZATIONS.

SECRETARY sIERMANs COURSE CRITICISED-INJCS-
T1cE AND INCONSISTENCY CHARGED.
TO me Edit0r Of The Tribune.
SIR The course pursued by Secretary Sher-
in regard TO certain demands against the Govern
ent for which estimates were submitted in his letter TO
Congress at It's extra session. and which made the
subject of special comment in his annual report On the
finances has good deal OF indignation among
those who interested in the demandsn in question: and
considerable adverse criticism from the press The de-
mands question are among those for which provision
is made by What Is known rs pc manent annnl appro
priaOns :" that Is, standing appropriations made once
for ALL by Section 1863 Of the Revised Statutes, which
declares that there is appropriated out of any sums not
otherwise appropriate ed so much may be needed for
the several objects cnumeratcd thus providing that all
the money at any time in the Treasury, and
not specifically devoted to other objects shall, II
needed be available for the discharge Of these demands
The demands thus provided for include not only those
which are singled out for unfayorabe action by the
secresrytaxes illegally collected under the Internal
Revenue and direct tax laws Customs duties Illegally
collected drawbacks under Internal Revenue laws
etc.-but interest tho public debt expenses OF the
National oan bounty to soldiers and a multitude Of
others Now. Il T. the payment of such demands
thus amply provided for that the difficulty has ariscn
and place the Secretary declined pay such
of them accrued prior 20 July l. 1879. on the
theory that the Act Of June 20. 1874, which pro-
NlN'F tNdt bdliuct~ OF appropriations NHUh Hdff
stood on the books Of the Treasury more than
two years shall be covered back into the Treasury ap
plies to thcs permanent and unlimited appropriation
q notion, the lac Of which Is apparent from theconsd-
eraiion that the nature Of things there be no
balances ~ such appropriations. No such construction
waA ever pnccd upon Act 1sGl by any other Sec
rc;6ry am furthermore informed that Mr sherman
has himself ndhcrcdto it, but has paid certain de
mands falling within IL. operation; TINS violating. in
lac r he In mpdf oStpu-ih. gfIiiuU
of refusing Iay ohcs; AMI furthermore, ttHt c hF
,c,,,J to .l IN, ntiu Of thc Attornry-1i,nera upun
III, subject Eat. however tins be- certain 70 j. That
multitude. of ia dtnauds for hich such careful and
, H., ',,.,,n L,6 ic,n ui,d hv Coulrr,s we've ilunn
thi. alleged ground. refused pms 1cnt 10 the great a-
noyancc aud ycNatOp and ~ maEy 'ascs doubtless 10
IA. scou. Getnen Of tbosc 10 whom The! were Jusly
learn however that while oning 10 make present
payment of The demands lhc secretary d.i''t," in,
proper officers Of tine Treasury Department to proceed
wlth the OF uchoi them az" by law tcd
IN the Department. saying that wien Congress suQut
meet he would su init them or tbr rcgui lie appropriA
ton. Instead ~ doing thu, however, II apv''rs thIt
While he dd indeed. call attention of Congress 20
the demands, his letter Transmitted nj the extra sts
sion, and made an estimate 81 The amount nee 10
mcrt such ~ them ne wOud probably 10 Iqui'atcd De
fore end Of TIC piescut fiscal year. h expressly sid
that he dd not recommend 4n appropriation fog them;
and h afcrwad went before the Conmiticc o. APpI9
praiions of the oust and advised That none ne math
and gain substantially rcPcutcd this ui'cc IN hs az
nua report. Furthermore, hen W. look INTO tat report
We fad lac secretary, page, ctug to portion
uf demands becsnsc incy have been adjusted upon
.uhicctci cXuniaati0- outstanding that
mode In whcn all such demands have h"tu settled
since the foundation a. the Gottrmurnt-and on the
next page adv sing appropriation be made to
U4t final Judgments II the regular judicial tribunal, IN
I'll thcy stall have been uvrstig gItcd." that is 10
say uu they hail have been subjected Ia the pro-
c,-. Whi, hc has ust before Denounced inadequate
aud uutfustWor'uy. In other words, r objects to pay!
ng portion ol the demands because hey have been
established by partc testimony. and 10 IA! ing an
other portion ~ them until they shall have been cs
tabiisLcd ard 30 he recommends at the adjustment oi
the former be- taken fum thr Department. aud. Nc sup
pose. gwen 70 the courts.
cainoi improve thc Inc Of policy thu. dcge'opsd. 1t
luof- uuic much like the suit ~ pTcdcerniuu-
ZION not pay these demands al all events 20 delay
their pa, m,n rcgaidlcS. If their validity There
thiug- which NOR" to be dreaded than even IN
empty treasury md of thc-r Is the Welloundcd con
Vlo0n people that they cannot expect fair and
honest treatment Ia their dealings with the Government.
Uashfagtou. II. T., Dec. -. 1877. MEkCHANT.