Huntsville gazette., 1881-10-29
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER % 1881

the method which had been followed
ior the disbursement of money for the
expenses OF the Senate Since the death of Sec
retary Burch. He then offered as an indiyid-
ual act a resolution for tie appointment of
Chief Clerk Shorber as Acting Secretary of he
Senate until the vacancy caused by the deat /
of Secretary Burch should be filled. and en-
powerlng him to perform all the official du-
ties pertaining to the Office of Secretary. Mr.
Pendleton said he had been prepared 10 offer
similar resolution. The resolution was
adopted without division. The nomination
OF Edwin d. Morgan for Secretary of the
Treasury was received and confirmed without
opposition.
THE MEIINE REPORT.
May last j. i. gaiinc, John Walker and
W. H. Hills were appointed a committee to
examine the disbursement contingent ex
penses account of the Treasury Department.
June IA the Secretary called for the report
covering the investigation up to and includ
ing that date. This report was called for by
a resolution offered in the Senate by Senator
sherman, which was adopted on the 2lst inst
The report was day submitted to the Sen
ate. The committee say that sowing to state
ments made to US by the Chief Clerk we have
stationery, but have confined our in.
quiries to accounts and expendi
lures under appropriations for other
contingent expenses" The attention Of the
Secretary is called to various sections of the
Revised Statutes, prescribing the powers and
duties of certain officers of the department in
relation to the accounts under examination
all of which are quoted in detail. The Or
ganiZation of department officers and sal
aries are noted, and the report continues:
" For several years there has been in the de-
partment quasi officer called the Custodian,
who has, under direction of the Chief Clerk.
conducted most of the business connected
with contingent expenses OF the Treasury De-
partment, and had custody and disposition
of purchases out of appropriations for con-
tingent expenses. The present Custodian, o.
L. Pitney, was appointed by the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury June, 1876, with
per annum. This compensation was in
creased to 81 500 per annum from July |, 1877,
and is paid out of the appropriation for the
pay of custOdians and janitOrs for all public
buildings under control of the Treasury De-
partment. Your committee are of opinion
that there j. no authority in law for either the
appointment or payment OF this Custodian
The requirements of Sec tion 3,709, Revised
Statutes, seem to have been observed only in
the purchase of fuel, ice and carpets. In
making purchases and ineurring expenses to
be. paid out OF the appropriations Tor other
contingent expenses of the department., Ordi-
nary precautions adopted by business men
have generally been neglected, and in many
of the methods employed in making pur-
chases, the committee find that large
quantities of rich carpeting have been paid
for, some of it twice, as proven by
duplicate vouchers, and in some cases at
least carpets of an inferior grade have been
received; sugar and lemons were paid for as
candies, out OF the Appropriation IOr gas, ana
lunches were provided for in similar man
ner; overcoats were purchased as billiard
cloth, for covering desks; casl< of bay
as deodorized alcohol; $500 was paid out OF
the appropriation for ice, Ostensibly for file
holders, none of which were ever received in
the Department.. and of which transaction the
Custodian refuses to make any explanation.
Over S. 600 was received from sales of waste
paper, of which no official return has been
made. Various other details are cited in the
reports and, in conclusion, the committee
w
submit any recommendations relative to
changes we think necessary in the system of
making purchases and disposing of them. We
will say, however, that we think the system
at present in vogue is very loose and liable to
great abuse. and in our opinion it should be
materially changed"
Communications from Assistant Secretary
Upton, covering the period during which he
was Chief Clerk of the Department, and Major
Power, present Chief Clerk, accompany the
report. Each of these communications refers
in detail to the various statements of the com
mttee, and maintains there was no neglect
during,their respective terms relative to max
ing purchases after proper advertisements
had been made and proposals received. They
maintain that the records of the Department
bear them out in this statement.