Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-13

The House committee on appropriations
have completed the legislative, executive, and
judicial appropriation bill, and authorized Mr..
Cannon to report it. The bill, which was
drafted by Mr.. Cannon, differs from previous
legislative bills in making specific appro-
priations for all employees in the executive de-
partments, instead Of leaving them,
as heretofore, to be paid out OF
gross appropriations. The principal fea-
lures of the bill are as follows: It increases the
clerical force engaged in the preparation of pen
sion cases to such an extent as to enable the
commissioner to examine and adjust all pending
claims within three years. 1t directs the Secre-
tary Of War to transfer all the records in the
Office OF the surgeon general of the army. from
which the evidence is furnished for the settle
ment OF claims for invalid pensions, and also
the clerks employed upon such records, to the
Office OF the adjutant general of the army if.
in his judgment, the work of furnishing such
evidence will be facilitated or the number of
clerks employed upon such work can be mate
rally reduced in number by such transfer. It
authorizes the adjutant general to use a part of
the State department building for Offices and
thus effects saving of the. $15, 900 per annum
now paid for the rental of offices in other and
less secure buildings. Finally, it strictly pro-
hibits the employment in the executive depart
ments of any other clerks than those for which
1t specifically provides and thus renders impos-
sible many of the abuses and irregularities which
characterized the old system Of clerical appoint
ment.
comparison of the bill with the estimates
upon which it is based, and with the expenses
Tor the same departments in the current year.
shows the following results Estimates for
1883, SCI. 175, .65; amount appropriated by
the bill, $19, SOL ,04790 decrease, 81 484 855 Is
Amount appropriated for the current year, $17,-
0kAy hxvf1
bill, $19,691 04790; increase $2. CSC, 1854. If
from this last-named amount, however, be de-
Quoted expenditures heretofore included in and
covered by the sundry civil and other apprOpri-
alton bills. the net increase made by the present
bill will be reduced to %, 218S5241. The prin-
cipal items which 60 to make up the increase
on the amount appropriated by the bill, as COM
pared with the amount appropriated for the cur
rent year, are as follows: For 80 additional
clerks and othel employees to expedite pension
work in the Offices Of the adjutant general, sur
geon general, second controller, second auditor,
third auditor, and In the Pension Office, 81, 3d.
43O; for contingent and other expenses Incident
to this increase of force, $224, 900; for the in
crease in the membership Of the House Of Repre-
$53, 344; for fifty-one additional clerks in the
sixth auditors Office, $64, 600; for 48 addi-
ti0nal clerks In the General Land Once, S72,-
$50; for 81 additional clerks In the Patent
ONCE, &67 $50; for Al additional clerks In the
Post ONCE department, $50 07O; for 10 additional
clerks in the Department Of Justice, $9, $50; for
salaries and expenses Of collectors and deputy
collectors of Internal revenue, 100000 By
reason OF deficiency appropriations the present
cost of the service in the Land Office and Patent
Office Is nearly the same as that contemplated
by this bill. The nominal increase made by the
bin in the number of employees in the executive
departments at Washington, and in the bureaus
and offices subordinate thereto, Is 2,207. This
number includes ], 80 clerks for pension work,
and $40 clerks already employed in the depart
ments, but paid out Of miscellaneous appr0priar
clerical force, therefore, exclusive OF pension
clerks, is 1871 No increase Is made By the bin In
salaries and no ofllCes are created abo1o The
xrade Of fourth c1as8 G1effahapa