New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-27
REFORM VIOLATING THE Law
SECRETARY WHITNEY GETS A WARNING
WARRANTS FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS con
TRARY TO ACT OF CoNGREss-DooKKsEPER6
eALARfrG
iSr rELEoRArH 70 rHs ranuxE1,

tSr TELEoRAPH 10 rHI TRnuxE1,
WASHINGTON, July 26.-It is understood thsA
tho validity Of certain accounts for services rendered n
the Navy Department which have been paid By order e
Secretary Whitney has been questioned By some II ~
accounting officers Of the Treasury Department "a
that Mr. Whitney has received ipttmatcns 10 the eso
that such payments are contrary to law. Among ~
accounts thus questioned t those which
the sums paid to Mr.. Calhoun and hs assistants who
have been engaged for several months In ovsrhauns
the books OF the Navy Department. and devising nsv
method OF keeping the Navy accounta
Mr. Calhoun receives $50 day for his SERVICE which
II ct the rate Of per year. he paid for Sundays
and holidays asserted to be the fact Il must ~
admitted that this Is pretty big pay for the head
bookkeeper Of Department
United States Treasurer Jordan for example, receives
only 900 year for his services and yet he has not
only to supervise the bookkeeping and accounts Of IL
the financial transactions Of the Government b
responsible for the safe keeping and
OF millions Of dollars every month"; to say nothing Of the
other burdens which he h compelled to shoulder such.
for example, dsvising and issuing kind Of Gov
ernment obligation to prevent gold from going to pre-
MUM In the first six months Of reform Administrations
But Mr. whitney yesterday declared that the oe
Mr. Calhoun could not be had the Government for LEES
than $40 q day.
It is said that Mr. Calhoun has four assistans, q
$40 day. at 81 so day and $5 each dag.
f they also paid for Sundays and holidays the book
keeping reforms In progress in the Navy Deparmentin
volve expenditure at the rate Of about year.
Three years ago law enacted which prohibits the
employment after October I, 1882 Of any civil officer
clerk or other employe. I'm any Of the execsi-
tive departments, or subordinate bureaus on
ces thereof at the scat Of Government. except
only at such rates and in such numbers respectively
may be specifically appropriated for by Congress for
such clerical and other personal services for each sc
year." The law also provided that NO civil oucore
clerk or other empoye shall hereafter he employed e
the seat of Government In any executive department %
any appropriation made for contingent expenses for
any specific purpose. unless such employ
authorized aud payment therefor spe ideally provided
services actually rendered III connection with aud for
the purposes OF the appropriation from which paymene
is made and at the rate OF compensation usual ana
All laws inconsistent with tho foregoing provisions
were at the same time repealed m..,-
have held that the employment and payment
OF MIR. Calhoun aud his assistants is In con.
OF the s ,Sss he Ss
to employ and pay these men BY virtue OF genera
clause In the Naval Appropriation bill which approrss.
nfty or sixty items under this head are mentioned
board OF and "professional investiet
tion. But under the same head of miscellaneous"n
For all enerxences and extraordinary expenses ens
ing abroad. but impossible to be anticipates
Department or any Of Its subordinate bureaus or onioes
at Washington District of Columbia. 100000"
1t is not Improbable that Congress may De asposeu
especially II 1t shall not bs clearly shown that was AZ
soutey necessary to begin at once the exp nsye inse
teson In progress and that In order 90 condnct
properly 1t was necessary employ men who 80 FAR a.
Known are not more competent trustworthy or exveT
encsd than number: q naval Se,s % sa nt, snS
whose would have involved the Government -
no additional expense.