The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-24

Maj. Powell's bureau was never regularly
organized, that the duties of its officers and
the extent of their salaries have never been
defined by law; yet such is the fact. The
whole establishment has been created by
appropriations in lump sums, or for sala-
ries for offices which have no existence, ex-
cept by virtue of such appropriations.
Every one of these appropriations is under
the exclusive control of Maj. Powell; he
can spend them as he pleases.
It has been said that l charge Maj. Pow
ell with having built up his bureau through
such control of the public money. l make
no such accusation against Maj. Powell nor
against congress. The public must judge
of that. All other bureaus are regulated
by law, salaries fixed, duties of the various
offices prescribed, and the civil service
rules enforced: Maj. Powell is law unto
himself: His bureau has grown to colossal
proportions and his expenditures are prince
~ in style.
Whether the public money which he has
received has enabled him to accomplish
these results or not the public must decide.
His opportunities have been great. He has
had money to expend and places to give to
anybody whom he could make useful.
Whether he has availed himself of the OPP
portunities furnished by these lavish APP
preparations any one can judge as we'll as /.
While the doors of every other bureau are
closed against spoilsmen by civil service
rules, the geological bureau is open to tho
friends of all who can aid in procuring ap-
preparations. If this fact has nothing TODD
with appropriations let Major Powell's
apologists tell how he has acquired his
enormous power; why he has the freedom of
the treasury, and why it is that the esti-
mates of all other Departmental and bureaus
while whatever Major Powell asks for is
always granted. Why is it that the repeat
ed efforts of the senate committee on ap-
preparations to limit or control the opera
tions of Major Powell have been unsuc-
cessful? Does any other bureau of the
government obtain money because Its chief y
asks for it2 Why is it that Major Powell
alone receives all the money he has the
courage to ask for without regard to what
use he may make of it?
If lump sums and unlimited discretion in
the use of appropriations have not made
Major Powell the autocrat of the lobby,
what has? have no more interest IN saving
the public money than any other senator,
but, in common with the people of the west,
have an interest in the settlement OF at
country and in the development of its re-
sources. Major Powell's schemes of
self-aggrandizement are detrimental to
the growth and prosperity of all the
states and territories in the arid region, and
consequently we are compelled to oppose
his ambitions and wasteful projects. We
cannot afford to be influenced against our
constituents by beautiful pictures and ex-
pensive maps made at the expense of the
government, or by lucrative places fur
nished to our friends. dependents and rela.
tives. but must represent the people who
are prevented from making homes while
Major Powell is making pictures to crafty
persons who do not realize that the gifts
they receive are furnished at the expense OF
the treasury by appropriations which delay
| the settlement of the west.
VIM. NJ. STEWART.
| Copyright.