Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-10
DO NOT LIKE TO BE sTINrEp.
The Treasury Policy Causes Some Dissatis
faction in Other Departments.

The Treasury Policy Causes Some Dissatis.
faction in Other Departments
There is a fight on between the Treasury De-
partment and the War Department growing
out Of the policy Of holding back appropri-
ations, which has been inaugurated for the
purpose of accumulating money to meet the
redemption OF ~ per cent bonds.
There IL tremendous arbitrary power in
the hands of the second controller, and when
he has q disposition to use it he can give the
various disburring officers a great deal Of
trouble. Not long sgo Second Controller Gill
keson got into q controversy with the Navy
Department with relation to the pay Of the
Marine Band, cutting off a part of their pay.
Now he has tackled the War Department,
and there is a bitter war between him
am. and Gen; .Baschelder, the 9uartermAster
appropriated s750.OOO for the consfruc-
tion and enlargement OF military posts,
but Judge Gilkeson notified the Secretary Of
War that before this money could bs turned
over to that department for allotment between
the several posts, in which the Secretary Of
war has discretion, there would have to be a
transfer settlement Of expenditures made out
OF former appropriations, but according to the
holding Of the controllers Office charge
OF War is given lump sum for all
military posts. to be spent among them
according to his discretion. In addition to
this appropriations are made specifically for
the construction and completion of certain
posts. The Secretary of War has held that
money from the general fund could be ex-
pended on the new posts specifically appro-
prlated for, and appropriations have been ap-
portioned according to this view. The controller
holds that this is not In accordance with the
chargeable to the appropriation of the next
year which is available. In this manner nearly
$500, which has already been expended out Of
other appropriations, the controller holds,
must be deducted from the appropriation,
and that drafts for only the difference between
tins sum and the appropriation Of $3.50, 900 can
be drawn.
KEEPING MONEY IN THE TREASURY.
The effect OF this is to reduce the appropria-
tion made by Congress and to hold in the
treasury q very considerable sum Of money,
which, though hot expended in excess of any
appropriation, was allotted differently from
what the controller holds to be legal.
This means great deal to the War Depart
ment, and Gen. Batchelder is fighting the deci-
sion very earnestly, and the suggestion comes
from the War department that the purpose is
merely to avoid making as large an expenditure
this year as Congress contemplated.
just before Secretary Foster went away there
was conference on the subject between the
Secretary, Gen. Batchelder and Judge Giike-
son. The Secretary did not take any par ticular
part in the controversy, but there was bitter
contention between Gen. Batchelder and Judge
Giikeson, which lasted long while and ended
very angrily. Gen. Batchelder insisted that he
would go ahead with the work according to the
terms Of the law. and Judge Gilkeson declared
that II he did SO his accounts would be held up.
AS Judge Gilkeson has the power arbitrarily to
hold up the accounts and threatens to do SO,
the quartermaster generals depar tment seems
to be helpless in the matter
There l5 q general uneaaipeaa apoopO tho dia-
bursting officers of the various departments of
the government on account of the stint of
money. As has been limited at before reauisi-
tlors made upon the Treasury Department for
money have been laid aside without approval
that the money might be accumulated to meet
the AZ per cents that came due on the I'd of
this month. There was conference between
the President and the several cabinet officers
on this subject and it was there agreed that
only such requisitions as could not by any pos
sibiiity be deiayed should be approved by Mr.
Foster, and that the departments would have
to put up with the Inconvenience caused by
this policy. Requisitions for river and harbor
improvements, for building bridges, for public
buildings for agricultural schools and MANY
other public works have been held up in this
way.
REQUIsITIoNs ALLOWED.
Where work is actually in progress and
money must be paid out thu acquisitions are
divided up SO as to allow only about one
third to one-sixth Of the amount asked for
On requlsition for quarters accounts some
times only half a months accounts are audited
and allowed at a time, SO to draw the rest
out OF the revenues of months following
Where work is not yet in progress as is the
case with regard to many of the public build
ings authorized by the last Congress and with
regard to some OF the river and harbor i'm
provements, the starting Of the work is delayed
and no money at all is allowed to 60 out.
In addition to the money accumulated in
this way about 81, 500, 900 more has Just been
called for from some OF the banks holding gov
ernment money. The deposits in government
repositories for public expenditures have been
suspended and disbursiag officers having these
large sums to pay out have to draw directly
from the treasury, subject to such delays as
the department. finds necessary or expedient
1t is probable that this policy inaugurated to
meet the present exigencies will be continued
after the exigCncies no longer exist, as it will
give the department better control Of the
expenditures 1t has been custom to deposit
large sums Of money to the credit of the chief
disbursing officers in charge Of work for which
large appropriations are made to and let him
draw on it he needs it to meet payments
The effect of this was to take more money out
OF the department at one time than was actu-
ally needed and to reduce the available cash on
hand. The policy hereafter will be to have the
disbursing officers draw on the treasury for
only such sums as are at the time needed and
to let the expenditures come out of the reye-
nues OF the month within which they fall due
THREE SHIPS GONE