Omaha daily bee., 1892-04-02
NO TINE FOR MINOR DETAILS
Why Federal Officials Are Occasionally
Charged with Mismanagoment,
AT THE MERCY OF THEIR CLERKS
In the Press OF business Heads of Depart
mcnts Are Compelled to Sign Docu-
mcnts Mechanically without
Regard to Subject Matter.
WAsHISGToN BUREAU OF TnE BEE, !
5l3 EoURTERNrH STREET,

BIB FoURTEENrH STREET,
WAsulNGToN, ID. C., April /.
The official snarl which has become public
between Assistant Secretary Nettletou aud
Immigration Superintendent Owen and has
disorganized the discipline OF the Treasury
department, so far rs the immigration bust
ness is concerned, at least, has again at
tracted attention 10 the unbusiness-like
methods which have for many years pre-
vailed in all OF tho executive departments
respecting the expenditure Of moneys.
There Is scarcely an officer in any of the
eight executive departments. where hundreds
of millions are annually disbursed, but that
has as much care and routine and other du-
ties as he can perform in the strict line of his
work without having to take the responsi-
bility of making disbursements of money,
Assistant secretaries, superintendents and
others have such n complication Of rosponsi-
bilities that it is almost impossible for them
to give attention to tho details where cx-
penditures are made. Thus it is no wonder
| that voucher for q wrong itemization
| should inuocently pass through the hands OF
superintendent Owen or General Nettloton
should be criticised for expenditures madc
on Ellis island. Neither officer had the time
| to give personal attention to the OK penditures
| or look closely at vouchers, although they
| made an effort to do so.
| No Time for Minor Details.
1t will be recalled that, in the great star
| route trial, it was shown repeatedly that of
| icers IN the Postoflice department were IN
| the habit of signing a large pilo of letters
every morning or evening without giving
| them more than cursory glance They had
| neither the time nor the opportunity to look
| into the character or details of the letters,
| some of which pledged contracts or endorsed
bills galore. There arc under each officer
| who has mail TO sign many chiefs of division,
who have under them many clerks, and 1t Is
amazing how many letters, contracts aud
| bills this force will turn out in a day.
| When the responsible officer enters his Of
| flee in the morning or is ready to leave in rho
| afternoon-a moment when his mind is swim
| ming with grave questions OF policy, may be
| there is laid upon his desk for signature II
| pile of letters and documents which would
take all of his time if he attempted to look
into them. They are usually of routine
| nature, similar to thousands of others which
| havo been before him. He signs quickly
| without looking into them, and in perfume
| tory way. Ordinarily it is unnecessary for
| him to look at tho papers; but occasionally
| one OF unusual character, of Importance.
| creeps IN, requiring attention, and it is
| signed pro forma, the same as others. Thus
| it is that scandals arise, and charges of fraud
| or lncompetency are made against honest or
capaole men. 1t is simply mechanical lot
| of work. exercising the muscle, to sign Off
| cial mail. Every confidence Is reposed in
| the clerks who make up the documents for
| signature, and the official signing takes all
| the responsibility. lie generally is engaged
! in other thought, often is talking about other
| things as he writes his name.
| How Errors Occur.
| 1t is but natural that the reader from this
| city who does not understand the surround
| ings should ask why 1T is tnat there are
| financial or accounting officers to properly
audit and closely pass upon these matters.
| There are officers of this character, but they
pass upon bills only, and they have so many
| of them that they, too, are compelled to go
| through the Sane perfunCtory routine that
| tho directing or supervising officers are de-
| scribed as doing. There arc for each execu-
tive department auditors whose only duty is
| TO look into the details OF all bills and ac-
counts of their respective departments. But
| they must necessarily respect the signatures
| of the res ponsible officers who pass upon the
accounts before thcy come to tho auditors as
| the directing heads are supposed TO know
| more of the details of the merits involved.
! So it will be seen, there Is general line
| Of faith in official scrutiny and intelligence,
| not TO mention official integrity, and a sys-
| tenn Of carelessness creeps into the rush of
| official duties which, ccnbined, makes the
| official signature only q matter of course.
| Without any intention of laxity 1t is q Won
der that so few errors occur in the immense
| volume of routine business transacted by the
various departments, where tons OF thou
sands Of men and women are employed and
| so much money is expended. 1t could not
| be so free in private life from fraud or inno
| cent error.
What Congress Has Accomplished.
II is now generally believed that Speaker
! Crisp, Senator Hill and the other democratic
| bosses who are running the house of repre-
Sentatves, will close this session by the end
of July. 1t was tho boast of the speaker
\ when he succeeded IN announcing tho stand
| ing committees before the holidays that the
| session would end early in June. If he winds
| it up six weeks later he will have accom-
| plished much. But what will he have ac-
| complishedi
| The defeat of silver legislation cut shor