New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-10-11
CAPITAL: AUTOCRATS:
OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON WHOSE
ONLY LAW is THEIR WILL.


troller of the Currency, Whose Decisions
Cannot Even Be Vetoed by the President,
Who Has the Power of Removal.
Among the most remarkable features
Of this government by the people is the
extraordinary authority vested in certain
subordinate officials at Washington.
For instance, no man in the United
States Yields such power in money mat
- ters as the first comptroller of the cur
rency. He is entirely independent of
the secretary of the treasury, and even
the president has no means of coercing
him, as the following story shows:
When Grant was in the White House,
First Comptroller Taylor refused to
countersign a warrant for the payment
of big claim out Of the funds of the
treasury. The president summoned him
and said:
You must sign"
Il will not, Mr.. President" replied
the recalcitrant official.
Then will compel you to do So" said
General Grant.
lyon have not the power" rejoined
the comptroller coolly and respectfully.
1--WE will see about that" said the
president. II will consult the attorney
general"
The attorney general, on being con-
suited, stated that the comptroller was
right-he could not be forced to coun-
tersign the warrant. Next day the pres
ident summoned Mr.. Taylor and said:
&1,1 %Iok r L..
countersign the warrant. However, I
can get another first comptroller"
Every we'll, Mr.. PRESIDENT" replied
the officer. 'You can have my resigna-
ton, but not my signature"
In fact, the only way in which the
president can override decision of this
powerful official is by dismissing him
and appointing another man. All of the
accounts of the government, except those
which relate to customs and the post
office department, are settled by war
rants countersigned by the first comp
troller. Without his signature the pay
ments cannot be made
There are two autocrats in the post
office department. One Of them is the
assistant attorney general. It is his
function to decide whether matter Of
fered for mailing is immoral or not. He
acts as censor for tho people. Whenever
a postmaster in any city is doubtful re-
garding the morality of a publication
that is sought to be mailed, he forwards
a copy of the suspected work to the third
assistant postmaster general, by whom
it is referred to the assistant attorney
general.
Very likely the latter may be too busy
to investigate the subject personally. in
- which case he turns it over to one of his
clerks, who peruses it and marks any
passage which he considers indecent.
Thus the law lord has simply'to glance
over the selected tidbits of improperly
and pass on them. The assistant attor-
ney general also determines what mail
matter shall be considered fraudulent
and be excluded as such from the post.
The third assistant postmaster general
is himself an autocrat. He has authority
to exercise his own discretion in depriv-
ing periodical publications of the ad-
vantage of second class postal rates.
Publications intended for advertising
purposes primarily are not allowed
hose rates. On account of; the ':Kreutzer
Sonata" whole series Of books, of which
t was one, Was shut; out Of the mails
Publishers commonly get out vol
INES in series, because in this shape
hey go second class as: periodical publ
ations so long as they are issued at
east four times a year. The decision
against that work did not actually ex-
Jude it from the post, because it. could
re and was sent at first class rates,
called, so that nobody could lawfully
pen the package and find out what was
inside.
The ,autocrat of the department of
griculture is the chief of the bureau of
industry. He has authority to
i'll any animal he.may choose anywhere
4 the United States. When one of his
lspectars reports that such and such
attic are afflicted with an infectious
lsease, he orders them purchased and
laughtered. Thevalue of the beasts is
judged by two appraisers: one chosen
~ the owner and the other by the bu-
eau. If they cannot agree, they ap-
oint third person to decide. In case
man refused to have his live stock
hus disposed 'of, the police and United
states 'marshals would be summoned.
The payment adjudicated is made by
heck. The chief Of the bureaus author
ty in: such matters is absolute over the
erritories and District of Columbia.
'or operations in anysstate he must have
he consent of the: governor, but the gov
rnors: consent cannot be withheld be-
ause.h he is in opposition to coerce tho
tate. If he, chooses, he can quarantine
be state, preventing all animals from
Ding into, or coming out for an eindef-
tie period.-St. Louis Globe Democrat,
Wire:ase q Strengthened.
The method Of strengthening copper