The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-01-20
Entered at the Postofice in Bottineau, N.
Oak, as Second-class Matter
CAPITAL AUTOCRATS.
OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON WHOSE
ONLY LAW is THEIR WILL.

OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON WHOSE
ONLY LAW is THEIR WILL.
Striking Example Is the First Comp
troller OF the Currency, Whose Decisions
Cannot Even Be Vetoed by the President,
Who Has the Power of Removal.
Among the most remarkable features
If this government by the people is the
extraordinary authority vested in certain
subordinate officials at Washington.
For instance, no man in the United
States wields 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"
II will not, Mr.. President" replied
the recalcitrant official.
"Then l will compel you to do SO" said
General Grant.
"You have not the power" rejoined
the comptroller coolly and respectfully.
sWe will see about that" said the
president. II will consult the attorney
general
Tho 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:
81 find that I cannot compel You to
countersign the warrant. However,
can get another first comptroller"
very 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
postmaster in any city is doubtful re
garding the morality of publication
that is sought to be mailed, he forward
a copy Of the suspected work to the thirt
assistant postmaster general, by whom
! it is referred to the assistant attorney
general.
Very likely the latter may be too bus.
to investigate the subject personally, il
which case he turns it over to one of hi
clerks. who peruses it and marks an,
passage which he. considers indecent
Thus the law lord has simply to glanc
over the selected tidbits of impropriet,
and pass on them. The assistant attor
ney general also determines what mai
matter shall be considered fraudulen
and be excluded as such from the post.
The third assistant postmaster genera
is himself an autocrat. He has authorit,
to exercise his own discretion in depriv
ing periodical publications Of the ad
vantage of second class postal rates
Publications intended for advertisin!
purposes primarily are not allowe'
those rates. On account of the ''Kreutze
Sonata" whole series of books, of whic
it was one, was shut out of the mails.
Publishers commonly get out vol
I pmes in series, because in this shap
they go second class as periodical publ
cations 60 long as they are issued a
least four times year. The decisio
against that work did not-actually ez
clude it from the post, because it coul
be and was sent at first class rates
sealed, so that nobody could lawful
open the package and find out what wa
inside.
The autocrat of the department c
agriculture is the chief of the bureau G
animal industry. He has authority
kill any animal he may choose anywhe1
in the United States. When one of hi
inspectors reports that such and sue
cattle are afflicted with an infection
disease, he orders them purchased an
slaughtered. The value of the beasts
judged by two appraisers, one chose
by the owner and the other by the br
Z reau. If they cannot agree, they al
point third person to decide. In cas-
a man refused to have his live stoc
thus disposed of, the police and Unite
States marshals would be Summoned.
The payment adjudicated is made b
check. The chief Of the bureaus author
ity in such matters is absolute over th
territories and District Of Columbis
For operations in any state he must hav
. the consent of the governor, but the go,
ernor's consent cannot be withheld b
i !, cause heis ID q position 70 coerce th
state. If he chooses, he can qaarantin
the state, preventing "a animals froI
noin9 into Or coming ont Tor an intlef
nits period st. Loais ealohe. loe,ntc''ss