New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-03
DEPa RTNENTAL REFORM
MORE RED-TAPE METHODS POINTED OUT
BY THE EXPERTS.
BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED TO-DAY FROM
WHICH A SAVING OF TIME LABOR
AND MONEY Is EXPECTED.
BY TRLHGRhrn 10 THE TEiBrSE.


AND MONEY Is EXPECTED
TRLHGRAfD 10 TIE TEiBrsE.'
Washington Feb THE departmental joint com
| mission will report two bills tomorrow designed
10 reduce expenses ard further simplify the methods
of business I'm several OF the executive depart
ments The enactment of these bills into law viii
result In the dscontinuance of large amount of
unnecessary ana useless work. and one ~ them az
the same time will greatly facilitate the settlement
Of the accounts of officers ana agents of the Gov
eminent WHO have the custody Of AMI responsibility
for public property. This b.ll has been care'a.ly
examined by and has received the approval of the
Secretaries Of the Treasury War. Navy and In
terror departments It provides that hereafter the
property returns Of officers Of the government shall
be the auditors Of tn, Treasury Toy set
Element but that in cases involving the loss Of
Government property through tho fault Of an oihcer
in charge thereof the chief of the bureau in which
h. Is serving shall Gritty to he proper accounting
officer Of the Treasury for debting on the proper
officer on accoun, Of such Joss The present prac-
ce causes much delay in the settlement OF ac-
. counts Of officers and agents of the Government
and in the opinion of the experts wei as Of the
joint commission. it H. wholly unnecessary. An es-
animation OF a years returns of Army officers hay
ing charge OF public property made to the Third
Auditors Office shows that his examination did
not suit in establishing any differences resulting
In a money charge against the officers other than
those that were found in the adminstra i've once
in which the returns were FIRST examined.
The other bill repeals section 81 II the Revised
Statutes. which requires the Treasurer of tns
nitci States TO send 10 Congress y-ar.y state
ment "of al accounts by him from ume 10 tirne
rendered TO and settled with The First conWo.l-r
also AMI perfect aScOGn, OF the s;a.e
OF the Treasury" In IL report approving the
r'commcnda iion Of the expeTts. the JONI con-
THEE reports copies OF TIE quarterly STATE
meuts rendered 70 the accounting officers OF mo
Ir"isury one OF these copies g@ts 10 the senate
and tho other to the IioGs- Of Il 'pr seniatives
OF Zach warrant: the last vou:na Irl;ei contains
=. pae,s. and cost 10 PRINT 81 40 II Tho books are
they ar 80 20 u'nin)us ihat II woud b. exceed
ingy dIfiru 10 obtain from nem any desired In.
Of II any Information Is desired resneciins a
Particular warrant; It g obtained from tae De-
re''ipts and expenditures in the senFe that sHch
statements are usually und. rS.ool TO- b.; sttte,
same transactions are rendered by the Secretary
nation available for use and the making Of ;hess
reports is I'm compliance with an o.d law which f
II oyer had any vane. such value has now become
The annual money saving recommended bv the
ivn billq amounts TO about go bu, me saving OF
g understood that the experts employed by The
Joint commission have discovered that other use
loss ana unnecessary reports have long boon made
e. N year TO year and published considerable
cypnn 3e some Of thom without authority OF law.
rr nx,mule on December 60 l79l tho House Of
Representatives passed simrle House resolution
calling upon tho Register Of The Treasury for re-
port Of receipts and expenditures for th'' year ana
from that time until the present. period OF lo2
y.,r- such "A report has been made To the House
- Representatives each wear. j.. IKE the Teas
ur"rs report already en'ioned. + n point
duplication Of report that i annually rendered by
the head co. tn" Treasury Department. ana there *
~ authority - law for II.
such examples As this are sufficient PROOF. ~ any
Is thought To- h. necessary. OF the wisdom or TIE
present investigation and of III" value Of the results
which tn. Dln' commission and its experts are
ACCOMPLISHING - thoroughly convinced 81 tas Is
H.. Secretary OF the Treasury. that h. has Re-
oii.sted tn. oin' commission 20 allow tn" experts
to investigate tho methods now in use In N" r.
funding OF customs duties and recommend Slch
changes as may be- necessary ;or the public m
forests and the request has been granted NhiiH
IN. Fairrhill Commission investigated TINS subject
and discovered number Of things which In -
opinion required amendment. II failed 10 reconinehi
any remedy.