The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-06
CANNOT SPEND
WAR SURPLUS
Mr. TraGGWell Stands Firm
in His Opinion.
$4,000, 600 DEE FEEEEGCE FUND INVOLVED
Several Army Contracts Tied Up
by the Decision Of the Comp
troller Of the Treasury-Re-
ply to Secretary Root.

4 held that the accounting officers are
net authorized to allow any payments
made from the appropriation made fer
the national defence CS50. .0OO. .ooo) after
June 80, 1891"
Thus asain DEGREES Robert J TraeeweiL
Comptroller Of the Treasury Of the Unit
cd States. and in 50 doing he has caused
ccrsternation at the War Department
And in rendering such an opinion On such
subject, the Comptroller takes occasion
TO say that his judgment cannot be In
fUenced by the views Of certain executive
oficeTs Of the Government, which is con
s!dsred TO mean the President and the
Secretary of War.
Big appropriation Affected.
The ruling OF 8Ir. Traceweu affects the
right of the President to continue to ex-
pend from the S5g, ,gO0, Goo national defence
fund placed IN Nr. McKinIey's hands Just
prior to the outbreak OF the Spanish
American war. Secretary Root en- No
vember 26. requested Mr. Traceweu to re
consider his decision On this subject Of
January 81, 1901, which the former styled
neutrality-suspicious. of law. The same
view was held by the Comptroller At this
time.
In conclusion OF his decision, Mr. Trace
wei takes q very decided and clear stand
IN the matter. He says: 1T is proper in
conclusion 10 say that while this case
As now presented made 1t necessary for
me to take notice Of the accounts OF Ger
tain executive officers Of the Govern
ment in regard 10 the appropriation.
desire TO diseIaim any intention in what
I have said TO criticise their action in the
matter.
Course Suggested.
What I have written controls myself
and contrcIs the auditors. and If Inc ex-
ecutIve CEcers are stiI Of the opinion that
The law has bcea nisinterpretcd by ne
and refuse 70 be guided thereby. their ac-
tion can, of course, be called into ques-
tion BY the accounting officers only. when
the accounts involving the payments are
tefcre them for settlement. At the same
time I cannot let their views or actions
influence mine against ny own Judgment.
Having been asked by the Secretary OF
War for a decision whether the unexpend-
ed balance Of The appropriation known as
the national defence fund would be
available after June so. 1901. il the EuIfH-
ment c. contracts properly made during
the fiscal year 1898. held in ny decision
of January 81, 1901, that it would not be
50 available, and after careful considera-
tion see 10 reason to modify that decIs-
ion
Many Outstanding Contracts.
The War Department has outstanding
contracts entered into IN 1888 which we're
10 be paid from The appropriation Of S50,-
00Ooo0 for the national defsnce-being
made under the provision Of section $3.50
OF the Revised Statutes Secretary Root
IN his communication said: EFT appears
that the President and Cabinet we're
agreed that the national defence fund Of
S5GO00,CG0 could be used after July /. 1901,
in making payments under contracts
properly entered into during the year
1895"
Mr.. TraceweH refers to this in his de-
cision and says his Judgment could not be
Influenced by the views OF certain execu-
tive officers