Evening star., 1902-08-07
NO FUNDS FOR FOOD
CANNOT BOARD CoNGRESSMEN
AT MANEUvERs.
Ship May Be Used, but They Will
Have to Furnish Their Own
Subsistence.

Controller Tracewell of the Treasury De-
partment today rendered decision at the
request of the Secretary of the Navy to
the effect that while the members of the
committee on naval affairs of the House of
Representatives can be given vessel In
which to witness the forthcoming naval
maneuvers off Newport, r. l., this month,
they cannot be fed at the expense of the
government.
The correspondence relating to the mat
ter Is made public in the following letter
addressed to the Secretary of the Navy:
'Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter of the 29th ultimo
reading as follows:
=" Deeming 1t desirable that the members
OF the committee on naval affairs of the
House OF Representatives be given an oppor-
tunity to observe the naval maneuyers off
Newport, r. l., during the month of August,
the department requests your decision as
70 whether. If a vessel be placed at their
uisposal Tor this purpose, the expenses of
.heir necessary and proper subsistence on
ooard said vessel can be paid from the ap-
vouchers presented by the commanding Of
ncer OF said vessel and approved by the
Secretary of the Navy
Inc contingent appropriation for the
naval service now available is found in the
act Of Congress making appropriation for
5 Sald service for the fiscal year ending June
So. 1903, approved July 1. 1902 public No.
Zo4, page y, and reads as follows:
contingent, navy: For all emergencies
ana extraordinary expenses arising at home
or abroad, but impossible to be anticipated
or OF classIhed. exclusive Of personal services
In the Navy Department or any of its sub
ordinate bureaus or offices at Washington,
District of Columbia $4,000"
1his appropriation is available for the
use OF the department to meet emergencies
and extraordinary expenses arising in the
naval service, and in the expenditure there
Of the Secretary is vested with a wide dis
cretlon in determining the character of
the expenses therein provided for. But
such expenses must relate to and have
some appreciable effect in promoting the
objects for which the appropriation is
made, and are limited to those which are
Comp Dec, 446; idem. 2S7 ider, I5I;
2 Lawrence first comp, Dec, 72)
In the present case, while it is doubtless
very desirable that the members of the
House naval committee should witness the
maneuvers in order that they may be the
better enabled to deal intelligently with
legislation pertaining to that branch of the
publlc service, yet their presence at the
maneuvers cannot be said to be neces-
sary or appropriate means Of increasing the
efficiency of the service or of contributing
to the success Of the maneuyers. The pub
lie benefit would not inure to the navy, but
would inure, if at ALL to the legislative
branch of the government.
The expense of entertaining state and
federal officers has been held not to be a
proper expense of the public service and
the same cannot be paid as such without
specific authority Digest Second Comp.
Dec, vol. 3, sec. 1922
Since it does not appear that the pro-
posed expenditure is a necessary or ap-
propriate means of promoting any of the
objects for which the. appropria ton for
contingencies of the navy was made
have to advise that the same cannot be
paid from said appropriation.
Respectfully,
(Signed) r. ]. TRACEWELL,
COnfrOler