Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-06


! they are sometimes wise and as &
matter of comfy between the branch
es OF government referred to by Mr.
Jefferson. Mr.. Jefferson evidently
considered these branches coordinate
ana no one subordinate to another
Under the Constitution. Congress has
sole jurisdiction in Impeachment pro-
ceedings; but | infer from the quota
/ ton from Mr.. jefferson that he would
nave looked with alarm upon an in
Vestlsatlon either of the Judicial OF
| the executive department, unless II
was in some way connected "ith
actual or prospective impeachm"nts.
IL IS hardly necessary to suggest
that each branch can investigate its
own affairs with much more thorough
ness than any coordinate branch can
investigate another.
The Treasury Department buys
paper for printing money, postage ana
revenue stamps. etc, under contract,
ana receives it by the carload. a
record is kept of the number of sheets
received, the number printed, and the
number spoiled. Last spring l caused
| the Bureau of Engraving and Print
80 ~ ''iiul dpN II, am 49, ~ =
| counters OF work to verify the account.
This had not been done for more than
fifteen years, during which time the
department had consumed over 1000
tons of paper. When the count was
completed, not a sheet was missing.
The internal-revenue stamps in the
department had not been counted for
years though a record of those 1rint-
cd and those used had been kept. |
had them all counted. There We're
over SIS 600 worth on hand, but not
a stamp was missing. l have caused
to be counted the major portion of the
more than 500 carloads of gold ana sill
Yer coin stored in the Treasury vaults.
and the government has not lost 4
dollar.
The Treasury Department. and
doubt not every other department, is
constantly prosecuting investigations.
Within the last three years rot only
the integrity, but the character of the
work, of more than 5000 Treasury
clerks and officials has been invcsti-
gated and reports Of their conduct
filed with the Secretary. This not
only includes the Washington force Of
| about 5000. but it includes the clerical
| force and officials in the custom
houses and subtrcaSuries in the larger
cities. The few removals because OF
these Investigations have caused Sc
| we're criticism in some quarters and
very little commendation. The gov
ernment suffers a thousand fold more
| from inefficiency than from rascality,
| but there being nothing spectacular in
| the discovery of inefficicncy. and since
| removals for inefficioncy are always
met by public criticism, I have never
| known a Congressional investigation
| for the discovery of this more frequent
| weakness SO much as suggested. In
| fact. Congressional Investigations are
seldom proposed except Immediately
preceding a national campaign.
| This may in part account for the fact
that Congressional Investigations have
| seldom discovered delinnuencics in
executive departments. Barring an
Investigation during the administra-
| ton of Martin Van Buren,. which re-
suited in urharthil,g many frauds dur
ing his: own and that of the previous
| administrator of Andrew Jackson.
and one during the administration of
James Buchanan, and the impeach-
! ment proceedings against Secretary
Rclknap during the administration of
General Grant. / do not recall any
Congressional investigation that re-
suited in discoveries of malfcaSance in
| administrative departments. After
delinquencies have been discovered "N'
| the evidence ascertained, Congressi1n-
al eStigatiOnS-never free FROM
partisan bias-have frequently git"n
greater prominence and publicity to
known scandals. That there have
been frauds during Republican ad-
minstrations. and will be frauds COM
mitted so long as there are dishonest
men in the world, is conceded. | only
claim that the Republican party has
ever been sufficiently alert to both dis
cover and punish the evil doors within
its own party.
1t was an Executive investigation
that unearthed the Star Route rascali
ties with their qualifications. 1t was
an Executive investigation that dis
covered the recent delinquencies in the
Postoffice Department and in the Pub
lie Land Office, and these invesugh-
tons involved both Republican officials
and the appOintecs of Mr. Cleveland
| Who had been left in Office. / doubt
very much if a Congressional inNcsti-
CATION could he more searching or
thorough than those already prOsecut-
ed. That Congressional investiga-
ton Instituted by Democratic members
might be more spectacular is conceded.
but our Democratic friends profess OPP
position to everything spectacular.
It is by no means certain that Il
Legislative committee would have con-
stitutional authority to count the
money for which the Treasurer is re-
sponsiblt, without his consent. Under
the strict construction of the Con-
stitutiOn contended for by Mr.. Jeffer-
son, and quoted with apparent APP
prevail by the Democratic nominee. it
would have no authority to give direc-
lions to administrative officials or to
interfere with the discharge Of their
respective duties. Congress can
amend the laws under which the ad-
ministrative departments operate. but
the administrative departments have
sole authority to operate. | fancy it
would cause a CommotiOn if the Chief
Executive should send over a demand
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