East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-09-19
TREASURY RED TAPE.
Smallest Items Must Pass Through
Many Officials Hapds.

Many Officials Hands.
Washington.-No money can be
paid out Of the government treasury
unless the expenditure Is clearly au-
thorized by law and strict compliance
with the law results in some very
small Items being run through very
ponderous machinery. Trifling indif-
ferences arising from travelling ex-
penses, extra time for the purchase of
supplies often pass through various
stages until they reach the highest
authority in the government, the
comptroller Of the treasury. This
applies to all except the revenues of
the postoffice department The
comptroller is the boss OF the audi
tors, Of whom the treasury has to
pass upon the accounts Of each de-
partment, and from his decision there
Is no appeal Neither the secretary
OF the treasury nor the president has
authority to order him to change a
decision nor can they take any matter
under his Jurisdiction out of his
hands. The only thing that can be
done by the heads of the government
to change the situation, in case they
do not like comptroller or his de-
cisions, is to remove him and bring
in another man.
An old and reversed tradition in the
treasury building is that some 20 or
80 years ago the secretary of the
treasury and the president desired to
make a certain use of a part of
fund.
1t was a necessary and proper ex-
penditure according to the best
standards of public welfare and good
ly authorized by law. Congress, no
doubt. would cheerfully have made
the appropriation had the matter
been brought to its attention, but
congress was not in session when the
need arose and the immediate use of
the money was necessary. The ques-
ton was brought to the attention of
the comptroller informally and he
gave notice that II II was submitted to
him for decision he would rule in the
negative. Every possible argument
was used in an effort to change his
views but he would not be swerved
from his settled judgment When
there seemed to be no way out of
the difficulty a happy solution dawn
ed upon those who wanted the mon
ey. 1t was to convince the comptrol-
Ter that his health was somewhat i'm
paired and that a vacation for
month would be to his physical ad-
vantage and the benefit OF the gov
ernment in the renewed strength he
would bring to his duties The ar
was pleasing to the comp
troller and he sailed forth in search
of health and recreation. A substi-
tute was appointed to serve in his alb
sence and it happened that the new
man held an opinion regarding the
question in deadlock opposite to the
views of the regular comptroller. He
rendered decision accordingly
An acting Judge advocate general
Of the army is dignitary of large
power but a case came up recently
he was overruled by the
A member of the hos
pital corpse at Fort Bliss was con-
demned by a court martial to pay a
fine of SIS, the money to be extract
ed from three months pay. There
were some complicated questions in
volved that were appealed to the
iulge advocate generals office and |
the officer acting at the time decid- !
ed that Sc should be refunded to the |
soldier. The officer who collected |
the fine appealed to the comptrolled |
whose decision was that the soldier |
was entitled to no rebate and he re-
,eived none. !