The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-02
By JAMES R. MORROW.

the Iaho, getung right down to the hard
facts
Fisuratively, Robert J.'TracewelI. comp
troller. sits over against the door of the
Treasury with a lynx-eyed guard Of
eighteen men-Iawyers like hlmself-and
serutlnizes every penny that is paid out
Government Is now costing more than
SL@OoO0.oe0 a year. TraeeWens Office,
therefore. is no mollycoddle task
In stature no FITS his place, and thirteen
years OF uubroken service show that he
is competent in all other respects. Also
No has the face for it--long. dark, and
diagnosed, austere in repose. and a mat
OF hair as black as night. He can rum
bic his mo- In thundsr-like voice and
wrinkle his brow and look mighty fierce
Still, he can say yes with fine courtesy
and even with benignity; but he must
have the law for tiff not IN the books,
then in his own code of prudence and
common sense.
In word, TTacewell makes his statutes
as he goes along If none has been made
by any one else. President Taft might
say: Pay the bin. And Tracewell might
reply; With due respect. l have the
honor 10 report thar the bill shall not be
paid so long as I am on the job" Neither
new command from the White House
nor the decree of court could compel
Traeewell TO change his ground
Might BE Removed.
However. il the President were a head
strong person, he could remove Trace
well from onice and appoint another man
20 the position thus emptied OF its occu-
pant In a way, then, the Comptroller
or the Treasury Is an autocrat, whose
judgments can only be reversed by cut.
ting on his head. SIN. his authority
stops with the payments OF public money.
Most payments. OF course, are the
plain and simple transactions OF every
day business. But sometimes the laws
are ambiguous. Again, they may con-
nict. In ali such cases Tracewel is the
Judge His pay Il" or don't gay it."
accordingly, is final unless the claimant
Is private indlyldual-a contractor nr
merchant, Tor inStance-in which event
he may carry his cause 10 the Court of
Claims. and have Il heard on It's merits
Now and then there is a volunteer
watchdog OF the Treasury IN Congress.
generally in the House OF Representa-
uves. Some OF them are narrow men
hoarders OF pennies. naturally, and 9th
ers are politicians who preach economy
on the theory that IL is always a safe
aid popular issue with the common peO-
pie. especially the agricultural classes.
The ordinary watchdog is an obstruc-
ZIONIST He has a vocabulary Of two
words: Il object" but no rarely pro |
teste If the appropriation is going into |
his own district. 1t so happens, there !
fore. that watchdogs IN Congress are not
taken seriously in all cases. and often
are called hypoerites and pests.
With Tracewell the circumstances are
entirely different. He is a genuine
watchdog under the statutes BY law.
he cannot be anything else. A warrant
Tor money is not good unless it contains
his signature. although ii may be signed
by the Secretary Of the Treasury himself
The salary Of the President passes over
his desk. There are hundreds OF dis
fursing officers in the government and
many auditors. The eye OF Tracewell is
on them constantly.
He is required. on his own motion, !
when in the interests Of the government. /
so the law provides. TO revise any ac-
count settled by any auditor"
The King OF MOneybags.
Thus it happens that Tracewen is also |
detective. Manifestly he must be an |
expert accountant Indeed. he is a pretty
big man from any angle Of observation. |
Likewise. he is a reader OF human char |
acter. Sitting in his gloomy Office three |
floors up. at the Treasury, and at his |
ancient desk, judicial in his attitude. /
smoking a scent cigar, he is king of the |
money bags. and millions IN paper go |
through his hands every day He is the |
one man in Washington who cannot |
withdraw to the mountains OF the sea-
shore in summer
when in doubt. ask Traeewell" is the
rule Of every official. including the At |
torney General Into the cheerless court |
of the Comptroller go several matters |
each month from the White House Itself. |
Yet in actual money Tracewell never sees |
a cent.
isn't It easier 10 say no than yes |
after one forms the habit?" I asked.
IT do not believe It is" Mr.. Tracewen |
answered. The normal man Is a kindly |
and accommodating fellow when he is |
otherwise, nature has made a blunder |
The word yes moves the world, and is |
the basis Of all progress. II must be |
spoken before there can be store a !
railroad. factory. farm, or hearth |
stone Yes is spontaneous and governs |
all action, but it can also signify weak |
ness or the lack OF morality or decision. |
No, IN many instances, can be defined /
as stagnation: In others, as strength and |
wisdom
Neither word should become a fixed |
habit. but each should be used sensibly
when there is no law TO supply a definite /
answer. Both words are full OF dangers,
as both are necessary In human relation
ship A seed that terminates says yes
one that dies In ground says no But
the seed that sprouts may poison field |
where cattle feed or a spring where
people drink So each word should be
approached with an open mind and sound
principles. together with all the good /
sense attaina5le y am talking more
like book han a human being II is
because YOU suggested a subject 10 which
l have given some reflection as l go and
come upon the earth. -
Are appropriation bills passed by Con-
gress given TO you for Interpretation? I
asked.
His Word Is Final
When they need Interpretation Usually
money is voted for specific purpose-to
build battle ship. for example. or TOD
improve a harbor However. details in
many Instances are left 10 administrative
officers. and they come to4he for a final
construction. II one is putting up a