Evening star., 1935-03-08
SWANSON FACES
M'CARL ROW QUIZ
Will Be Called Before Sub.
committee Monday
to Explain.

| Secretary Of Navy Swanson will be
called before the House Naval Appro-
priations Subcommittee Monday to
explain the reason for his recent dis
pute with Controller General McCarl.
Swanson has told McCarl he would
be guided in the future by the Attor-
ney General and not the controller
general.
The demands for Swanson's appear
ance before the subcommittee were
made today by Chairman Cary and
two Republican members. Mcleod Of
Michigan. and Otter of Pennsylvania
The bareback Of the Swanson
McCarl dispute occurred during hear
ings on the Navy Departments 1896
appropriation bill when Chairman
Cary told Admiral James o. Richard
son, Navy budget officer. that the
position the Navy Secretary had taken
was not in accord with the sentiment
of his subcommittee.
Omcc Gu10eS.
The law, Chairman Cary explained,
determines the question and makes
1t perfectly plain" that the General
Accounting Office should guide the ex-
penditures of congressional funds.
Cary said:
If this report in the papers be
true, 1 wish to say to the Secretary
that foic SIlhanr,1 mi m
sure I speak the sentiments of this
subcommittee and the general chair
man Of the whole committee, and I
hope of the entire Appropriations Com
mittee-is not in accord in any wise
with the stand he has taken.
Holds Office Valuable.
"It is human nature, know, to re-
sent not being free to act independ-
emily, and particularly so when it is
matter Of judgment and where one
must subordinate ones judgment to
that of another, but the General Ac-
counting Office occupies most valu-
able and essential place in the Gov
ernment's fiscal affairs. 1t was Gre
ated by Congress to carry out this
all-important work for the Govern
ment, and I might say in the protec-
ton of the Treasury and the appro-
priations made by Congress.
rs this to be destroyed by a de-
partment of the Government and if
the controller general can be shunted
around by a cabinet officer or by any
other officer in the Government. then
the controller generals office might
Just as we'll be abolished.
McCarls Decisions Final.
"The act of 1921, known as the
budget and accounting act, specifically
provides that the general accounting
office shall be Independent of the
executive departments and under the
control and direction of the controller
general of the United States and that
the duties Of the general accounting
Office shall be exercised without dis
cretion from any other officer This
act also provides that the balances
certified by the controller general shall
be final and conclusive upon the ex-
ecutive branch of the Government
II appreciate the fact that the
controller general Is not infallible.
He is human like the rest of us, but
in a majority of cases he is right, and
it is the duty of this subcommitt-e to
uphold his hands. Especially it is our
duty to see that the power and au-
thority conferred upon him by Con-
gress shall not be abrogated or de-
stroyed by some branch of the Gov
ernment. If agrieved by his de-
cisions. the Navy Department has its
remedy. You can come to Congress
or you have the Court of Claims to
which to resort.
Wants Relationship Improved.
IT would like to make this observa-
ton and leave with you this addi-
tional thought. think what your
department needs to do more than
anything else is to cooperate with
the General Accounting ONCE, estab-
fishing contacts and have personal
conferences about these matters of i'm
portance In the expenditure Of pub
lie funds. Certainly, these funds
ought to be spent in the way Congress
provides they shall be spent. I am
afraid there is too much of a tendency
on the part of the officers of the
Judge Advocate Generals Office to
have too much pride in their own
opinions. These matters can be
handled without this department hav-
ing any friction with the General
Accounting ONCE, If the ones in there
will make up their minds to do so.
Unless there can be an adjustment
Of this matter, think this committee
ought to recommend to Congress and
the Congress ought to enact such
legislation a. will control this and
uphold the General Accounting Once
II IL has TO be done by the limitation
upon appropriations