Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-20
''' Al -'i r ~ UT - Al re-
" WASHINGTON, 18th March, 1923

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
" ASHINGToN, 18th March, 1928.
Hon. G.. a. WICKLIFFE, SC. &c.
SIR: Your letter of the 18th inst. as Chairman
OF Subcommittee, appointed by the Committee
of the House OF Representatives on Retrenchment,
making certain inquiries in respect of remittance
OF $4,000, alluded to in my letter to the Chair
man OF that committee OF the 10Th utimo, was
received the day after its date, and have now the
honor TO communicate the following answer.
The practice of the Department of State is to
employ two banking houses in Europe, of estab-
iished credit and character, one at London and the
other at Amsterdam, TO pay the expenses of the TO-
reign service OF the Government, connected with
our diplomatic corps, consular and other public
gencies. For the purpose Of defraying those ex
pcnses, remittances are made, from time to time,
90 the bankers, who regularly account to the De-
partmcnt. This practice is coevAl with the Gov
ernment.
On the 9Th day Of December last, acquisitions
were made by this Department on the Treasury,
ior &c, 900 dollars TO be RENTED to our European
bankers. The communication which made TO the
Chairman Of the Committee on Retrenchmeht, in
respect TO the remittance, was founded on the day
when the acquisitions made at this Office,
and not on that when the bills were actually pur-
chased at another office, or when they were trans
;nitted 10 Europe. The prompt attention usually
paid at the Treasury did not allow to doubt that
IN this instance, the acquisitions had been complied
with without unnecessary delay 1t appears, in
point of fact from statement from the Treasury,
herewith transmitted, designated No /, that $780,
900 was RENTED, on the 18th day of December,
1897, and S3l 900, on the 18th day Of Jan. 1923.
The total amount, 900, was chargeable TO APP
preparations made prior TO that, for the service of
1928 The same Treasury Statement shews the
heads Of appropriations on account of which the re-
,nittance has been made, aud the object of public
expenditure to which il is applicable The bankers
Will give credit for the amount in their general ac-
count current.
From the time The Treasury received the above
Al - u
Ut from that ON which re ellis were purchased,
las the one or the other mode of keeping the ac-
rount happens to prevail at the Treasury,) the
Department of State became ch1rgeable, and is
presumed 10 have been charged, with the a
boye SUN of seventy thousand dollars and it
must have been so charged on account Of
appropriations made prior 10 the year 1923. Its
credit, therefore, with the Treasury, in conse-
quence Of those appropriations, was rsduced By
the amount Of that sum of $40 900, from the one
period or the other, above mentioned. But the
disbursement Of the remittance must be made in
The year 1925 or, at least, subsequent to the year
1927. And in any account exhibiting the actual
expenditures Of the Department, they ought 10 be
.tfcily charged TO the year when incurred.
Hoping that the explanations and Treasury
Statement now communicated will afford to your
self and the Subcommittee all The information
e1uesicd in your letter,
/ have ihe honor 10 be,
With great respect,
Your obedent servant,
II. CLAY.
Here follows No. embracing rensiuances 10
EWops.y