Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-08
POEIp>tgA,is
OFFICLfL DOCU.NE.NT.
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.,
Inn DT lScn

ton OF the House OF Representatives Of the 18th inst
calling Tor information in relation TO the
&c. OF Miles King, late Navy Agent at Norfolk, Va
TO pres nj the accompanying report Of the Fourth Au
dor OF the Treasury, containing part oil the informs
called for.
There is also transmitted marked A. copies Of certain
vouchers presented 10 the Department by the sid late
agent. which have been rejected. each of which.
respectively, given the for the rejection or
disallowance by the Department.
la addition IL the assigned these vouchers
Tor their rejection, may be proper 10 state, by way oil
explanation, az to part OF them, that the salary of
Navy Agent is limited by law to $4,000 per annum;
and that all allowed to the agent and above
this amount, are intended To cover expenses which
have been necessarily incurred IN the discharge of the
duties of his office for clerk hire. Office rent
fuel, &c In the vouchers alluded 20, appears that
the demands Of Mr.. King to these expenditures
were made from time to time, allowed by the respec-
tive Secre taries, aud the several sums carried TO his
cred, the book. OF the Treasury After lapse Of
from ten TO thirteen years these charge. for clerk hire
SC. are reproduced, and the items considerably in
creased in amount.
In to that part of the resolution which calls
Tor Information as 10 the msnner in which Mr.. King
has kept hi accounts and made lis monthly and quar-
tery returns, II may be promised, that the law re-
quires The Navy Agent 10 make quarterly returns of
his accounts TO the Treasury Department, and that
these shall be accomp MED by vouchers necessary to
the correct and prompt settlement thereof" and il is
required that monthly returns shall be made the Sc
creAry OF the Navy Of the monrys received and ex.
peneeI during The preceding mon H. and oil the uuex.
penie nded bal nee IN his hands."
This equation enable, the Secretary Of the NAVY
10 remit TO the agent the ssavy for a prompt
compliance with all contracts entered into by the ANY
Department. and 10 limit The advances to the az eut so
that an necessary and large amount of money may
not BE- Lett in lis hands. The monthly returns OF Mr..
King not made in conformity these requisites
OF the law. Requsions were made upon the Depart
men in the eaIly part OF May 1929, Tor a consderab able
OF money, when the montbly return for April
Showed that he had in his hands ldrs balances appca-
bic 10 the same objects for which his acquisitions
drawn. An eSll nation asked of this variance be.
left OF he
18th May, ls2o) No satisfactory explanation was
given.
1t was then deemed proper to examine into the state
Of his accounts with the Treasury, from which il ap
peard hat Will the return 10 that Department the
30h OF JuGe 1929 exhibited balance to be due from
Mr. Kiug to the United States of % 56S S. the month
ly returns TO the Navy Department, ending sam
day, stated balance to be due from the United States
TO him of S20e65 IL, makog difference between these
returns oil $40, 633 90.
further investigation of this subject developed the
two following facts: ls That the monthly the
Navy Department, from the year 1922 never did agree
with the returns made to the Treasury Department for
the same time and same purposes and I'd. That they
invariably Showed smaller balance against Mr. King
than proven to be the fact by his settlements with
the Treasury Department. The importance of these
dsagrcements will be better understood, when ii is kept
in mind that the quarterly returns made TO the es
ry for settlement, while the monthly returns TO the Ma
Wy Department, statements upon which advances
to be made 10 the Agent 1t scarcely be
sary 10 remark, that If the accounts OF the Agent
tanned correct representation of the transactions of his
office, the three monthly returns to the Navy Depart
men should agree with the quarterly returns made to
the Treasury Department for the period. This
found to be the fact with the returns OF the other pn
cipal Agents.
The paper marked contains synopsis of these dis
crepances, from 1922 10 June the 30th, 1929 This do
cument shows that Mr. King had for the last seven
years with the exception of short me,) preceding
his removal from office, retained in his hands unac-
knowlcdged TO the Navy Depar inent, of the
public monies averaging from $4,000, TO $4,000 per
annum
The paper marked shows the amount of the requi-
sitions made upon the Department by Mr.. King, from
the llh of May to the 9TH of August 1925 and il al
so shows, accurately could be determined, the
amount necessary the expenses for the naval
service at that station for the period exhibiting
overdras upon the Navy Department amounting about
$53,I27 %.
OF the claims which have been set up against the
Department by others growing out of Mr. Kings agen-
cy the principal is one to the amount of $l0II II,
made by the United States Bank at Norfolk, Virginia
for advances protested TO have been made the agent
''selely Government account" the correspondence
arising from which, is herewith presented, marked ID.
Under no view of the the claim deemed adj
missible The Navy Agent had received no authority
to borrow money the credit of the United States nor
was the Bank warranted in assuming the right of de-
terminng when the public service demanded advances
to be made TO its Agents discretion which the act of
3ls of January, 1923, declares shall be exercised un
der the special direction of the United States"
The assumption of such discretion by the Bank has
thrown upon that institution this debt of SiOl4i II,
from which they have asked TO be relieved.
Had the right of the Bank TO make these advances
been sanctioned By the Department. this default of Mr.
King would have fallen upon tho United States Trea-
sury.
Copies of the correspondence called for will also be
found with the papers herewith transmitted.
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, Sir.
Your obedient servant,
JOHN BRANCH.
The Hon. ANDREW STEVENSON,
Spcaher IF the House IF Representatives.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.,
Fourth .attiitO,'s Office,
26h May, 1880.
SIR: In reply to much of the resolution of the
House of Representatives, passed the 18th instant
by you referred TO me, relates to the accounts Of
Miles King, Esq late Navy Agent at Norfolk | have
the honor TO make the following Report
The balance appearing due the Government
from Miles King on the books of this Of
fee, is $685. 20
The Bank of the United States has present.
cd TO you a claim for moneys overdrawn
by him while remttances were suspend
ed previous to his removal, of 40,14l II
The same Bank has presented to me SINH
lar claim for money paid Ichabod Scran.
SH479 81
Mr.. King had presented to this office claimed and OBJ
tanned credit for most Of the items contained in the claim
OF the Bank before that claim presented. Had the
remanccs called for by him before his removal been
made no would have paid the claims Of the Bank and
his whole default would then have been the Govern
ment. The suspension Of his calls Of money by you,