Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-07-23
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tary OF the Navy and the Fourth Auditor for f,;,hf.I
discharge OF ueir duty, form appro,ris.e comment
upon The policy OF the opposition. Mr. King NAV hops
10 escape The cdium which attaches his defaca,ion
by abuse OF hose whose duty it il 10y the facts be-
lore an impartial public. but he will nd ha, the spi it
OF inquiry which the case has eciret will lead 10
proper unde standing of his motive and conduct
TU S. Tel.
FOURTH AUDITORS REPLY TO MILES KING
IL seems necessary that should take notice OF
tho deiences attempted by Miles King, late Navy A.
gent at Norfolk in relation TO his accounts To this
am inpeed, not by CONSEQUENCES tha, my o IN act.
or motives require explanation or apology bat by de.
sire tha the Governnen, in its treatment OF this ind
vii'ai, should stard entirely usti III before the Amer
can people.
shall neither apply to Mr.. King invectives nor re-
tort them. lnten2erats abuse and angry crininaton
are the weapons OF mpotent guilt Innocence in her
panoply, neither covets fears them. NV shield is
threats.
To make plain Mr. Xmas duties and nav remarks. i,
IL necessary 10 advert 10 the laws which prov lie for the
and prescribe their duties An &C. of March 81, 1909
U 5 Laws, vol. A. page 220 provides Tor the appoint.
ment OF Navy Agents bv the President, with The all
wee ami consent Of the nate, aud ixes their com.
nNnsstion a, zone per centm The public moneys dis
Ctrsed By them not TO erceed f,c0 thousand d,tlars
per Ghhlt7'. The sci provides tsec A. that he
Agents "-nal, whenever practicable, keep the public
moneys in their hsns in some incornnrad bank, h.
designa'ed for the pups, by the President OF the u
nited States; aud shall make monthly returns in such
urn "a may be prescribed by the Treasury Depart.
ment % The moneys receiped and expended during The
preceding month, and of the unergended balance ia
men hands" An ac' Of March 81. 1917, u :. Law,
(voi o. page 1879 prot de, (cc I3) That ia III be
the duty Of The Secretary OF the Treasury all
aecorns OF the expenditure of public money to be set
cies, sc.
An acI ofJAnuary 3Is,, 1923. U. s. Laws VOL 7.
page llS, provides, Gee. ~ "rhat, from ana Of The
passing oil this act, no ndrance Of public money shall
De mide an any case 'cueuer; bu, in al casss OF ON.
tracts Tor the pFr FINANCE of any service, delivery
OF articles OF any description for the The United
aes payments shall no; exceed the value of 'hs SER
vice rend'red or OF the articles delivered previous
such payments" Two pfovisos authorize III. Pcesi-
dent TO direct advances TO Disturbing oil persons
employed on distant stations.
Sec I'll provides, "Tbat every officer or agent of
the United States who shall receive pubic money,
which he is not Authorized to retain salary, pay or
emoumen' shall render his occounfS qt1itsr- yearly
TO He proper accounting officers IF the Treasury
WITH THE VOUCHERS NECESSARY TO THE coz
RECT AND PROMPT SETTLEMENT THEREOF. toifh-
IN hrSe months. at least after The expiration Of each
successive quarter il resident wi hin the Unied ates;
and within six months, ii resident in a foreign coIa-
try"
The instructions given TO Mr.. King by the Account
ant OF the Navy Department dated Ist Arrils 1916,
the time of his appointment, contain the following pas
sages:
"The form Tof returnI herewith Transmitted is
framed on the principles OF this system, agreeablv
whc', you WiH render yo,tr accounts TO this office
mo"f"iy. 1t will also be proper 10 accompany your
summary statement by abstracts of expenditures on ac
count of each vessel or other specific object"
"The o!cer commanding is held lsblc Ter reeu-
latlng and economZing all expenses account rf hi,
vessel; therefore, supplies be furnished but hy
his directions upon his requi-ion or concurrence IN
wri'iog and in all where articles are delivered
or service OF any kind rendered., t. vessel il viii he
the day oil the commanding officer approve tn ac-
counts or to certify that the articles received.
or That the services rendered. and this 6pidence
IN addition TO bills and receipts for all purchases
expenditures for of, vessel tUiH be ne
ceSSnTY TO enfiHe you TO credit at this office
ut may also be proper to observe. that all receipts
must he signed by the person entitled to receiUe and
AT he nf of
in writing"
The Navy regulations, which took eff ct in 1918
conti among others, the following provisions for The
guidance Of Navy Agent:
"2i: All supplies for ships in port and not under the
control OF the Cormandlnt Of the Navy Yard, are to
be irnishedby the Agent, the req iisitions of hir
CAPTAINS or comm,ndsrs, connersignsd by the com
mandiSg officer aloat provided such supplies cannot
be firnishei from the NAVY StGes.
81. Al supplies for hips repairing at the Navy
Yard, or in ordinary, be furnished by the A.
gent on the requisiion Of The Commandan of the Yard
"4h Stores, provisions, and supplies Of every de-
scrpton, purchased by Agent for The Naval service
OF the United Sdies, be cbtsined at the lowest
rates and Of the best quality; and upon presentInent
OF his account az tbs Treasury 'Farnsni, he mu.t
produce such account, dffested by The signature Of the
commenting oDiceT Of the station, IN prOef Of its &c
curdcy He must also produce, at the same time, the
diberent acquisitions which made upon him loT
supplies, signed and c0uHterSigned directed in the
III article in progf Of his authority for purchases;
and, las w. he exhibit the receipts of he yespec
IRE oBIceTS to Uh0Bi The supplies LCeTe deIiUeTed
without each and every of these docun his
SHAH not be settled. nor SHALL HE RECEIVE A CRED
! 1T FOR ANY ACCOUNT NOT yoUcHED AS ABOVE
REQUIRED"
- h. Every Navy Agent must forward his ac-
counts, ruth the necessary vouchers for settlement 10
the Fourth Auditor of the Treaury gltdrterIy TO w:
on the lSt day OF January, April jay, and October in
which must be distinctly stated the moneys expended
and articles furnished Tor each ship for the Navy or
dock yard and for other purposes. II will also be re
CURED to exhibit M account OF the articles purchased
and remaining in bis possession, Of those delivered
for sale, statement Of saes Of old or uns,ryiceahe
articles, ard particular account of the moneys unex-
pended ard remaining in HE hards.
% b. No moneys to be paid ever by an Agent
nor purchases sales made any Srnses incurred
ercept tCiM me k10UIedge and sanction of The cam
mGnding officer Of the station under particular in
Instructions from the Secretary Of ie Navy or of the
Navy Commissioners"
BY comparison Of Mr.. Kings own statement wi n
the law, Instructions and regulations prescribed for
hs government, it viii he perceived that there was
ample for his removal from office. lie wls agent
more than thirteen years He was r,quired by law
and eeuhiion to render his a,counts al fret ponfbIy
and afterwards gqrteJy with the vouchers necessary
for complete settlement. lie rendered his accounts
with vouchers and they were settled. After Lis reno
val, in 1922 C returns back 90 the very 6fs day Of
bs agency in 1906, makes charges AMI produces vouc
ere, which, II just and genuine, ought to have entered
into his current returns These vouchers bear none or
very few Of those evidences of accuracy which the
guaiions peremp'ory require; and had they been pre-
seuted ~ proper time, they would not have been allow
Ie' lie charges upwards Of ten thousand dollars for Of
flee exppnses, exceeding from the day Of his appoint
est evidence that they, any part Of them, had been
fucurrsd nail IIc cb4rrss A heavy sum for fnfer-