Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-06-08
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMESr.
.HGy 81. 1870.

Sin. have the honor. in obedience to the rcsolu-
lion Of the House os Representatives Of the 18th
instant, calling Tor certain information IN relation to
the accounts. &c of Miles King, late Navy Agent
at Noroik. Va, to present the accompanying report
of the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury, containing
pert of the information called for.
There is also transmitted, marked 4, copies of
certain vouchers to the Department by the
said late aCcnt which have been rejected. each Of
which, respectively. is given the for their
rejection disolowuncc by the Department.
In addition to tho reasons assigned on these YOU
cheers for their rejection, it may be proper to sate
by way OF explanation to part of them, that the
ealary of Navy Agent is limited by law to 81 600
per annun; and that oil sums allowed to the agcsat,
and above this amount, intended to cover
expenses whic have been necessarily incurred in the
discharge Of the duties of his Office for clerk hire
Office rent, stationery, fuel &c In the vouchers ul
lodcd to, it appears, that the demands of MIR. King
to thse expenditures. were made from time to
tinc, allowed by the respective Secretaries. and the
several sums carried his credit the books of the
Treasury After lapse OF from ten TO thirteen
years, these charges for clerk hire, &c. ore repro
duced, aud tho items considerably increased in
amount.
In answer to that part of tho resolution Which calls
fDr Information as to the manner in which Mr. King
has kept his accounts, and made his monthly and
quarterly returns, It may be promised, that the law
requires the Navy Agent to make quarterly ret
Of his accounts to the Treasury Department. ard that
these shall be accom-. aniedby .'vouchers necessary
To the correct and prompt settlement thereof" and
is required that monthly shall be made the
Secretary Of the Navy of the moneys received and
expended during the preceding month, and OF the
unexpended balance in bis hands /"
This regulation enables the Secretary of the Navy
to remit to the agent the Sums necessary for prompt
compliance with all contracts entered into by the
Navy Department, and to limit the advances to the
agent, so that an unnecessary and large amount of
money NAV not be LEFT IN his hands The monthly
returns of Mr. King were not made in conformity TO
these requisites of the law acquisitions were made
upon the Department In the early part of May. 18a9,
for considerable amount OF money, whenthe month
Iy return Tor April showed that he had in his hands
large balances, applicable the same objects for
which his acquisitions were drawn. An explanation
was asked OF this variance between his acquisitions
and return. (See letter of the 18th May 1921 No
satisfactory explanation was given.
1t was then deemed proper to examine into the
state of his accounts with the Treasury from which
1t appeared, that whilst the return that Depart
ment to the 30th of June, 1920, exhibited balance
to be due from Dir. King to the United States OF
Ss5,56s G5, the monthly returns to the Navy De-
par ment, ending the same day. stated balance
TO be due from the United States to him of $50 065
II, making difference between these returns of
S45 .633 So
further investigation of this sub ect, developed
the two following facts: LIST. That the monthly re
turns to the Navy Department from tho year 1879,
never did agree with the returns made to the Trcasu-
ny Department for the same time and same purposes:
and, I'd. That they invariably Showed a smaller bal.
ance against MIR. King than was proven to be the
fact. BY his settlements with the Tresury Depart
be better understood when is kept in mind that the
quarterly returns made the Treasury for settle
ment, while the monthly returns to the Navy Depart
men, are statements upon which advances arc to be
made to the Agent. 1t scarcely be necessary to
remark, that If the accounts Of the Agent contained
correct representation of the transactions of his
Office, tho three monthly returns TO the Navy De-
par!ment should agree with the quarterly returns
made to the Treasury Department for the same pc
Rod. This found be the fact witt the .etnrus
OF the other principal Ageots.
The paper marked B containst synopsis of these
discrepancies, from 1922, to June the s0th, 1929
This document shows that Mr. King had for the
last seven years. with the exception Of short time
preceding his renewal from Office, retained in his
hands, unackno@]edged to the Navy Department, an
amount of the public monies averaging from $40 600
to $40 900 per annum.
The paper marked shows the amount of the re-
QUESTIONS made upon the Department by DIR King,
from the 18th of May to the 5th of August, 1898;
aud 1t also shows, as accurately could be deter
mined, the amount necessary to meet the expenses
for the naval service at that station for the pc
Rod, exhibiting overdrafts upon the Navy Depart
mont amounting to about S53,4s7 o3.
Ut the claims which have been set tip against the
geucy, the principal is the amount of GAO d
II, made BY the United State Bank at Norfolk, Vir-
.ginin for advances professed have been made to
the Agent "solely on Government account" the cor
respondence arising from which, is herewith presen
ted marked D.
Under no view of the the claim deemed
admissible. The Navy Agent had received no au-
thority to borrow money the credit of the United
States nor was the Bank warranted in assuming the
right of determining whenehe public service deman-
ded advances to be made to its Agents A discretion
which the act of 3ist of January, 1923 declares
shall be exercised 'under the special direction of
the United States"
The assumption of such discretion by the Bank has
thrown upon that institution this debt of $40 LA H.
from which they have asked 10 be relieved
Had the right of the Bank to make these adyan-
ces been sanctioned by the Department this defau,
OF Mr. King would have fallen upon the United
States Treasury.
Copies OF the correspondence called for will also
be found with the papers herewith transmitted.
have the honor to be-,
Very respectfully Sir,
Your obedent servant,
JOHN BRANCH
The Hon. ANDREW STKyENsoH,
Speaker Of The House Of Representatives..