Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-10

! pocoIoOS;'NN'
While we are thus exposed 10 heavy losses by employ
inc banks the renewal Of this agency would not in the
slightest degree, diminish chance OF loss by public
officers. The employment of banks cannot remove The
necessity Of conidlHg to officers in collecting
aud dbursng the public money, unless WE abolish our
custom houses land offices and dIsbusing agencies and
assign all the duties of Government IL banks Under no
practicable system avoid trusting our own OH
with The public money rs we have done IRON The
origin Of our Government Fortunately, our experience
of their fidelity does warrant the withdrawal Of our
confidence In collecting Than thousand millions,
our probable loss does not exceed the tenth part OF one
per cent and at the prnc pal point OF collection 1t Is
far less At the port of New York. there have been in
collecting the CUSTOMS since l750 bot Two defncalinns,
one of which is still unadjusted and before Congress,
but if the whole amount should be found due. The secu
r,y ample The other, amounting 70 2l 700 is the
entire loss at that port in collecting $a1 0OO00 or
about six every thousand duIurs, being about
one .sixliplh part Of the loss by Banks from 1917 to
1884 on 1851 000O 0 deposited. The operations of
Mint also afford ample evidence of the confidence
which we may repnse in our officers. No deIaca-
ton in the Offices OF that establishment is known 10 the
Treasury though about seventy three millions of dollars
have been coined. We thus our Banks and mrr-
chants placing millions in the custody OF The very Off
GERS who told unworthy OF the confidence Of
the Government from which they receive their appoint
menls.
Under the additional guards proposed our losses,
by public officers will be diminished and by separating
onr Treasury from banks shall avoid thai class of
losses aogether Ample Donos are hereafter TO De re-
ouired from oil who entrusted with public money
COLLECTORS and receivers not to he allowed pay
money for any purpose, without order from The Trea
sury money collected is TO be placed once to the
credit Of the Treasurer Of the United States For great
er security transfers may be made from depository
TO another; and where there is special depository de-
po.es may be made with banks under The Joint control
of the bank and The Treasury oguard ainsl frauds,
il is made the duty of certain public officers in hr DIFF
lerpn, districts 10 examine the money and accounts Of
I cfod 9th no mil
Secretary may, any lime, appoint other officers with
in the districts to make special examinations and
And, finally, should any officer nse or embezzlc the
new entrusted him, be shall be convicted Of felony
fined and imprisoned. Mos, of our custom houses and
land Offices already furnished with vaults Safes
or BOTH for the preservation of the public archives and
public money but provide for every such con,ingen
cy an appropriation OF ten thousand dollars proposed
which is the only appropriation authorized by the
BILL With all these additional guards for The collection
safe keeping and disbursement Of the public revenue
the losses Of Government under the proposed plan,
will be much ess than under any other hitherto adopted