Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-27

dcred the OF deposite banks, rs prescribed oy le
act of 1896 rather of embarrassment than aid
and of necessity placed the custody of most Of the
public money afterwards collected in charge OF the
public officers. The securities for its safety,
which this required, were principal cause OF my con-
ycning extra session OF Congress; but III consc-
ouence of disagreement between the two Houses,
neither then, at any subsequent period, has there
been any legislation on the subject The effort made
ut the last session to obtain the authority of Congress
to punish the of public money for private purposes
as a crime measure attended under other Govern
ments with signal advantage, also unsuccessful,
from dversitcs of opinion in that body, notwithsand-
ing the anxiety doubtless felt by IT to afford every pac
tcablc security The result of this is still to leave the
custody of the public money without those safeguards
which have been for several years earnestly desired by
the Executive and as the remedy only to be found in
the action of the Legislature, imposes the duty
of again submitting to you the proprlety OF passing
law, providing for the safe keeping of the public mo-
neys and especially to ask that It's use Tor private pnr-
poses by any officers entrusted with IT. may be declared
to be felony, punishable with penalties propofuohcd
to the magnitude of the offence
These circumstances, added to known defects in the
existing laws and unusual arrangement in the general
operations of trade have, during the last three
much increased the difficulties attendant on the co!lcc-
ton, keeping, and disbursement OF the revenue, and
called forth corresponding cxertions from those having
them in charge. Happily these have been successful
beyond expectation. Vast sums have been collected
and disbursed BY the several Departments with uncX-
peced cheapness and transfers have been readily
made to every part of the Union however distant and
defa!catnns have been far less than ht have been
cpated from the absence Of adequate legal restraints
Since the officers of the Treasury and Post Office De-
partments charged with the custody ofmos of the
public moneys received by them, there have been col
eced sixty-six millions Of dollars, and, excluding the
case Of the late collector at n Y the aggregate amount
ofosses sustained in the collection cannot, it believed
exceed sixty thousand dollars The dealcat'on OF the
late collector that city, of the extent and circunsan-
ces of which Congress has been fully informed, ran
through all the modes of keeping the public money
that have been hitherto in the use and was distinguish
ed BY an aggravated disregard of duty, that broke
through the restraints of every system, and cannot,
therefore, be usefuly referred to test of the com.
paratve safety of either Additional information will
also be furnished by the report of the Secretary Of the
Treasury in reply to call made upon that officer by
the House of prcse tatves at the last session. requr-
ing detailed information the subject of defaults by
public officers or agents under each Administration,
from 1880 to 1897. This document will be submitted
to you in few days. The general results (inde-
pendent of the Post Office, which kept separately,
and will he stated by itself,) far they bear upon
this subject ae that the losses which have been, and
likely be- sustained by any class of agents. have
been-the greatest by banks, including required in