Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-03-16

troll over public moneys that "equal nearly tco.
thirds of the Uhole amount collected from Gus
toms sin all the United States" will be more
specially detailed in subsequent portion OF this
report. =,
The committee will remark here, that, In the
onset of the investigation they have made, they
supposed i, both proper and safe to place them
selves somewhat confidingly under the guidance
of the several special reports when mad oeeh
made to the House upon the subject OF Mr.
Swartwout's defa!caiions. by the Treasury OH
GERS previous to The appointment OF the commit
tee-combining IN this view, reports OF the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. the FIRST Comptroller,
The Solicitor, and FRS, Auditor Of the Treasury,
az exhibited in House document i3. II, howeV-
err very soon became evident mat tnose reports
were not TO be implicitly relied on as auxiiiaries
ia finding out either the law or the facts OF the
case; and that, on the contrary, they furnished
hui an obliaue. view of both rhe causes and du-
ration of MIR. Swartwouts defalcations, as also
If the law and MANY material facts which devel-
one the true cha racter of those defacations. vi
necessity therefore these reports, emanatinS
from the highest orders of official T., -.ct'onarles
emploved in the collection and disbursement of
the public revenues, became the subjects OF as
caut ious and critical examination as any other
portions of evidence which the case presented,
and as such it will be obligatory upon the com
miitee TO test them in this report
In reviewinp the details Of their labors, so that
the progress and results of them may be pres
ented in the simplest form, the committee pro-
pose to consider
PaRr l. The defalcations Of Samuel Swart-
won't.
PARr2 The defalcations of Mr.. Price.
PART g. The correctness of the returns which
have been made by the present collector and ma
val officer of the port of New York, respective
PART 4. The defalcations among receivers
Df the public money
PARr s. The facts connected with the for
,irn defalcations, and deemed material to deve-
,pe their true character.
Each of the divisions thus proposed viii prop
rly involve the law appertainlng to 1t, as the aP
ropriate adjunct of its facts. And the Ian
uage Of the law itself in each instance be cited
u detail, that its authority and injunction may
g correctly understood by every one, so the lam I
uags Of the individual testimony relied on in
ach instance will be adduced that its import and
,rce may be lef, neither to uncertain construc-
on or doubtful Inference. The increased idel:
Y of their report, in the estimation or the COM
aittee, will be- by this mode, ample offset TO
S consequent enlargement.
Before proce eding 10 the general topics OF this
port, as already laid down, IT may be proper
ere TO express the deep sense OF disappointment
nd regret which the committee feel, III not being
nat called for at an carly day, regarded rs
aying an important and interesting influence
pom the Judgment which the House might form
a the subject of defalcaions among public Off
srs, and the causes which have led to their mu'-
plicatiou. 1t will be perceived from the follow
g letter, that the committee awaited Itself OF
e earliest period after their organization to
AXE a call upon the President to furnished :
It of the detalcations that have taken place a
uno collectors, receivers, and discussing officers
public money, and other public officers, since
e 4th of March 1929, showing the amount of
ch, &c.
NJ ore than four weeks have now elapsed since
II call made upon the President, and the
llv information which the committee has OBJ c
ined to report upon to the House is contained u
the following letter; the distinguishing feat II
Z of which information is, that still more time II
an even the whole remainder of the session o
II be requisite to answer the call. From this 4
E committee are compelled reluctantly to infer, $
he, her r,,, the accounts and records Of The $
erai departments, 10 general, are SO Incotn- =
tie and defective not to exhibit, without a
,at labor and delay, the true relations OF col X
tors, receivers, and disbursers of the public c.
new, and of others of the government, as TO y
.inguish debtors from detau!ters, and creditors c.
m both. G.
,dlv. That the number of the dclaulters have
itDiCO SO rapidly SINCE 1919, uUueE tDc
n Of accountability pursued towards collectors, =
eivers. and disbursers of the public money, IN
other officers, TO preclude the practicable az
OF receiving an account current OF their de- al
cations with all the clerical force at the COM m
nd of those departments, under existing laws &c
appropriations. te
f either inference be just, and none other of ia
Ial weight seems to be fairly deducible from :
letter of the Secretary of the Treasury it
nifesis a laxity of administration which de-
nds the earliest application Of suit bic RENE W
within the reach of Congress and of the m
ntry.
COR the papers Nos. l and 2, referred to IN the
joined letter, reference is respectfully made -,
he journl of the committee, page 40 and =.
'ard. -
Treasury Department, Feb IS.
IR: The President on the 22d ultimo, refer fo
to this department the following resolution, to
Sed by the investigating committee: la
Resolrcd, That the Presiden, of the United
.es be requested to cause this committee to Sc
furnished by the proper Executive Depart co
It with table showing the de:alcations which ca
e occurred among the collectors, receivers,
disbursers of the public money. and other ne
ic officers, since the :th day of March, 1929; at
names of the detaulters; the amount of each
lcation; when each case occurred; the length
hoe