Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-03-15


liaing system, is not enabled, either TO deter
mine what amount ofbonds has been, taken
4 by the collector for duties in any quarter, Or
who are the parties 10 said bonds. or the
dates Of said bonds as when they are paya-
Bile, or when such bonds are paid, OF whether
1.-The collector does or does not account truly
for sIch bonds"
Party DEFALCATIONs AMONG
RECEIVERS OF PUBLIC MONEYS.
| The Committee, inGul6llment Of that por-
ton Of the duty assigned them, by which
they were directed to inquire into any de-
falcations among receivers, &c. which may
now exist" repor, to the House. that the lin
tied period which they had for thorough
investigation OF the subjects with which they
were charged, and the time necessarily con-
sumed in the examination Of the cases of the
late collector and district attorney Of New
York, have prevented a minute investiga-
ton OF the extent, nature, and causes Of the
deialcations Of receivers Of public moneys,
arising from the sales OF public lands. The
Committee have, however prepared, from
reports made bv the Secretary OF the Treas
ury at the last and present session of Con-
gress, tabular statement, exhibiting the
names of such deaulters, the amount due
from each. when due, and the penalties Of
their official bonds. respectively; also. the
correspondence had between the Treasury
Department and fifteen of the individuals
whose names appear on said statemenl-the
Committee having called for. and been furn-
ished by the Department. with the answer
OF the receivers 10 the letters OF The Secretary,
as contained in House document No. 297.-
These fifteen cases are reported specially, as
examples merely Of the manner in which
the President ofthe United States and the
Secretary of the Treasury have executed
the laws in respect to the public money and
other property ofthe United States in the
hands ofthis class Of public officers, and in
respect 10 their official duty.
The law provides for the appointment BY
the Executive with the concurrency Of the
Senate. OF a receiver Of public moneys at
each OF the places respectively where the pub
lie and private sales Of the lands are TO be
made. who shall give bond, with approved
security, for the faithful discharge of his
trust who shall transmit, iciihin thirty days,
in case ofpubic SALE and quarterly in case
of private sale. an account Of all the public
moneys by him received. TO Tie Secretary Of
the Treasury and to the register Of Tie land
Offices, as the case may be. He is allowed a
salary Of five hundred dollars per annum.
and a commission Of one per centum on the
moneys received but his salary for any one
year shall not exceed $4,000. The Secreta.
~ Of the Treasury may allow to the several
receivers of the public money at the several
land Offices. a reasonable compensation for
Transporting to and depositing such moneys
in any bank or any other place of deposit
that may from time to time be designated by
the Secretary Of the Treasury for that pur-
pose. He is also authorized TO prescribe
such further regulations in the manner of
keeping books and accounts by the several
officers in the land offices, as to him may
appear necessary and proper. |, is made
cause the books ofthe officers to be examin-
ed, and the balance Of public moneys in the
hands Of the several receivers 10 be ascer-
tanned.
The foregoing synopsis of the law rela-
tive TO land receivers, and the correspon-
dence with portion othose who have prov
ed defaulters and faithless 10 their trusts, are
submitted, without further comment than
that the facts and circumstances here exhibit
ted show such dereliction of duty on the
part Of the Executive department as calls
loudly Tor searching examination into this
branch ofthe public service. and for thor.
ough reform.
The practice which the foregoing cores
pondence exhibits, Of retaining men in office
after gross and repeated violations OF law 10
keeping and using the public moneys Tor pri-
vate speculations, and the character of the
correspondence itself, but too clearly point to
the inference that such officers were retain
ed in place because they possessed esten.
sive political influence, and were useful and
active partisans. Whether such NAL ad-
ministration constitutes official corruption in
those superior officers Of the Executive de.
partments who knew of and permitted in
their subordinates the conduct which has
been referred to, is question which the
Committee submit to the House and the
country 10 decide
PART V.--FACTS Connected
WITH THE FOREGOING DEFAL.
CATIONS. AND DEEMED MATERI- |
AL TO DEVELOPE THEIR TRUE
CHARACTER.
In conclusion, the Committee cannot for
bear remarking, that, during their whole in. |
sestigaiion, they have not found the case to
which the laws, as they already ernst, do not
apply. or in which they are defective. The
permanent provisions Of the laws constitute
every necessary check upon collectors. re.
ceivers, and disbursers of public money and
the checks which, by law. have only 10 be
attended, and applied by those whose duty
II is to superintend the execution of tho laws