The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-29

residence 10 Monmouth county while he was there,
p'soh' VINO sta'eo lhat no was the of Mr. Francis
Secor came to the office and stated to me that his her
had paid Mr.. Reckless the two hundred doIIars q,
he release oil the schooner and presented me nm order
on Mr.. Reckless, from Francis Secor for the vessel
told him had received instructions 10 deliyer ,ba
vessel but had no doubt that the order was correct
yet could not abandon the vessel to him but never
theess he might 60 board and put the sails rigging
&c, IN order for removal, and that Mr. Reckless
would be IN Amboy shortly, when he would do every
ming necessary ard proper. On Mr. Reckless return
TO Amboy, the vessel was delivered up by him.
In The next weekly return Of moneys received and
expended IN the office, entered to the credit OF the
United States the proceeds Of the hundred dollars
out was informed by Mr. Reckless that he was not yet
ready ior such entry to be made. consequently made
ou another weekly return, emitting the above credit
TOT several successive weekly returns adverted the
TWO hundred dollars and Away received for answer that
shouiu not be credited; especially asked il should
DC credited at the time of making the accounts for
ne quarter ending 3Oth September, 1885, and received
me same answer subsequently spoke to him at va
I'ons times, but got no satisfaction The affairs re-
May, 1884
In the mean time, ! stated the above mentioned
lae's as well as others hereinafter mentioned, they
occurred TO certain gentlemen, and consulted with them
on inc pest course should pursue resignation was
suggested as the most distinct and proper but was
OF the nature Of those before stated TO make them
known ~ the same manner, the prospective means
Of satisfying any future inquiry that might be made or
any exposition that might in future make Of the trans
action. ~''
Before making out the accounts for the second
quarter, 1888, as above stated, | mentioned to Mr.
Reckless that he would require about six hundred dol
lars 10 pay the inspectors and other bills for the quar-
Ter, and that was necessary to write the Comptro
er Of The treasury, who would supply the requisite
sum. MIR. Reckless said that f he had to draw he
would draw for good round sum, say three or four
thousand dollars told him but six hundred dollars
were required he then directed me write letter to
the comptroller OF the Treasury stating the necessity
OF The oilce and asking for thousand dollars which
accordingly did; and, TO the best Of my recollection
MI RECKLESS copied this letter, and copy to the
Comptroller who answered under date of 23d Of July
1883 that the collector at New York authorized to
pay him two thousand dollars which sum was received
before his accounts for said second quarter were trans
united to Washington; which was, so far as my reco-
lection serves me- about the list Of August 1888
and the bills were paid out Of the money received
The receipt OF the two thousand dollars being after the
expiration OF said second quarter they could posi-
bly, be entered to the credit Of Government, in those
accounts but Of stood over to be entered in
the accounts for the quarter in which it received
The above accounts for the second quarter Of 1885,
were examined and allowed at Washington and in
letter OF Both August, 1888, the Comptroller overlook
ing the fact OF the two thousand dollars already advance
ed. stated to him that the collector at New York
authorized to pay, to his order. hundred dollars as
IN settlement of the balance Of FIVE hundred and thirty
five dollars and elghtysx cents standing in the said ac-
counts advanced by Mr. Reckless bnt which ba-
lance however had been arranged by the prior advance
OF the two thousand dollars and was actually a part
thereof. .fr ....
Mr. Reckless, on the receipt Of this letter, said that
he would draw for the six hundred dollars. stated to
HIM that the authority to draw for that evil
IDENTITY occasioned by the Comptroller having overlooked
the advance OF two thousand dollars just before made
and pointed out the mode that ought to be followed
under such circumstances He said he did not care for
that that 1t The business of Mr.. Anderson and
not his and that lie had the ORDER he would get the
money; which after obtained from the collec
tor at New York.
In making out the accounts for the third quarter.
1888, credited the Government for the two thousand
dollars and also for the above six hundred dollars (not
wlthstanding Mr.. Reckless had not advised of the
receipt Of this last sum) rough general account
rent, made for the collectors inspection. This in
October, 1888. Mr. Reckless examined the same and,
answer 10 my question: II the six hundred dollars
to be credited, he said, mot yet and Immediately
began to converse about the contingent expenses not
chargeabe the United States saying that he was de-
termned TO get them out of Government; and directed
me charge in the general current for the
third quarter the amount of fory-hree dollars ninety
five cents contingent expenses OF the second quarter,
1885, already sent, as before stated to the First Audi
tor OF the Treasury, the statement OF salary, fees,
emolumens, and expenditures for that quarter and ad
justed) and also to charge the Of thirty-nne
dollars seventy five cents, the amount Of contingent
penses for this third quarter, the account
rent stated to him that it could not be done, it
directly contrary TO the established forms and in
sructions from the Comptroller and besides, that the
forty three dollars and ninety cents had already been
stated and in the for the second quar-
ter 1888 with the vouchers for that sum- and had been
examined and adjusted at Washington. 1t could not
therefore, with any plea of right correctness be now
again either entered stated in the accounts for the
present quarter could the thirty dollars sew
enty five cents be debited Government it was plain
from the vouchers, that it not chargeabe to the
United States and, upon examination OF the accounts
with such charges to them, at Washington, that 1t
would not be looked upon bunder, but as an evil
den, intention of worming money out of Government
and that the would certainly not be allowed;
moreover, that was unwilling accounts, with such
charges in them, should go on to WASHINGTON in my
handwriting, would certainly be evident to the
First Auditor of the Treasury, from accounts prevl
ously made out by me, that knew better Mr.. Reck-
less, nevertheless, insisted my making such entries
in the general account current saying that as an inferior
officer was bound to obey his ORDERS and that, IN all
events, the responsibility rested on him. l accord
ingly made out the account current as he ordered
1.-THE revenue boatmen's account for this third quar-
ter made out truly aud correctly, as IN the second
quarter.
"By letter of the 18th of December, 1888, from the
Comptroller advising adjustment OF the abovemen-
toned accounts for the third quarter, will be seen that
the Of forty three dollars ninety6ve cents as above
mentioned and fifteen dollars seyenty6ve cents OF the
thirtynine dollars seveny-fvc cents were dlsaowed
making about the sum OF sixty dollars for the second
and third quarters OF 1888, not chargeabe TO the
United States. The general account current for this
third quarter was otherwise defective, in not having
credit Government of the proceeds Of two hundred
dollars obtained for schooner Pacific nor credit of the
six hundred dollars obtained from the collector at New
York, on the authority Of the Comptrolers letter Of
August 80, 1885, before referred to. several times
after this adverted to the six hundred dollars in making
out the weekly returns until, doing the 10th
December, 1885, ne said tina, he supposed it might
,hen !, .nJ A him clf hook ol