Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-07-28
90 dIscrellon. may lhinL nropcr.

- ~. hi4 o az Fafl4CF GnuGfCd, Ihlt ~ shan De
lawful Tor the secretary of the treasury To transfer the
moneys IN the hands ufanv dcppsttary hereby constitu.
ted, u tho treasury OF the United States: to the mint
at Philadelphia to the Branch mint at New Orleans
or 10 the oiiccs OF either VI tho receivers general of
public moacys.L ~ this act directed u DO appointed
10 be there safely kept. according 10 the provisions
oi tiis act; and also 10 transfer moneys belonging to
uis post oil e department Is alsp hereby conferred up
On the Postmaster General. 50 far NJ it, exercise By
nun may he : stent with the provisions OF existing
laws and ever depJsi,lry constituted by this act
shall keep his account Of the mone; pad to, or deposi.
tel with him. belonging 70 the pit clHro department.
s'paraie and distinct frsn the account kept by HIM of
otser publte moneys 50 paid or deposited. And for
he purpose Of payments on the pnblc account It shall
be awlnI for tho treasurer orIhe United States h draw
upOa ANY of The said dcpo-itIres; ~ ne NAY think
mist conducive 10 the pIblic interests, or the conven-
ienrs OF uio public crcditIrs, or both.
SEC. III. IA! DC az further enacted, That the mo-
aeys ia the hands, care ard cisiolr. at oIe of the de-
posItarss constituted 10y this act. shall DO considered
and held n. deposited To the credit OF he treasurer Of
the United States. and shall be. al AL times subject to
hs dmiL, whether made Tor transfer or disbursement in
'he same manner IA though the said moneys were ac-
tuslly ia the treasury ottic United States, anu each
depnsiiary shall make returns 10 The treasury and post
Office department of all moneys received aud paid by
hun, nj such times. and an such form, as shall be dirct-
ell by the secretary ofIhs treasury or tbs Postmaster
General.
CONMENE-Thesr sections also being merely in.
tondai 10 carry out the intentions OF the irIuers ofthe
law, Ia passing At, AMI not Involving any principles,
or question Of eIpedicncy. are in themselves innocent,
and require no conncni. except 10 call public alien
ton. to the complication of ihs whll. scheme. and
the difficulty with which the management Of The
.db-;rcssury as a fiscal agent. mus: be asenicl. The
bond. given are ~rsnswaslr nj tn, pleasure ofths secrs.
tary. are required To 10 Of the strongest character.
In apsrpt Ira, fhey p,rat a1,a he O. ure.t fh,t -,
poor man. m man. not himself worth u large fortune
coald give such bonds. The frequent settlements OF
the various o!ii,or.. uIust also be attended with much,
Inconvenience, and expense. but these may well be
passed over, rs tao bill possesses features tina, re
quiro a.'much cOrpent - we can nov devote, ~ the
subject.
SIC IL. And Be AZ farther enacted, That IN,
Secretary Of the TrcaSury shall be, AMI he Is hereby
authorized 10 cause r1an. nation To be made OF ia,
books. accounts, and money OH hand. Of the scycra
repositories constituted by Il : oct, AMI for That pur
pose % spp1iut : ccIal agent. as occasion may re
qIire. wiih such compensation as he may think rea
sonahle, to BE- fixed and declared 1T the trmr of Gael
appointment. The ug.ats select i TO make these Ell
aminaiions, shall be instructed TO examine as well IA,
books, accounts, and returns OF The officer. as IN
nancy on hand. sul TIE manner OF its being kept, L
the end that uniformity and accuracy in ihe accounts
a. we'll as safety to Ihc public moneys. may DC secIrc,
thereby.
SIC. ID All BE- Il further enacted, That in adj
ton TO the examinations provided for in the last PRE-
coeing section, and a. Il further guard o, 1r The pub
lIc moneys, / shall bc tbs duty OF each III ' al office
AMI surveyor. ~ n check upon the receiver . ueTal q
public moneys, or collector ofihe customs. of III cir IT
spective Districts of each register Of a land Oh ice. a
q check upOp the receiver Of hs land office; and q
the director and superintendent Of each Mint IN
o. Branch Mint wlrou separate Officers. As a check upyI
the Trcasurers, respectively, of the said Mmts. or Ihp
] usrslng nrflnr l.. zurh u Tho slAaN NJ zach tfrarfnr d,
the year, and ~ Eolch more frequently a. they shall
be directed b. the Secretary Of tho Treasury 10 do SO
E 10 examine the booSs, accounts returns. and money
OF hand, of The TccciEers-general of pIbic money,
collectors, receivers Of laud oiE-es, Trclsurers. and
psrsoa' acf,g As sIch, and to make a full, accurate.
and faithful return ~ Ibs Treasury Department
a OF their condition.
Src. Ii Aqi be Il further. enacted, Thri The said
~J.!IccFs respectively, whose du'y IL is made by this aci
TO receive. keep. and disbusse the public moneys, ~ the
fiscal agents OF he Government. rnny be allowed any
necessary additional expenses OF clsTks, freprOoi
chests. or vaults, or other necessary expenses Of safe
keeping. transferring and disbursIng said moneys
all sIch expenses Oieyery character 10 be first e.
pressly authorised by the Secretary of The Treasury
whose directions upon all Of the above subjects, by
way Of regulation and otherwise, - far "a authorised
by law are TO be strictly followed by all the said off.
GERS: Preri4sI. That the whole number 0 fclerks 10
be appointed b. virtue Of this section of this act
shall not exceed ten. aud that the aggregate compen-
4 blIlDl OF lNe tNtlD4t siIlDe sIsalt ~ tACCcA cl.ul
thousand dollars, nor shIll the compensation of any
one clerk 80 appJinicl, exceed eight hulIrei dollar,
per auulHnn.
COMMENTS far N the people considered ~
separate from the g~overnmcntarc concerned land il
seems 10 be a leading object Of the bill, to separate
ihem) there Is nothing very objectionable in these
sections. They show however the continued AM
Increasing expense to the government, and increased
patronage. The officers arc appointed TO handle ia,
money, there are receivers. and dishuIsers. and treas
uceTs, all having checks upon each other. "a far a
they can impose them, beside giving bond and sceuri
u. yet the gpvcrImeni is rot satisfied, that its money
Will is safe, uli Is compelled - sen It's a ssntt. per
I IpdIcal, {. each office, To examine books, and papers
and cash. Wh>a these officers are all pa.d. will
there. think you. be any rcvcnue' will not all these
oGi,cn, travelling exp,ns>s DC. consume the whole
revenue, and leave noihias N the lreawy, for other
purposes. We link so. Besiu>s. what will prevent
iho agent or officer. from hlsifyn,g h' books and
acco ants. 50 as to deceive thc most pryl.s and seru'
"a. 'ling agent: What vii! prevent the age t from
b,e. M. "a partner in the frIui on he government, lI!d
aiiinr 4 . u. = IN securing a large share O. the spoils>
Agents are but len. and just as likely to pocket a Eve
lhyu.l and. aud return 10 re secretary, declaring altvss
right. as any other man VT ID be, TO commit a dis
honest act; or he might go una eA,'nine as the agent
did in the case Of Boyd, and the score. Try might feel
disposed To giyo that indulgence, which n, he mere
io1re gwen, and which cannot he pre-, cn''d
entirely by cnacimenis, II the disposition exists to d,
IT. II temptation is thrown IN a mnu's way. Ifhs has
large sums o money in bis hands. and is by nature
dishonest no laws can prevent hin from specializing.
How much easier. how much more to lhe satisfaction
Of all, at how much less expense could all those duties
that are imposed upon IheEo officers. these receivers.
custom officers, treasurer, and agents be
by the simple machinery ola United States
Bank. With that possessing branches in every State
necessary. and viii the receivers Of public monies
compelled to pay into The nearest branch the money
received az sLaleI per1Is anl submit M. alatcmenl oil