Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-08
CAPTAIN R. d. c. COLLINS

u
MIR ]. 7. STUART, of Illinois, from the Comn,,,..
on Public Expenditures, submitted the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Public Expenditures in the
discharge Of their duties, have lad their atsption
drawn TO a Of fragrant unfaithCulness on The
part of disbursing officer of the Government and
which exhibits in glaring light, the want of A
proper vigilance in those officers OF the Ex.cutxe
departments whose duty it is to guard the nubl;c
treasury, and 10 hold such as are intrusred with
public money to strlct and rigid accountability
IL also demonstrates IN the strongest manner The
wisdom OF the law which requires the promn, ond
punctua settlement Of their accounts a, the Trea :
suty, at stated periods, Ivy those who have the dis
bursement OF public funds and prohibits the fr,ber
payment OF moneys to such as have not complied
with this provision Of the law. IL is in vain Thai
laws are enacted to prevent defalcations by holding
dlsburslng agents to strict ACCOMMODATING miles,
the officers, whose duty is, shall enforce those
laws. II Their provisions disregarded bv the
accounting officers Of the Treasury, they will he
by those Entrusted with the public funds. If the
sentinel who is placed over the Treasury bo M,
vsllant, what security have the people? If he mods
upon his post, will depredators sleep7 We have
unfortunately, too much evidence to show tina, tho
public agents are ready TO take advantage OF The
least relaxation Of the vigilance Of those whose duty
il is to watch them.
The case alluded TO. is that Of CAPTAIN r. d q
Collins, discussing agent officer of the Govern
ment OF Little Rock, Arkansas. who IL annears
received from the Treasury more than half n NIL
Ion OF dollars after II was manifest that he WIS in
Ieisut 10 the amount OF over two hundred thousand
dollars. or, at least that that amount vas in his
hands, and his accounts were unsettled, az bv law
they were required to be, at the Treasury
by regulation OF the department, disbursing
agents are required TO render their accounts nj tbe
end OF every quarter and by the law of 3Otb Jnno
1884, It IS required That all persons Whatsoever
charged with the disbursement or application If
money, goods, or effects of any kind for the bens6,
OF lndiansi shall settle their accounts annually NJ
the department on the first day Of O-tober Bv
TINS regulation and this law, Captain Collins was
required to render his accounts al the end of evo,
quarter OF the year 1888, and make his annusl sci.
uement al the Treasury on the first day Of October
1888. AS soon az he failed to comply with tbese
requsItions, he became, in the eye OF the law. de
laulter.
In letter addressed by the Second Auditor IN
The Second Comptroller, dated the lslh of Deem
Der, 1888, the Second Auditor gives list of The
names OF Disturbing agents Of the Indian depa,,
ment who have not rendered their accounts for IN,
second quarter OF 1888. and among these he givss
the name Of Captain X. ID. e. Collins (See An
pendiX, Al P
In letter to the same officer, Of the 18Th Janus
~, 1888, the Second Auditor advises him maj III.
accounts Of Captain X. ID. e. Collins had bssn -
ceved IN the bureau Of Indian Affairs u To tho ,bi,d
quarter OF 1888, and In the Second Auditors ofc.
up TO tho fourth quarter also inclusive Of Is9z
and that they will be settled as soon as convsn,sn,
(See Appendix, A.
n view OF these facts, how stood the account.
W YIN captain Collins on the first day Of October
l5J5f lie bod not then made his quarterly returns
ior the second quarter Of 1898, ending the last nj
June and DID not DO 30 until the 18Th January
1917, al The same time, his accounts for the mid
quarter ending the last Of September. were no, bsn
rendered; From all which It is manifest that. on
lhe Isl o. October, 1888, he had failed an6 nreis,t
800 "a n.ohg .So quarterly returns more, for the Sc
como ana third quarters Of 1888. For want Of tbe.e
returns he could not and did not make his annual
settlement az the department on the list Of Oetobs,
l957' as he was required by law to do; at this lime
men men beyond ai doubt, be was and ought 10 have
oeen regarded and treated rs defsulter YET
under such circumstances, and with a balance 81.
ceeding TWO hundred thousand dollars still IN m,
hands, the following sums Of money were dn,ng
The hrs quarter ri 1888, advanced by the Treasury
to Cap.ain Collin. WV ''''u'J