Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-09
particular case, all Washington has heard

particular case, all Washington has heard
of some remarkable allowances in state
ments or settlements of the account, sub
sequent to the first settlement or show
ing. We recollect hearing at the time of
one allowance for more than 100000;
afterwards of another for either little
more than 100000, or than $4,000
we forget which. We recollect further,
that when this last allowance was made,
it was said around Washington, that it
had been done upon wholly insufficient
vouchers, or, in other words, without
vouchers-upon evidence not legally ac-
ceptable at the Treasury Department.
We have no doubt that proper investiga-
ton will show this statement to be cor
rect, and we trust that the law may not
be such as to compel the Government to
abide by any such action of its account
ing officers. don 81
Mr.. John A. Collier insists, if we I'M
derstand him, that his brother refuses to
pay up the balance he admits he owes
the Treasury, because the Department is
disposed to claim more than is due-to
be hard with him. 1t strikes us that in
crediting him with either 100000 or
100000, arithout requiring the proper
voaehers, the action of the Department
may fairly be considered anything but
hard measure of justice, unless upon
the theory that having allowed so much,
it was plaguey hard they did not allow
the whole. Mr.. c. should remember that
even if his tender to pay certain balance
had been accepted, he would not have
been relieved from responsibility under
the Sub-treasury law, which Furnishes for
the simple use and retention of public
money, without regard to it's ultimate re-
payment into the Treasury. 1t is not
enough, under an honest and faithful adj
ministration of this law, that an agent
who may be behind hand, pays up the
balance due at the end of civil suit, as
Mr.. Collier coolly proposes to do in this
case, The statute makes it penal to use
the money for single day, or to fail to
pay it over for moment after being re-
quired so to do. ta'I@ s.s-.lI.
So, all that Mr.. John A. Collier hints
about the injustice of considering his
brother defaulter until after the termin-
alton of the civil suit against his bond
men, is so much CANNON, intended to
blind the eyes of the public and the Gov
eminent, we take it, to the true state of
the case. ~ ... ..., .......
1t is the duty of public opinion to sus-
tain the head of the Treasury Department
in rigidly and promptly enforcing the
penal provisions of the Sub-trcasury act
against all, without distinction of party,
upon whom they may be operative 1t
will be remembered that this statute was
originally very odious to the commercial
community. Already it has come to be
universally regarded Of the wi-cst
and most beneficial acts of legislation eff.
fected by the Congress of the United
States, not only for the Government, but
for all the business interests of the COM
munity.
We know that however much whole
sale spectators in Government contracts,
special favo1s and fat jobs, like the Messrs.
Golfers and others connected with them,
may ridicule the penal clauses of this
law the country at large will be rejoiced
to see them enforced against all offenders;
and more especially against those whose
names have become famous for connec-
ton, directly or indirectly, with nearly
every operation" on the Treasury of the
United States, occurring of late years,
which might serve as precedents for future
loose transactions, or for granting favors
in giving out jobs and then in settling
accounts for them, foreign to the strict
and sound principles upon which the
affairs of the Government should be con.
Quoted, demoralizing in their effect upon
the business morals of the public employ
ces, and, indeed, too often involving direct
and infamous frauds on the Treasury of
the United States. e .....
A NEW JOURNAL.-We have received
the first number Of the Daily Times, pub
EchoI Dali