The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-04

deemed essential 70 the honest and faithful appl
cation Of money, by dbbursng officers, and the correct
accounting for the same, that all accounts Of dsburse
ments with the proper vouchors should DO made at liked
Ting With dsburins ooess were xed for the War and
Navy Departments, and for some other branches OF the
service, quarter yearly, ard the same provision was
made accounting by collectors Of the customs and
cevers Of public money and for dsbuing officers Of the
but with authority TO the Secretary Of the Urea
sury 70 require ACCOUNTS IN n: dspc 70 Ss
stated my last report that was perfectly pracca
BILE have all dabursing ocers OF the treasury render
and settle their accounts monthly, the system OF monthly
accounts ana monthly settlements was sdopsed At the
treasury for all the accounts tOlwhich the sysem could
be applied without change o. the existing laws the
settlements ID fairly preened In tho report OF the Com
missioner Of Customs The fact Of but one defAcason
The system 20 far has been successful and DOUBT
entertained Of IL entire practicaoty, not only In the
treasury but osnsr sncnss o. me pSpaC
or and accounting for, the public money L Is true, each
officer will have TO make twelve instead Of four accounts
there will have TO be twelve instead Of four settle
ments but the twelve accounts and twelve settlements
will involve the taking and examination Of NO greater
number Of vouchers than four accounts and the tour
settle whilst the monthly accounts and settlement.
Will, timely, impArt 70 the officer kno Wedge Of the
pay me authorized make and the character OF
The be must produce and the necessity OF
rg money witho ut proper voucher. The monthly
4ccouns and monthly settlements will ~ once enable the
uperintendng officers TO SEQ and know how the duties
re perform and TO dpace Incompetent and dn hooas
dsbursDg officers II may NJ frst require few more
clerks The accounting Offices but after the system SHAT
promptly enforced, 1t will take less Time and les
labor than II did under the system Of quarterly
accounts and quarterly settlements Had montniy
accounts month settlements been regularly enforced
and all falling disbursing officers promptly mi'sed the
large balances outstanding on the ooks o. the trca
sury, could not have accumulated.
The Independent Treasury act, by prohibtiag the de-
post Of public money IN banks, or It's application by oo
ccors receivers dsbursing agents and others, 70 any
other use than that TOR which Il collected appro
pratsd the declaration Of sound and corre prin
cpe and by authorizing the deposit thereof with the Tres
sure. Assistant Treasurer and designated depositories
placed In the power Of the public officers, to have II
kept SAFELY In the government vaults, without hazard
70 them, or their suretes, and provided means, oy
funds were kept always on opposite, ana only
checkedkout In due course Of disbursement In favor
Of the persons entitled 70 IL All Disturbing officers
should be required 10 make depo OF the funds ntrus
them, with the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or
designated deposirres and TO che,k only in favor Of
,hose entitled, and 70 make monthly returns Of the sums
ds bureed by them, with statement OF the balance
depos except that class Of cases. where the party IL
not convenient place Of United states deposit. These
repositories however should be established in al
ors, where there u shall be considerable pubi,
money collected to be disoureed. The regulations
uonshly statements from disbursing others, Of the
amount dsbureed, although required oay 10 reader
quarterly accounts 70 the treasury for settle
me nts could reacily be yerted into monthly
accounts, with proper vouchers tor settlement
me ana ,or Inc r o. sne
ting and setting, be established 10 all branches OF
the public service The efficiency OF the provisions OF the
until the repositories sufficiently diused, that col
lectirg receiving and dsbursing officers depose
their vaults, and monthly accounting and settling At the
treasury, required ana enforced The cash system, In
dispoea Of the public lands, and 10 the collection oil
duties has caused absolute certainty, in the pal
nts to receivers and collectors The sysem Of daily
dcposes where II car be DONE and drafs standing
orders depose the amount accumulaes where there
no repositories at the pa,e OF reception with month
and eoftloV antS runk na hA npts
INTO the national treasury almost certain Why viii not
the deposit system. and monthly accounts aud settle
me MIS- give the certainty In It's disbursement
the system Of selling the publ, lands credit, aud
giving credit tor the duties on imports has yielded TO the
simple better system now in force. and quarterly 40
and settlements with the collectors OF customs has
yielded 10 The better system Of monthly accounts aad
In the treasury. monthly accounts and
scttenens BY disbursng officers Is taking the place OF
quarter y accounts and settlements The Increased
ccpts and EXP endures requ prompt rendition and act
clement Of Accounts Formery wb en- me annual recep~
qoarterly only Included % 900 600
81 now they would include some $40 600 700
.s eco Of receipts and the IKE amount Of expeDdi
600 u both and IT, formerly, the quarterly accounts
rendered. until the close Of the quar-
and not settled NJ the treasury until near the close Of
ne third quarter the unsettled accounts a the treasury
ould exceed S4b, 900 0to Of receipts, and
40 ooc oto OF disbursements, with almost an iopos
sbilny OF the heats Of departments knowing ~hesner
eeeivers, collectors and dhburslng officers were
properly dhchargng their duties. Inc pubic money
eNtkenCto4
GOV, ment in ali well regulated and well admin is.crca
overnnents, should be safely KEEPS aud honestly
,ppse 10 me objects for which Il was lowed, and sucn
Of laws and accounting established, ~
impossible the officers intrusted with IT. receipts
disbursement, TO apply 70 their USE allow their
~ nds 70 nave me use Of ,tro. eaaminsaon in.o
u the treasury, would make u manifest that The puo
money heretofore devo,ed 10 private use. and
allow ed remain unsooouuted for until, In g.
the ruJtes became nsolvent and In order 10
wss,ed and lest BY private set up unioundsd claims
for credits and services TINS habit Of applying toe
public money to private use had become estaonshed
az 70 be considered allowable, ana no dsgrace 70 tue
Vncer-eo much 90, thai the OIL ,es were sougn
~ the Office and is salary me Ind. pendent treasury
act intended 10 this practice inculcate soun1
and honest principles NJ 70 the use OF the pdoc money
nd brand the delinquent officer with crime To have
hs effect the be crousy enforced, and have
the active vigilance OF the supervising officers with tho
Dismissal Of oil who vioiste the principle In fact
worthy TO have retain public ONCE situation
Who dres not acknowed that principe Of the Indepsod
ens treasury act and give practical effect 10 all bis
official transactions. An agent officer OF the govern
nebt without sacrifice OF principle, the pub
nc money for bis own purpose, nor ALLOW others 70 use
speculate upon The government, whoee nierest he
10 appointed and paid TO guard ana project. Hsads
OF apartments entitled W the most certain o.
OF ohburse public money, and II N believed tuat
be dcvbed that would prove more ef1cacous than
monthly so' ounts and settlements.
In this connection, attention called 10 the various aud
complicated duties Of the accounting officers OF the res
,ury who ste and settle the annual accounts OF reoev
and collectors STs 600 COO and the annual
acc usfs Of claimants and diburoe agents 70 more tnan
f72 10000 This subject referred 70 In my last
/ aal report, with q statement OF the manner and
principles OF accounting NJ the treasury, repro
senpe the high qualities required and essential ~ be
proper ductse Of the duties connded 70 these treasury
officers and 60 ecsy SO a. 10 The chiefs Of bureaus and
heads OF oivaions further consideration OF The sub
tect and M great importance, confirm me In the
mehts there made, that both wisdom and economy call
the soundess and sbest lawyers OF integrity ami u
qualities that be secured Tor those pos
TONS the salaries OF those officers be
revived and Increased The change In the value OF money
mode Of living price Of provisions and other necessar
Congress passed upon their with the
great In the receipts apd expenditures and
seqoent increase Of responsibility, jusy revision and
Of compensation. The salaries gives
far less than many OF the banks, manu- acturlng and
establishments pay their confidential, oon
pe,ent and tkiFuI officers, whist the amount In
volved passed upon 10 net uthe Of the
receipts and ex2en atures. The persons competent 70
take these postons necessarily In the meridian
OF life OF estsbnned character and snoud possess the
high qualities indicated The services Of such
ought command salaries sufficient 70 enable them
maintain proper position for themselve. and famies
and Tie education Of their children, without exhsustng
their private fortunes, or involving themselves In
specializing and money making schemes they are
of hf40 whg.ua Aufx A A.