The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-07
That Bubble Bursted.

- That Bubble Bursted.
IT A Department Clerk, who seems to be also
z one of the sensational correspondents of the
I New York Tribune, wrote to that journal
some weeks ago, that the Executive officers
of Iowa were a set of bunglers, and intimated
that the State had lost some hundreds Of
thousands of dollars thereby. This was a
rich thing for the Copperhead press Of Iowa,
and they blazoned it with gusto. If had
been as many millions lost to the people Of
Iowa, it would have suited the editors Of
those Copperhead antiwar Journals all the
better.
OF course, there was nothing in this.. matter
except delay in settling the accounts be-
tween the State and General Government.
The cause of this delay is explained in SUBJ
sequent letter of the 7ribune's correspond
ent, Mr.. CoBURy, over his own signature, and
the officials of Iowa are not only exonera-
ted, but commended by the original author Of
the charge of dereliction on their part
WASHINGTON CRY, July 10, 1865.
To the Editor of the Mascatiae Daily Jcsrpai |.
SrR-In an article published in your journal Of .
recent date, some structures made upon me as
the author of statistical article printed in the
New York Daily Tribune Of June 28th, showing
the result of the settlement, by the accounting
officers of the Treasury Department, of the ac-
count of the State OF Iowa for reimbursement of
expenditures incurred on account of the late re-
bellion against the General Government.
As to any personal disparagement to myself in
the article published in your paper, have no an
swer to make. But as act Of simple jnstice I
desire disciaim utterly and entirely any inten-
tion TO reflect, ia nay Tribune article, upon either
The business capacity the good faiM Of io,ca
State officers.
The article was written and published for the
purpose of furnishing statistical information, es-
pecially interesting to the people Of Iowa, and no
purpose was intended except to explain the rea-
sons which influenced temporary suspension of so
large amount of the Iowa State account.
Iowa, as did all loyal States, responded TO the
first call of the President, made in April, 1861.
without the promise of reimbursement of suoh ex-
pendtures as their response to the call would nee
essarily entail upon them.
The whole business at first a pure State
matter, and no subsequent settlement of the
account by the Treasury Department could havy
been anticipated, it was not necessary that the
vouchers and charges should do more than satisfe
the State officers of their correctness.
To guard against the possibility of ovcrcharges
against the State. Auditing Board was ap-
pointed by the Legislature, which, in the language
of the Tribune article, discharged its duties
fully and wisely" The findings of this Auditing
Board, after thorough investigation of all the facts
connected with each individual claim against the
State. endorsed upon each voucher, and this
endorsement was the authority of the State Treas
urer or other proper dsbursing officer, to pay it.
So far the Stete was concerned, this was all ab
solutely, that necessary, and no better system
could have been adopted to protect the people Of
the State. 1t was wholly unnecessary except for
the settlement of the accounts by the Treasury
Department, which was not then anticipated, to
take the receipts for payment on the vouchers for
the Auditing Board was the warrant Of the State
Treasurer to pay-the possession of the voucher
by the State being sufficient evidence Of the pay
ment. So far, therefore, as the State was alone
concerned, no more perfectly satisfactory settle
ment of the claims against it could have been de-
vised. But under the acts of July 18th and 9th,
the General Government assumed the re payment
to the State of such expenditures had been
made by them, and it became, in consequence,
necessary in the settlement of them that direct
evidence of payments should accompany each
voucher.
The original decision Of the Treasury Depart
ment that when State presented its account
for reimbursement, the original vouchers upon
which the State had paid the sums for which re-
endorsement claimed, should be furnished for
the action of the accounting officers of the De-
partment. The peculiar, and so far rs the State
was alone concerned, most admirable machinery
Of an Auditing Board as adopted by Iosoo, made
the receipts of the parties to ,rhom money had been
paid the rouchers, entirely unaecessary; and the
obligation to furnish the original vouchers Of the
Treasury Department, brought these vouchers be-
fore the accounting officers unreceipted. In the
examination and settlements Of Iowa accounts,
therefore while there could be reasonable doubt
in the mind Of the examining officer, that the ac
count had been paid ~ claimed, yet lacking the
actual evidence of payment he had no discretion
but to suspend it until this evidence should be
furnished.
In stating this fact in the Tribune article, If the
writer in using the technical LAM guagc of the ofce
made wrong impression upon the mind OF any
one, he now desires to remove and to disclaim any
purpose to discredit the officers Of the State Of
Iowa who managed the disbursement of Iowa.
Indeed he can say confidently, after very con-
siderable experience with similar accounts Of other
States, that there is abundant evidence that the
claims against the State Of Iowa were investiga-
ted with unusual care, and that the people Of the
State have reason to congratulate themselves on
the manner In which their interests were looked
after by the Auditing Board.
Very respectfully, }. A. coBuRS.
The Copperhead editors aforesaid will be
sorry to learn that all their sfat is in the fire.
and that the people of Iowa have sustained
no loss whatever, and ''have reason to con-
gratulate themselves on the admirable man
ner in which the military accounts were kept
by the State officers.