Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-11
THE LATE TREASURY DEFALCA.
TIONS.
A Committee Of InyestfgmliOn i'm
Charge Of Gen. Spinner's once.

At the special request of Gen. Spinner, United
States Treasurer; Secretary Boutwell, on Friday
appointed George w. Riggs, 8. f. Middleton
j. H. Saville. H. III. I. Leopold, j. ID. Patton,
Jr., r. A. Fish and Z. b. Dasham a committee
Of experts to make q thorough Investigation
into the affairs of the Treasurer's Once. The
con mittee began their labors on Saturday, at 3
O'Clock y. m, and continued at work until IL
O'Clock in the evening. The investigation was
continued all day yesterday, Gen. Spinner and
about eighty of his clerks assisting. Noone was
allowed to leave the building during the day. IN
consequence of which those participating in the
investigation were obliged TO content themselves
with cold lunch, instead of their usual SUNDAY
dinner. The work of investigation was resumed
to-day, the commtte having entire charge OF
the cash room, vaults, and other rooms of the
Treasurer's offi:e Hon. John Lynch, chairman
OF The House Committee OF the Expenditures OF
the Treasury, is with the investigating commit
tee, having been invited by the Secretary TO b.
present The committee were engaged;in over
hauling the Redemption Bureau this afternoon,
and thus far have found everything all right
with two exceptions-One being the account of n
clerk. which is $50 too much, and the other a
deficit OF 90 cents, which has been accounted for
by an excess of 20 cents in the account of the
same employe for the month Of November last
Gen. Spinner estimates that the investigation b.
be thorough will consume several months. H.
was at hrst apprehensive that more discrep-
anc!es might be discovered, but now feels pretty
confident that everything will be found correct
except the Irregularities already discovered
with the operations Of the Office, as the com
mittee will daily turn over to General Spinner
enough funds to meet all legitimate demands
Prominent members of Congress, democrats a.
well as republicans, among the latter Hon. III
l.. Dawes, assure Gen. Spinner that he need
have no fear that he will be held accountable
for the late defalcations.
Mr.. SUMMERS BILL to reduce internal taxes
and abolish the Office of Commissioner OF Inter
nal Revenue, introduced by him in the Senate
to-day, provides that all internal taxes and
duties except from the sale and use of stamps
shall be abolished after the LIST of July next aud
the stamp duty on spirits shall be increased to So
Cents per gallon after that date, Procided that
20 income tax shall be assessed on or after
January LIST. 1872; but assessments made
before such date shall be collected
1t abolishes the Offices of commissioner deputy
commissioner, solicitor, collector and deputy
collector, assessor and assistant assessor, super
visor, and detective, and head of DIVISION and
clerks, and employees under the commissioner,
shall cease on and after the LIST day of Septem-
Der next; and instead thereof there shall be one
collector for each state and territory, who shall
adm mister the law in the sale of stamps. After
the lst OF September the duties of collecting the
revenue as above provided shall he under the
Secretary Of the Treasury. Referred to the FL
ince Committee.
TIRE NEW FRENCH MINISTER TorHE UNITED
STATRs.-Jules Ferry, who IS officially an
nounced as the French minister to this country
was born at Saint Die (yosges), April g.
1882, and joined the Paris bar in 1851. He
became one of the editors of the Gazette des
Tribunaux, leading legal journal of Paris In
1855, he joined the editorial staff of lie Temps,
and wrote vigorously on political subjects
evincing mar ed ability in financial questions.
He acquired great civic fame by his warfare
against the administration of the city of Paris
exposing the great abuses and extravaganza con-
nected with it. his attacks provoked MANY
warnings from the government, but, undis
mayed, the bold Journalist prepared les complies
fantastiques d. Haussmanp, in which he summed
up all his charges, and both amusingy and
effectively exposed the doings Of the Paris
ring" He was an unsuccessful candidate i'm
Paris for the Corps Legislatf In 1865 but in the
elections of 1869 be was elected after a spirited
contest against the government and clerical
candidates. He has always evnced friendliness
toward the United States, and ranks among the
advanced liberals OF France.