New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-19
THE FRENCH ARMS SALES.


several days.
THE FRENCH ARMS SALES.
TIE WAR DEPARTMENTS SALES AND ITS EN-
PENDITuRES A DIFFICULT QUESTION IN
BOOKKEEPING.
10y TELEGRAPH TO TIRE TRrBUNEl
WASHINGTON, April 18.-As was to be ex-
pccted the statement Mr. Boutwcs report In regard
TO the s2sOOOO received for ordnance received during
the French war; quoted last night, must he read DaeK
wards in order TO lie understood says that the ex'
rcnd,uIes Of tho War Department for the year were
about ss6Ooooo and then explains in note that this Is
the net amount, after dcducting e.oooOOo re-
paid into the Treasury "a proceeds OF sales OF
ordnance. &c. but the true expenditures were Ho
partment who was before the French Arms Committee
This morning this does not mean that the &SVO0 nave
"nwsG by law to add the proceeds Of
receipts Of the Govelnment on their BOOKS ana
to deduct them from the expenditures The thing,
Mr. Sumner would say, Is exactly the reverse verse
millions were actually receipts, and in any other system
Of bookkeeping would be found added to the debtor aide
Inc assd the SIDE OF ss
mittee understand this. Mr.. savie explained, illus.
hours and Notwithstanding he displayed q wonderful
familiarity with all the laws decisions ana rulings al
the and with the entire system OF Treasury
bookkeeping, and CONVINCED every one present that ne
violated is doubtful If anyone present could say
that he himself sure OF any 81 his knowledge On
the subject Gen Franklin will lie recalled Tomorrow
GENERAL PRESS pIsPArCni
|. WAsuINGlON April 1S. - The Senate Arms
Committee met this morning. James II. savle. Chief
Clerk OF the Treasury Department was sworn and ex'
amned Senator Hamlin asked him whether any OF tho
money paid into the Treasury under the act making aI-
preparations for the fiscal year ending June 80 1871 was
used by the War Department without a reaprropra'ion
The witness responded that the act alluded to passed
July 49, 1870 twelve days after the fiscal year had com
rIced It was therefore impossible to carry the act
into fleet from the LIST Of July hut the Depar;nent d
best could under the s S s GnTsr
ing" moneys INTO the T.ea.nIy. IT haI Away way
o ~ a nneqal "rdna"ee Condemned stores etc.
should be covered into the Treasury 10 the credit Of
% % e saS and drestS t 10 be % mt
in his Department. aud, at his Instance bill was pre-
r rse o es the SS hs G was espaed
Da the House unanimously but has not BEEN acted
upon in the seua.e The act Of July H. ls7o required
for the the settlement OF proper accounts for two years
and that the xpended sance Tor objects mot co on o
Treasury The NTH section OF the act bowever provided
that the law -houd not Apply 10 permanent Vi indenno
Senator schurz examined the witness ct length ~.
Ella practice had long prevailed allowing dsbnrsing
officers tcenpend for ore pr0s" money spPor ca s ~
fcrent appropriations nevertheless the money Is thus
used finally. tho accounts adjusted under the
priced f19sd Was WAS for convenience as The disturbing officer
cht not have mmedatt y ut baud the money to pay
Schurz called the witncss's attention to tho amount Of
money drawn from the Treasury by the War Department
so" oo .V winch tue wnc- laid was the true e1Ild
turc on uocouut Of the War Department daribg That
BY senator Lo1an-The wor Department expended
s4 this amount III" regulation ot
IL yufW
sale Of arms, &c, wouG leave over me amount
appropriated 10y Congress might have been S0VhG0 Tor
the War Department, and the gross amount expended
b, senator Hsmhn--Thc Treasury Department charged
the War Department for all moneys for which y makes
requson against the appropriation. By TINS slate
tion for t 100000 during the time the acquisitions were
made, the War Department paid into the treasury
& OoOooO ami the settlement OF yearly accounts was
credtcd with this ano,nt and the deduction OF this
from the larger amount showed tho net amount WIN
Senator Logan said to the witness that he understood
the Secretary Of War drew t4oo0 out Of tho Treas.
S's.;.%%o Of net expenditure Now where were the
$+Uc0DUt We're they not added to the ~ oOOo irawnI
paeeS to the credit Of Il" War Department When
sold the Ordnance officer pays the money Into tho
o s ans s % FOR the War
1t cannot drawn except the warrant OF tho Secrc
ay 81 Of ws Ne seeey War did
lively receive the money for the sale OF arms and paid
Senator Logan asked number Of questions ief the
witness TO the practice of the Department. ana Mas
several times interrupted by Senator Carpenter The
witness, in answering Mr. Logan said tho Secretary OF
War did not have the money in his own personal hands,
but tho money was In the hands VI the disbursng
officers. 80. . A.,
charge is made ~ the War Department.
Senator Carpenter-Well, let the witness go on.
Senator Logan--Now, Mr.. Carpenter. am trying to
understand this matter and am asking questions my
self have not interfered with this ComIttee much,
but this matter want to understand claim the same
right here any other member OF the Committee and
viii have It. have not interfered with you, Dir, III
questions you asked. ,,,,u.,
my hat any time and go home.
Senator Logan prOp0unded Other questions which
were answered, when Senator SEIZURE asked whether
eaI,O0OOOO were not actually expended, and whether
68O0O did not constitute part 0f the expenditure
Witness replied: the " oOo, 600 had been drswnlthe
total amount drawn would have been but tho
went the credit Of the Ordnance apprOpra
ton and was not drawn but now remains TO the credit
of the appropriation.
The Committee then adj0ufncd.
TIE NAVAL INQUIRY
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.I
NY 0~;1 no Naval Inv