Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-03-06
Aggregate.

+ Just think of this enormous sum.
handled by men and women, whose
salaries range from SO, 900 to $50, 900 per
year. The amount set down for 1872
(the fiscal Year, covers only about six
months. During the eleven and half
years embraced in the above table, the
defalcations have amounted to $55, 037,-
45. The clerks committing them were
appointed under Mr. Lincoln, and both
are now in prison.
Take the internal revenue bureaus
aud let us see what Grant has done to
secure honesty there. The total loss
by defalcation there up to date is
1858, 1S5; So and three-fourths of that
accrues Gas in the case of Bailey of the
Forth New York district) through the
conduct of the employees of former
Administrations The defalcations
were generally made then, and not dis
covered since One of GA J.'s" ap-
pointees, Gen. Steadman, alone de-
faulted to the amount Of $212. 336, SO.
When this Administration came into
power, the accounts of but sixty Inter
nal Revenue Collectors had been ad-
justed and closed. Since the 4th of
March, 1869, those of 400 have been
settled, and of 250 others superseded
since then, $50 of them have got their
accounts closed, and nearly 100 others
are nearly III the same position. Suits
have been entered against the bonds of
forty collectors, twenty-three of whom
were appointed by johnson, seven by
Lincoln, and ten by Grant. It does not
follow that ali these are really default
ers. When the tax abatements, etc.,
are all adjusted, they may all be found
honest and correct. The amount due
from the Johnson collectors is $751;
963. 55, and the uncollected and unab-
ated taxes, S2,909, 361.02; while for
Grants ten, the amount in money is
S173, $685. 63, and of taxes, S342, 613. 40.
Then, as to the matter of suits, &C.,
there were 5,035 brought by the Gov
ernment in 1868; 6, 743 in 1870; 6,977
in 1871 while the amount of judg-
ments recovered each year was as fol-
lows: $741, 797.47; 81, ,296, 254. 80
81, I9, 034.48; the amount collected
were: $127, 810.94; $441, 973. 05: 1894, :
339S7.
These comparisons would hold good
IN all departments. Of the fifteen suits
brought since March, 1869, for defalca-
tIons in the customs service, the Gotal
amount involved in which is but small,
one defendant was appointed byBuchan-
an, four by Lincoln, eight by John
son, and two by Grant.
Within the last four months, under
direct orders of the President, special
agents have thoroughly overhauled and
inspected the paymaster's and pension
bureaus and the money order offices
throughout the country These three
bureaus handle over ninety millions an
nually. Only three cases of defalca-
tiOns have been discovered, and those
are pension agents. The Government
loses not a dollar in either. The
amount of defalca.ions in the general
postofice for three years has been
1924, 377-21, on an aggregate receipt
and expenditure Of $3.50, ,052, $50. &c, or
loss of about one ninth of one per
cent. Most of this loss has been recov-
cred, or is in process of recovery on the
bonds of officials
From the 4th of March. 1869, to the
close of January, 1872, the aggregate
receipts have been 81, 165, 523, 1859; the
aggregate expenditures have been
1924, 691, 026.80 or q total of 50, 09O,-
220, 159. SO.
The actual net losses on all dishon-
esty by Government officials amounts
for the same period to 81, ,252, 963, or
about one sixteenth of one per cent.
If all the defalcations be added, most
of which will be recovered on iudg-
ment, the loss will be about one-ninth
of one per cent.
l doubt if there is any Government
emerging from a great civil or military
convulsion which can beat this record.
NO Administration, since the earliest
ones, can equal it. The people will
comprehend this as the facts become
better known.