Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-03-26
TIE U. s. TREASURY.
Investigation Of the Congressional Com.
mttee-Ths Thieves and Results
Of their Thsfts.

WASHINGTON, March 25.-The sec
tetary OF the treasury to-day trans
mitted to the house of representatives
the report Of the committee appointed
to examine the Office of the treasurer
of the United States. Their report
shows that very thorough examina.
ton Of the treasurers Office was made.
and its condition is in most essential
particulars satisfactory. The score
tary Of the treasury then proceeds to
explain the several deficiencies In the
treasurer's accounts, arising from
the delalcatiOns OF two clerks.
johnson q Merden, aggregating $49,.
600, and further deficiency Of 81, 500
not recovered from the package of
$1,000 stolen from the division Of the
issue about two years ago, with other
discrepancies to the amount of $4O6
arising from loss Of coupons, ETC., from
all of which he thinks the treasurer
should be relieved by act Of congress.
He continues: With the exceptions
mentioned, and several cash items
hereinafter referred to as rejected by
the comptroller, the cash and the cash
assets correspond in amount to the
aggregate represented by the books of
the office. 1t appears, however, that
there Is deficiency coin as called for
by the books OF 1868, ,373. This Is
represented by an excess in currency
of $685., ,467, and by the deficiencies be-
fore mentioned, with the exception of
that arising from the dishonesty of
johnson.
The explanation of this excess of
currency and deficiency in coin may
be found in document No. 8, accom-
panying the report of the commits
sion, which shows that the deficiency
is not the result of dishonesty, but OF
an erroneous classification OF entries
in the books Of the Office. The cash
items referred to as rejected by the
comptroller, are explained to consist
of defaeed, detective ana partially
burned notes and securities paid by
interest, letter, some by order of Sec
retary Boutwell,, and some by order Of
his predecessors.
Part of the funds of the box of mis-
cellaneous contents enumerated
among The assets Of officers also con-
sist Of similar defective securities and
notes, and the secretary recommends
that Congress give relief to the treas
urer by allowing these discrepancies
In the accounts TO be cisssed. He also
recommends that authority be given
to the secretary of the treasury TO sell
or distribute properly such articles
among the forty-oRe special deposits
now in charge Of the treasury as may
be valuable, subject to any valid claim |
that may hereafter be made, and to |
destroy such Of them as may be |
worthless.
The secretsry's letter concludes las |
follows: Upon the whole, the result |
reached by the committee is such as |
to Justify an expression of opinion that |
the business of the treasury has been
well conducted, and that the losses In
the aggregate are very insignificant as
compared with the transactions Of the
office.
The secretary of the treasury win |
soon issue an order requiring military
post traders to reside at or near the
posts to which they may be appointed.
also requiring faiS and reasonable
prices for their goods to be fixed by
the council OF administration Of the /
post, and prohibiting the assignment
or sub letting of their privileges by
traders, and giving them appeal to the
war department Ia cases where thew
consider themselves aggzieved by the /
action OF the military authorities.