The Lincoln County herald., 1872-01-25

quartermaster 4th infantry, there shall
be allowed to the said Grant, the sum Of
one thousand dollars, on account of the
loss Of that amount Of public funds in his
hands by theft on the night Of tbs 10th
of June, 1848, the loss being without
neglect or fault on the part Of said Grant
SEC 2. That If the accounts Of said
Grant have been fully settled at the
proper accounting Office Of the treasury,
and the said amount Of one thousand
dollars accounted for, then, and in that
case, there shall be paid to said Grant
the sum of one thousand dollars, out of
any money not otherwise appropriated
Approved June II, 1862
The above act may be found by refer.
ence to page 905. chapter CvI, Statutes
at Large, vol. IL.
No sooner had this act passt congress
than the third auditor pouucel upon the
$1,000 and had it placed to Grants credit
on account Of the Mexican war deficit.
The matter went on after that pretty
much in the old way More letters we're
forwarded by the third auditors orders,
notifying the late quartermaster that
there we're vouchers on hand for moneys
received, for which he had never ac-
counted, and asking q settlement. But
the repeated and pressing invitations they
sent him must have been coldly received,
inasmuch as no response was ever re-
ceived to any Of them. and the balance on
the third auditors book was never dimim
ished by any sums Of money beyond the
81 900, which the auditor was vigilant
enough to secure to the government
In June, 1870, an act was passed by
congress, at the request of the third aud.
itor, empowering him with . sort of equity
jurisdiction, to allow credits on un.
settled accounts Of quartermasters of the
volunteer service in the late war Of the
rebellion, and under this act, which only
applies, as will be seen on perusal, to
volunteer officers of the late war, al at.
tempt is now being made to settle this
old account.
The act is as follows:
That the proper accounting officers Of
the treasury be, and they are hereby, au
thorized. in the settlement of the accounts
Of disbursing officers Of the war and navy
departments, arising since the commence.
ment of the rebellion, and prior to The
goth day of August, 1866 to allow such
credits for overpayments, and for losses
of funds, vouchers, and property, as they
may deem just and reasonable when re
CO amended under authority of the secre.
taries Of war and navy, by the heads Of
the military and naval bureaus to which
such accounts respectively pertain.
Sec. 2 That the accounts Of military
and naval officers, whether of the line or
staff, for government property charged
to them, may be closed by the proper ac
counting officers whenever in their judg,
ment it will be for the interest Of the
United States to do so: Provided, That
such accounts originated prior to the
Goth day Of August, 1866:
Prorilea, That no settlement shall be
made b, the officers Of the treasury under
this act which shall exceed tho sum of
$4,000, and only of such officers of the
army and navy, and the pay department,
in whose accounts there, is no apparent
fraud against the United Stated: And
provided further. That this act shall re
main in forco two years, from and after
its passage, and longer.
Approved June %, 1870, (chap. cLIrI,
vol. for 1S69-1870, Stat. at Large)
A few days ago clerk in the third
auditors Office undertook to obtian settle
ment under some strained application OF
the I'd section of the above act. and tc
this end called at the white house with o
statement Of the account, and endeavored
to obtian some data by which the auditor
might be able to balance it on the books
IN his Office.
The Ledger shows no credit on il
since 1865, when tho balance against the
late quartermaster was about $4,000.
All the accounts Of the president for ex
penditures during his campaign IN the
war of the rebellion have boen closed
but this Mexican war affair stands to
day as above stated.'-Washington Pa
triot.