The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-08
WASHINGTON.
The Frecdmen,s Bureau Omcers,


The Secretary of War furninhes additional
information relative to Gen Howard, Gen.
Balloch and the Freedmen's Bureau, from the
investigations made showing that the funds of
the United States alleged to be deposited in the
Treasury repositories, were not so deposited,
and the amount of deficit by Gen. Balloch
ranges from $4,000 to 100000, ranging from
1867 to 1872. The immediate account Of Gen.
Howard and of Major S. M. Brown, the other
disbursing officers, show no deficit. At long
interview Dec. 22d, Gen. Balloch could not
give any information relative to the $28O,OOO
and other accounts not found deposited with
the y. 5. Treasury
Gen. Howard also knew nothing about the
matter Balloch subsequently wrote to the
Secretary of War that with the aid of his pa
pers he could account for the discrepancies
Whereupon the Secretary of War instructed
Gen. Howard to have Baloch communicate
with the Treasures accounting officers. Sub
sequently Gen. Howard wrote to the Secretary
of War stating that he had waited on the Sec
ond Auditor of the Treasury, with verbal ex-
plantations, but was referred to the Second
Comptroller, which would then (Dec. 26th) oc-
casion two weeks delay. The Secretary re-
minded Gen. Howard that he should make his
statements in writing and that he 1.-THE Secre-
tary of War; had not been notified of the set
Element or correctness of Balloch's accounts
The Secretary of War says in his communica-
ton to the Speaker of the House that the def
ciencies are too large to admit of explanations
and all the admissions of Balloch show that
money was certified in the Treasury when there
was none there. The Secretary, referring to
the statement of Balloch that the sum of $500,
600 were invested in funds for those interested
says that no disbursng officer should be allow
ed to invest moneys of the government. The
documents were referred to the Military Com
mittee.
The Revised Est imatcs,
In reply to the resolution Of the House of
Representatives requesting revision of the es-
Inmates for the expenses of the government for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875, the Presi-
dent to-day transmitted to the Speaker the
amended estimates and replies from the var-
GUS departments, showing that action has been
taken by them as follows:
The Post Master General reports that he
caused careful examination to be made for
the estimates heretofore submitted for the ap-
preparation for postal services during the next
fiscal year and finds after such examination
that no reduction in the sums asked for can be
safely made. He further states that before ap-
proving the estimates submitted to him by his
subordinates, he had them most thoroughly
examined and reduced $694,5l7 The revised
estimates, he says are, without exception,
based on the actual necessities and probable de-
velopments of the postal service as shown by
the annual reports of the last three years.
The largest amounts required are for inland
mail transportatOns, $155S2 0S1 and for COM
pensation of postmasterS, So, 100000. The in
crease asked for in the first of these items is
during the last fiscal year, whereas the average
annual increase in that branch of the service
during the past three years was at the rate of
over eleven per centum annually. Greater re-
duction will IN his opinion seriously impair the
ability OF The department to provide for the
real wants of the country. In regard to the
second item, he states that he has no discretion
whatever in the compensation of postmasters,
that being fixed by law. The other items esti-
mated for were, he says, in each instance plac-
oil a the lowest fuura wit tho
pected demands OF the service and are indies
peDsable to its requirements. The total of es
Inmates made for this department, therefore,
| stand at the same amount as heretofore pre-
sented viz: 1876, 104, 912.
The Secretary of the Treasury in his report
says the estimates belonging exclusively to his
department amount to $173, 1874, 905, inc uding
the interest on the public debt d the amount
required for sink ng fund aggregating $13l,-
594, "a for which there are permanent appro-
priations. The amounts payable on the gener-
al salary account and for current and ordinary
expenses of the various branches of the service
besides, $3S, 1923, 296 for other objects of ex
pense are ordered by the laws of Congress- in
relation to which the Secretary ha no authori
ty or discretion, except to carry out the will of
Congress as expressed in the laws un er which
he is required to perform his duties.
Of the whole estimate for the year ending
June Both, 1875, only the sum OF 81, 967 ,261 is
subject to the considerable of Congress out
side of the requirements of existing laws These
latter may be omitted. They include 81 $780,
300 for light houses and sums for revenue YES
sells; but the Secretary doubts the propriety of
emitting these appropriations. He shows
where reduction to slight extent may be
made.
The Secretary of War says that the military
estimates are based upon the actual cost of ma
Jerial and supplies, and by the number of per-
sons authorized by law to be employed in so far
as regards strictly the military part of the
vice. The Secretary endeavored by active and
detailed inspection of all supply branches by
the reduction in rents and employees for the
past three years to bring down expenses to the
lowest limit consistent with efficiency. The re-
ports of the various bureau officers have been
carefully revised, and the Secretary refers to
them for information on the subject of the re-
ducton of expenditures.
The Supervising Architect says should it be
decided not to commence any works and to
suspend general operations on certain build
| ings named, the expenditures for the current
fiscal year can be reduced very nearly $6,000,-
900.
that can be reduced is the appointment for off,
| cial postage stamps to $4,000.
| The extent Of the reductions that can be
| made in the Navy Department, would amount
to So, 600, 900 and the Secretary does not think
| that a reduction to any greater amount either
| proper or safe. The estimates fer the Navy
already, are considerably lower than those of
| last year, are based upon legally authorized
force in the service and are made largely to
meet the fized requirements of the existing
| laws, There has been some accumulation of
available supplies during the last two months
I and where this has been the case the Secretary
has indicated corresponding reductions to MAIN
| tain the squadrOns of the Navy insuflcency
and to supply the places of old worn, and ex-
pensve ships with new and useful ones. will
require the full amount est mated for the va
| rious working bureaus and il those are mate
rally cut down, the squadrons themselves must
| be reduced
The Signal Office submits that the estimates
heretofore laid before the Secretary were based
| upon consideration of the most careful eUono-
my and it is not believed they can be properly
| reduced.
The Subsistence Department reports that no
reduction can be made.
The Ordinance Office provides for reduc-
ton of S34S, 1874.
The Surveyor Generals office submits to a
reduction of $4,000.
The Paymaster General does not recommend
any reduction.
The reports generally contend that the reduc-
ton from former estimates will be detrimental
to the service OF else submit comparative small
figures in response to the houses desire OF re-
duction thereof.
A Customs Decision.
The Attorney General has decided that un,
der the act of March 81, 1878, the Secretary OF
the Treasury is required to direct that the com
putations at the Custom Houses or reduction o
invoices expressed in foreign values, IN money
on account of U. S. shall be at the rates sus
tanned by the Director of the Mint ana pro
claimed by the Secretary of the Treasury,