The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-11-24
FIGURES FROM A FINANCIER.
Faets and Recommendation from
the Report OF TREASURER New.
A DECREASE IN THE NET REEVE
NUES.


coTeRRss REQUEsIED TO TAKE THE REsPoN-
BIIITY OF PAYING ITS OWN MEMBERs-A
BANKER's PLEA FOR RELIEF FROM THE
COST OF REDEEMING NATIONAL BANK
NOTES.
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Times telegraphed yesterdays is
sue OF tia. paper the following elaborate
synopsis OF the forthcoming report on fnsn-
cial affairs: Treasurer News report is yet
in the hands oil the printer. The following
is transcript In full of all Of its important
features. By examination of the previous
statement or receipts and expenditures, IL
will be seen that, while there has been an
increase of 81, 597 sos IS in the internal reve-
nue. receipts OF the fiscal year of lS7e over
those OF 1874, there has been decrease
of receipts from customs, of $685., HI "a;
from lands, of S4SS,7SS T6, and from
miscellaneous sources, OF $2,T0i ,5l3 30,
making a total net decrease OF revenue for
fiscal year 1876, IS compared with 1874, OF
81 ,47eF04 81. The total net decrease in ex-
penditures for the same period Is 81, l15,-
407 81, composed of the following items,
viz: Decrease of expenditures on account
of interest on the public debt, 81 026, 40 "a I;
on sscount of the war department., 81 ,193.-
281-2i; on 1ccount OF the navy, 50, 494 .96l 10.
Total decreased expen +stures, $14, 654, 5l3 03 !;
less increased expenditures on account OF
the interior department, 81, 100, 1896 20, and
on account of civil aud miscellaneous ex-
penses 81, 429 100 37-beiDg net difference
of So, 636, 702 Al in favor OF the fiscal year
1875 over that of 1874 in the matter OF re-
ceipts and expenditures together.
UNAVAILABLE BALANCES.
The amount Of general treasury moneys
carried in balances on the books of the
Office and which was unavailable on June
80, 1875. was s2e, $50, O42 "a. and the amount
of pOstoffice department moneys carried in
a similar way, and which was unavailable
on the same day. was $40 07S 06. On page
us, volume 5, United States statutes at
large, it appears that an act of congress
was approved March 3, 1887, of which the
following is the text of section /:
That the proper accounting officers Of the
treasury be and they are hereby authorized
TO credit the account of the treasurer of the
United States with the amount of the IN
available funds, whether charged to John
Campseil, or his predecessors, and TO trans
fer the amount to the debt OF the banks and
individuals, respectively, that may be in
debted for the same.
In order to avoid the daily, weekly,qGuar
terly and yearly repetition OF the statement
of the amount of these unavailable moneys,
and to clear the late streasurer's accounts OF
these fictitious balances, it is recommended
that an act be p 3ssed similar to that above
quoted, but to make It sufficiently complete,
30 as to cover such unavailable items in the
future. 1t is submitted that in all cases OF
deficit, default, or suspension of payment
from any cause whatever, whereby moneys
of the United States become unavailable, the
accounting officers of the treasury shall be
empowered formally to place upon the rec
ord the facts in each and every case charg-
ing the sane to the person who is in. default,
or whose assets are deficient or in suspen-
sion, and creditiDg the treasurer of the
United States in his general account.
EXPORTS ROT RECEIVED.
List of balances and statements of the
public funds have been received and ex-
amined by this Office during the fiscal year
1875; also those of 1874. OF the balances of
accounts reported, $50 were useless for the
purpose Of comparison. No reports having
been received from disbursing officers to
that numSer. and many ether officers who
have the disbursement of public funds rem
der no reports at all. TO fully serve the pur-
pose for which the work OF examination
and comparison done by this office was in
stituted, IL would seem to be only proper for
all disbursing officers of the government
10 render reports regularly and
promptly, and to make such reports effect
i've, the statements rendered should give:
i. The date and amount of each deposit made
by the officer during the week. 2. The date,
amount and payee OF each check drawn dur
ing the week. 3. The balance to his credit,
as shown by the check book, stub, or &C.
count. On the other hand, escn depository
should also report, weekly: L. The amount
deposited by, or placed to the credit of,
every disbursing officer. 2. The amount of
each disbursing officers checks. 5. The bal
ances to the credit of eaea disbursing officer
at the close of business on the last day of the
week. This would not entail much addi-
ditional labor upon any one branch of the
N cd f.so
trstive department and bureau to know the
amount of outstanding checks OF each one OF
its disbursing officers weekly, which Is at
present quite uncertain.
sTATEMKNr OF ACCOUNTS.
II In addition to this being made matter
OF legislative requirements, all accounts of
official funds whatsoever, were required to
be reported weekly to some accounting OIL
Ger, such statement would not only serve
the purpose tor which it is intended, bat
tend to promote regularity aud correctness
in keeping all accounts of the government.
The importance OF this part of the fiscal
business of the United States can be esti.
mated, from the fact that the amount ex-
pended by the several departments, through
disbursing officers, is over S250, 000, 900 annu-
ally. Iti., therefore, urged upon the atten
tion Of congress that some legislative action
be had so that full and complete system,-
cation be made of this important branch of
the service. Payments for the compensa
ton and mileage to the members of the
House OF Representatives are now made
by the treasurer of the United
States, upon certificate of the
speaker, or the clerk OF the House.
when there is no speaker, that the member
named is entitled to payment. The GER
fifcates, receipted by the members, are pre-
scented at the trsasurer's office by the SER
mai NJ rs w NJ
thereof as agent OF the members, Keeping
an account with and disbursing to them as
they may require. IL thus happens fire.
quently that the sergeant-st-arms has in his
possession large sums belonging to members
and to their credit on his books. The amount
of the treasury warrants issued each month
TO reimburse the treasurer for the month is
charged to him upon the books OF the regis
ter, and he obtains credit to offset such
charQa ON fling with iha anditino nffiear of