The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-02
URr ERR.
The suppression OF the Accounts Of Receipts
aud Expenditures.
From ne Uaited states EconomfH

From ne Uaiied states EconomiH
For many years past the Treasury has
SUPP ressed the oct lied account of receipts aud
expenditures Of the United States. his gre |
account, which was designed by the fathers OF
the republic TO furnish n perfect check AZ inst
that theft Of the money exacted ss taxes from the
people which had been the bane Of prosperity in
other countries, is required toy tue Federal Con
stitution IN the same clause which furbids " it'll
drawal Of money from the treasury except by
statutory Appropriation; by standing order OF
the House Of Represe ntatives, Dec 30. l1Nl aud
10y act OF CONGRESS, Aug. 20, lci2. Ii Is to con
tain "A statement OF the amount received from
tue people by every collection officer. and tue
amount received aud paid out by every dishurs-
Ing nicer during the hscal year to wnicn II
irompuy at the beIiuuing OF tue session
following the close Of each YER. For Al least
| Others, mas oeen Withheld 10y the treasury Ring
| till three or four years after the time whereat
| Senator DAVIS Of West Nirgtni' amid much
| laundering and difficulty, succeeded in doing
one really good thng-getIing a resolution
! passed calliug for n statement Of the amounts
wherein ex-uffcers OF the Unted States have
proved in uefault since 1852. After four months
| Delay the Treasury sent ~ the Senate q bulky
manu- ript, which its friends in that body pre-
vented from getting Officially into print. The
enterprise OF The NEW YORK Sun. however, has
given to the country the sunni aries of tins Of
| fetal document. aud they are remark sDle
| aud complete confession OF tue truth OF our
| Here are Ave and half millions OF defalca-
| tions at last acknowledged rs taxing place IN
| the time during which tue receipts ana expe n
ditures account has ueen practi aliv sup ressed.
what proof could be more cOmUlete OF the
| truth of our statement that this suppression
| vas niding swindling and screen defa Iltsrs
| II is idie to say that the defalcations are sp-
parent rather than real the fact is admitted
that all these officials ie nice without paying
| over tue Government funds Entrusted to them,
and that up to date tn.y have not paid. Nor
| will answet to say tbat cunts assessed as
| due are chsrg a 20 receiving or1cers as ca
| this only shows that an improper mode OF book
| keeping has been followed. 10 strike out the
! whole Of such items wOu not change the fact
| that numerous uetalca ions h We occurred and
Ueen conc. aled. nor tLat those who have been
| knew what they SAID. II also shows that e. e
statement lately published by the Treasury
| alter the compilation oil this dUcument-for cleo
tioLsering purposes. that the def lcittons had
reached IL the sx yeais ending June 81, 1873,
! only the sum Of s. Ab,UOc IL untrue, ana freshi,
| illustrates The utttr unrelisbiiiy OF treasury
statsments and tue folly OF trusting that con
ceTn with tue IN nagement Of the currency oi
| with any control over the business OF tue cuun
| try. 1t also places ell. spinner IN an awkward
position, h. AsD uch 80 lie for vsHrs allied TO pre-
| pare tie receipt aud txpeniiturts account fol
| publication Il the proper time. Hvowed MS pur
| pose not to 90 so, md helped to cover ny thes,
millions OF defalcauun. Further as about hail
| # what 10 officially admitted AS overdue and un
| collected was Withheld from publication, there
| 10 no knowing how many moie fluids remain
| concealed, TO be brought to light only by sever,
| pressure. 1t would be interesting TO know h v
| many Of the admitted defaulters have been sueC
| or Indicted also now many OF them are dead
aud how much mas been chaTRed to dead mel
for which living ones are justly responsible.