The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-19

intention on the part of anybody to d
ceive the country.
Mr.. Davis-I have not stated thu
there was any intention to deceive.
have gone over this thrty-seven mi
lions item to show how eacy it was =
drop thirty-seven millions, such q sma
amount and pick it up again when
was necessary. That was the only me
tive, and l have so stateda half dozer
times.
Mr.. Edmunds-I might suggest t
my friend from West Virginia that
good illustration of what he is now I'm
pressing on the Senate is in the story
/ have no doubt it is true-of the Scotch
merchant who told his friend that hi
bslance.sheet made up by his clerk mad'
him 81, 100 richer than he knew ne was
he had made it that year, and that the
rascal did it by adding the year OF oul
Lord at the top when he started on MI
column OF figures. And this had boy
in the Treasury Department seems te
have done something of the same sort.
Mr.. Davis-There appear 10 be good
meny bad boys in the Treasury Depart
ment, and L hope they will be found out
Laughter.
In the debate on the oath, Mr.. DAVE
furnished this additional statement:
If we compare the statements of the
annual revenue collected made by the
Register in the finance report for 1866
for the years 1862, 1868, 1864 and 1860
with the statements Of the annual reye-
nue. collected in the finance reports for
1870 for the same years, we not only lind
that the amounts differ widely, but the
finance report for 1870 states that
the revenue collected for these years was
much less. For instance:
For the year 1862.
Report for 1866 states net reve-
nue. collected ......."............S ol,Soo,'ZO 10
i' nue. Collected ................. 5l,so7, si4 81
Showing decrease OFFS 1915 Ia
For the year 1868.
Report for 1865 states net reve-
nue. collected ..................Sll2,b S7 ~ %
Report for 1870 states net reve-
nue. collected 64,44S,l57 s.
Showing decrease OFFS IS, 2s9, 1888 ~
For tie year 1864.
Report for 1866 states net reve-
nue. collected ,626,7Il 6l
e nue. collected. 262, 1885, 81
Showing a decrease of......-.S l,SSi,4l7 q
For the gear 1865.
Report for 1866 states net reve-
nue. collected ..................s333,1 ia ,6O5 OF
Report for 1870 states net reve-
nue. collected..... ............... 323,U52,'o) "
Showing a decrsase of..........s lO,62l, SIG l9
What explanation there can be for
these enormous differences / cannot i'm
agine, and / do not believes any whatever
can be made.
Now, in the face of these facts, enough
to produce alarm, | do not hesitate to
re affirm and declare that changes and
alterations of figures in the finance report
have been made involving large amounts.
1t is certain that in the report of 1901
the revenue collected for certain years
has been decreased, and that the expen-
ditures and public debt have been in
creased. There must have been some
object more than has been made known,
and leave it to them who know best to
explain what it was.
Since the introduction of the rcsolu-
ton under consideration / have been
asked if l charged or intended to charge
fraud or the improper use of money IN
the Treasury Department during certain
wears. | have not stated that there was
fraud, nor have stated there was not.
When l first presented to the Senate
figures and facts which clearly showed
many changes and alterations IN the an
nual statements made to Congress involv-
ing large amounts, | was disposed to be-
lieve and did hope they could and would
be explained by some Senator or Treas
ury official.
The facts are, however, that several
Senators, and especially the senior Sens-
tor from Massachusetts, aided by state
ment from the Treasury Department,
have endeavored to explain portion OF
these changes and discrepancies, and in
nv judgement have thrown but little, /.
any, light upon them; and as to the 9TH
err portion, no attempt whsteverhas been
made to explain them. And when l
consider that every opportunity has been
afforded those who ought to understand
the workings of the Treasury Depart
ment. and even the Treasury officials
themselves, to render an explanation,
and they fail, am reluctantly COMPEL
ed to the conclusion that there is no rea
sonable explanation to be had, and that
these changes and alterations have not
resulted IN public good, and if there have
been frauds they have in part served to
cover up and conceal them.
In nv Investigations have been com.
PEELED TO rely on the official reports only
for information. ] have had no aid in
discovering these alterations and changes,
from the Treasury Department or It's
officials. Whenever | have made inquiry
eff any person connected with the Treas
urv Department as to changes and dis
crepancles pointed out by myself, | have
been treated with politeness and met with
a disposition to explain them away.
The resolution now under consideration
was introduced with no purpose except
to obtain what | regard as important
public information, and in the presenta-
ton Of the facts | have CLEAN d in Its
support have undertaken to be fair to-
ward the subject and toward all who may
have been IN the least generally and es-
peciallv affected by it. ! believe the
matters ! have presented demand thor
ough investigation and prompt correc'
ton. | am sorry there are leading Sen
ators on the other side who do not agree
with me. At first it seemed that all
were for investigation by a special com.
mlttee; but now it is proposed 10 send II
to committee large majority OF when
is friendly to the Administration respon
sibe tor the changes and discrepancies |
have pointed out, and some Of whom
have avowed opinions as to the correct,
ness of slch alterations. Would not this
be sending the child 90 AN uniriendly
nurse?
Notwithstanding the facts and figures
presented by Mr.. DAVIS and and the