The New York herald., 1876-01-14

c0mpanying the report Of the Secretary 1870 and
Register before 1870 and IL does not agree as 10 the
statement OF the public debt with the Register since
For instance, in the Registers report OF
the public debt for the year lSG3 is
And in the table or the Secretary in
the finance report for 1870. page 49, the
public debt for the same year is put
ao"h l,lle772 l3s
Showing great difference and an in.
crease OF over. $50 600 900
This Is one OF many changes. Now, by what au-
thority od the Secretary OF the Treasury in his
table IN 1870 60 back aud change the Registers report
for that year which has been reported taken and ac
cepted for years as an undspued factY But this ia
not all In the finance report Tor 1862 Mr. Chase the
Secretary OF the Treasury, pages and A OF his
port puts down the public debt July of that year.
The Register in his table at page 2ls Of same report
records the public debt Tor the year at the
hgures; and this stood on the books, with other
eonradictng report until 1870 period OF eight years
and must have been relied on accurate when the
pubic debt for some reason that cannot understand
puts down the public debt for the same year lS62 at
1914 ,2ll, S7l showing an increase OF $40 600 600
Here this table stands impeached by both Mr.
~ Mr. DAVIS CONCLUSION
Then, hr. President, my position, reduced down and
expressed more clearly Is this s:-That matter IL Il
should be claimed that the books Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury and the Register differ and no matter IL
these officers have different systems of bookkeeping
there be satisfactory way in which TO ex PLAIN
answer why solemn onical reports made TO Congress
and published 10 the country, and repeated year after
year-reports upon which Congress, the people and
The public creditors relied and acted-should years
aiterward be changed in the manner have shown.
How is II that the Register OF the Treasury, in his
othcial report for 1864, puts down for that year
Ihe puOlc debt at 74O 900, 4S9
The total expenditures at.......... 29s, IA $50
The total receipts at at.............. 1855, 75S GA
-and these sums Of record in the Treasury De.
partment fixed and determined for years and until
1870 and are accepted per force, correct, there
being no other source of Information; and then the
Secretary, in the finance reports of 1870 goes back
and puts down for the year 1864 different sums
entirely. as, for instance
Public debt 81 SIS 7S4 $40
Total expenditures s................ 29j, 54l ia
lotal recelpts. 3y3, 4Jl oOI
II the accounts determined in 1864 were correct they
should remain so, and no power should change them
am aware there may and ought to he made
PLANTATION as 10 these changes and differences, but this
explanation, whatever II may be- must and will bring
10 light Why by what authority and what necessity in
duced the change of figures have cited and many
not referred to that in the books and state
ments and no doubt the willing aid OF the officers Of
the Treasury Department will be given to any Senator
who may think my remarks worthy OF reply. The
figures and charges have referred in official reports
so very large and the amounts enormous that
hardly believe them myself but after careful and
earnest examination OF the facts in reference thereto
and such informant on could obtain after consul
talon. with different officers Of the Treasury Depart
meut am forced 10 declare that can find no satslac-
tory explanation Of them. If there is
should be glad 10 have it, II there is Senator upon
tins floor, an officer of the government who
make PLAIN and satisfactory explanation of these
changes and discrepancies hope he will lose time
IN making himself heard, for in my judgment If it is
default no matter what the amount
IN the face of the above comparisons the conclusion
cannot oe avoided that ihe otlcla statements OF the
Treasury Department have been changed especially In
the report OF 1870 from former reports to the
enue collected and expenditures, and in the report Of
1871 from former reports TO the public debt These
changes involve large amounts for some object that
Is not apparent upon their face. This power to
40 back and change figures and entries on
the books which have been ascertained and reported
Tor years and been the subject of official and public
confidence has not been conferred upon any officers in
a 90 ERT N m
be. If il should be- however, il would be dangerous
innovation, destroying all confidence and certainty IN
The financial affairs OF the government If these changes
and alterations permitted TO be made and pass
noticed, what safety has the government to the
public funds, and what value can be attached 10 state
ments IN reference thereto! III the principle be
knowedged as a correct one, that officer set of
officers cnange the books OF the Treasury Depart
ment, either TO increase or TO decrease them for
cause even for single penny, they can do IL for tens
OF Millions as has been the case and instantly there
to be proper check or safeguard thrown
around the funds records OF the government
The largest railroad corporations commercial and
ufacturing establishments IN the country whose ac.
counts reach tens OF millions, when managed upon
PROPER BUSINESS PRINCIPLES,
have no difficulty IN making ineligible their books
lion of the business at any time. And while concede
that tho government on larger scale yet ITS
agement should be such that its financial affairs may be
readily understood And indeed the larger the opera
lions the greater the necessity for rigid prompt and
accurate accountability and careful and regular state
ments which should always agree, and, when once
rendered should be- like the laws Of the Medes and
Persians, not subject TO change
IL VIII be recoecied that the able chairman OF the
Finance Committee, Mr.. Sherman said in debate the
other cay while reading from OF the reports Of the
Secretary of the Treasury and referring to a monthly
statement OF the public debt made by that oficer;-
We have statement the public debt made the
highest sanction o. law made under the ea.hs Of many
Il is the srangest thing in the world that sena
statemont gives accrued up the time
was made and published and one has questioned the
have not referred TO nor have examined the re-
port distinguished friend from Ohio read from, but
from his statement he certainly had great confidence
in the accuracy Of the reports and Of the
Treasury Department; but ] submit now, IN face OF
the facts have shown from other finance reports
ought any place full confidence these state
ments 10 the transactions OF the financial affairs
of the government ! have no suitable words to
express my condemnation at anything that
looks Ike change in the books and state
monts OF the departments Of the government In
all private corporations, banks and CONNER
Cial establishments ~ established TACT that the
FIRST step toward criminality and dcalcatlon the
part Of their officers and servants is to tamper with
manipulate and change the books Could or would
any hdence be placed any banking institution
corporation the country IL could be shown that
books aud ann ual statements from time to time had
been changed and the figures and entries did agree
with each other IN the different departments OF their
businessf Certainly no one would or ought 10 trust
such institution OF Individual, and how much more
important is u to avoid anything OF the kind the
part Of the government The facts and ngures stated
justify, IN my opinion, the appointment Of SPECIAL
committee OF the senate TO look into the changes in
and the condition OF the books and Of the
Treasury Department, aud would therefore ask the
passage Of this resolution.
Al the conclusion OF Mr. Davis speech Mr. MRRRI-
MON Of North Carolina, inquired II there notes
or explanations OF these discrepancies.
Mr.. DAVIS replied In some cases there were explana.
tons but be had been unable 10 find how any system
OF bookkeeping could change amounts after they had
been reported 10 Congress
MR. BotrwKLL's RExARKs
MT BOUTWELL, rep OF Mass, saId he had been a
good deal attracted the moral which had been
by the senator from West Virginia regard to the
business OF accounting. There was nothing new IN the
the ngures presented and the books Of the
Treasury Department he (Ar Boutwell, had obser-
vaticn 10 make. lie would venture say, however
thai accurate knowledge OF the business Of the
Treasury Department would disspate all the difficulties
uuucr which the honorable Senator from West Vr-
riLla labored, aud II TO him Mr.. Bout
well that the Senator from West Virginia in dealing