South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-03-31
Romney, Hampshire County. West Va. March 81 1875

Ohio rSau from, out. from his statement
he certainly had great confidence in
the accuracy OF reports and statements
OF the Treasury Depart ment hut sub.
init now. In fnce ofthe facts have shown
from othcr finance reports, ought any
one to place full confidence in these
statements rs TO the transactions OF the
financial affairs of Government?
have no suitable words to express
my condemnation Of anything that looks
like change i'm the books aud state.
ments of the departments of the Govern.
ment, and ''there is no escape from the
fact that changes in the books and state.
ments of tho Treasury Department have
been made." aa ~
On the 18th Of January the discuss.
ion was resumed. and we again make
an abstract,of the running debate That
followed:
Mr.. EDMUNDs-May 1 ask the Sena.
tor question for information? 1g
Mr. DAvIs-tertainly. 81 -
Mr.. EDMUNDs-I should like to have
the Senator tell ia whether it is not trne.
as a matter of business necessity. that
there is one day in the year when the n.
mount of the public debt would appear
on the books of the Register to he the
same for that year that it does on the
books in the Secretary's Office, from the
necessity of business
MIR. DAvIs-I understand the Sena-
tors question, and win answer il as
near rs 1 can. / understand from the
Senator from Massachusetts that up 70
1870 there was no table kept in the
Secretary's office. Since 1870 there has
been. l understand, too. that before a
statement is made up ut the end Of u
year, no matter what tue debt may he
during the year on n particular day,
/ there are forty five days generally taken,
but sometimes they 60 even up to No
vember. am told. If such is the case
there are two or three or four months to
get in the differences, il there are any
differences, between The Secretary and
Register. Bnt cannot understand,
will say to the Senator from Vermont.
when the Register once makes up a ta-
BILE and reports it to Congress. and puts
down Sl0,000.000 or $l.0O0.00O. 00O-it
makes no difference What the amount
how, five years after that, or one year
after, those figures can be changed. !
do not understand how that can he done
Mr.. EDMUNDS-Does the Senator
mean to say that the figures on the books
Of the Registers office have been chang
cd in any instance to his knowledge or
belief? ~
Mn. DAvIs-Thc facts are stated as
find them without my belief, for have
not much belief in this matter yet.
hope, though. there will finally be some
one who will get the real facts in the
case. Take the report of 1862. il you
please. ur. Chase reported that the
debt was S5l6.000,000; Ispcak in round
numbers. The Register stated that it
was S5l4, 100000; and so reported to
Congress. Mr., Chase, in discussing the
situation Of the country, said it was
S5l4 100000. Each annual report OF
the Register from that day up to 1871
think certainly up to l870-continued
TO say it was S5l4,000,000; but the re.
port of 1870 or 1871 saidit was 1924.
100000; difference Of $1O,000.OOO.
Mn. EDMUNDs-Now the Senator has
not answered my question perhaps he
has forgotten it. The question which
put TO my honorable friend was this |:
When he speaks about changes being
made in the books Of the Registers OF.
fee, docs lie mean to say that he has IN.
derstood or believe that any change Of
entries has been made. like striking out
standing entry and putting something
else in its place? That was my cues.
ton.
Mn. DAyGs-I have not had an oppor.
tunity of examining the books. and have
not asked for it.. / take the finance re.
potts, and [ believe they ought TO. If
they do not, represent the books from
which they purport TO be taken. When
q report is made to Congress or to the
country, believe it represents the
books; and If that be so, say the re-
ports which have been sent TO Congress
from year TO year have been changed.
Now whether the books have or have
not been changed, cannot say. | hope
they have not been; hut the statements
that have been sent TO Congress Ger.
tainly have been; and If the statements
are not taken IRON tho books, where are
they taken from?
Nix. EDMUNDs-I guess they arc tax.
en- from the books.
Mn. DAvfs--If they are, they have
been changed. for the finance reports
nave been changed, rs the honorable
Senator from Massachusetts has nj.
mitted.
Mn. EDIrSDs--Docs the Senator
mean, in the sense in which he il wish.
ing TO have the country understand. that
IL he, as my counsel in a lawsuit. land
certainly could not have a better onc.)
last term charged nc with $500 for NJ.
tending 20 n motion, and next term finds
that he has paid since the last term $50
for clerks fees, and he adds that 20 my
account, he has been changing his books2
Mn. DAvfs--No, sir. I do not mean
that bat / mean that IL shonlJ 20
back and change the original entry 20 a
different amount, thai would be chang.
ing it.
ME. EDMUNDs-Docidedly aud yet