The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-05
TREASURY MALFEASANCES.
TRiUDS pUiRE GOJLRNNJ,NT NOgLS
AND BONDS IhE M.fDE.
Tnbuious mounts or Paper that should have
been Derroy-d Believed to he tnnn, How
Stealing Has been Done In the Treasury.

7 " y
been Detroy-d Believed to he tnnnt uow
Stealing Has been Done In the Treasury.
Mr.. James X Hamilton Wilcox lcctured
before the Liberal Club last evening upon
"Trcnsury Issues; their Barring upon the
Public Debt and Currency" He brought to his
subject the observations of n year spent in tho
service Of several commlttocs that have inveati-
gated the various branches Of the Government
service. The lecture profcssed 10 embOdy the
drit OF much testimony that has been sup
pressed. for reasons deemed prudential by the
party inpowcr. The lecturers purpose he said
Ind bcon to ascertain whether the reports
and figures OF tho Treasury Department
are uniruItworthy. In the experience Of all the
committees TINT have mnde examinations Of the
Treasury. such conccnlncnts and variations
have been found as to force him 10 the conrlu-
sion that no faith can be placed in the depart
mcnt figures. either AS to the volume of cur
rency or IA to the amount Of the public debt.
Jeremy Bentham suggested the principle that
whore opportunity and motive concur. their
natural effect Is sure to follow The entire ad-
minisiration Of the Treasury Department has
been shown to be rellcte with opportunities for
fraud The purpose OF lts agents has been to
mystfy and mislcad the public. Secretary
Br.stoW said. on going ont of oiire. that every
cent TINT mad come into the Treasury had boon
devoted TO It's legitimate purpose. Secretary
Morrill,. his successor. reported that within
few yoar4 pnst OIL 'a- had left that department
ia default oi s5ODOuOO. in the aggregate. The
elgrns want has been Of some perfect system
of cheoks upon tho different bureaus through
which notes aud bonds pass. from the blank
paper stage untilthey become perfect bonds and
notes.
The Bureau ~ Engraving and Printing alone
has furnished the opportunity for the pecula-
tion of hundreds Of millions. The great trouble
has been tle secrecy ~ 10 department business
tnat the Treasury Ring hn- nlwuvs in- -tcd
ui N. Ilr Silnd 'ns rule Is That moth n- siilll
h' diNug !, und They have sumWurly dis
charged ~u 10 clerks uS told too mud and pro-
uutld the shr-wd ones VINO ku u'W how io testify
tna great i.a without saying anvtuinE. Even
rotary VI .rril refused ~ permit an expert
a. examine the re- ord-. on the very thin plea
that oniJ mcmuors ut Congress ami such men
a~ they mlsut appoint, hiing lu committee.
were entitled 90 that courtesy. The damaging
part oi the reports "i tho investigating commit
te,- were sur TprcSsed.
The lecturer took up the max ing of the groen-
ha n. Thcrr If, hi sand. no +" uriiy AGAINST
itself is easily i'm tated; and IN ut len-t one
couuteririiiug d"n WIS found lar-," roll Of that
paprI fresh from the Government mills. The
numbering. which Is considered a very sure
check. amounts. pra tically. to nothing. sinDe
nothing ~ cuslrr than that TIA" grl doing the
print us should fail 10 change the number Tor
one, two. or three not :. AMI not h'd ~'"Neredhy
/ those who handle them after lrr. ll~a proved
iaot that many hut'- AMI bonds nave disup-
pnarri an the driving room. to which all 70 be-
for" they rra"h ti" srnl"r and numhoirr. As
O." two pr ts- last named ar. carried on.
pra 'iuAils, ia tAe s.tnN room thy furnish uo
T che 4 against eOllu-.Hn. on printer who WIS
/ before tle examining 'omulti", ~Worr tAst he
/ could lnN" stpn $40 % iur in fra toual cur
/ reicy very ra@iiy without .rt ton.
\ tlr~i- hiss Hh"rk wis supii,~ ! 90 have been
/ fnunl IN the signature II the Registrar. re-
gdirca ON all gregnharks. An ass slant war.
/ rant clerk IN tho Treasury sworc that Il" had
/ whS '"l.'h Nl, -up'r ~ -huiule ly ord.r.
] Ga" 81 r. WAS dismissed Tor forging Spinnrr's
/ si-nhiurr. lie Was not punished. Altrr the
! llH''l uua"r charge ~ an oiii 'or. This ON a
/ Nh'' on "u OCCASION. h"l f,u'Hf'"" of bonds
/ th"f 'i.- 49, was iHl ~ 'i-in S-' 81 Tor dis
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