New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-08
THE HALLUCINATIONs OF Mr.. DAVIS.
NE THINKS THAT $247, 100000 MAY HAVE BEEN
STOLEN FROM THE TREAsURY-THB ACCOUNTS
MuIcu LIZ nELUsEs 10 UNDERsIAND.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE rrrBCyE.r

STOLEN FROM THE IREAsIRG--Ihk ACCOUNTS
WHICH He REFUSES TO UNDERSTAND.
IET TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBCSEI
WASHINGTON, July An examination as care
fu as the circumstances would permit of the testi-
mony taken by the Treasury investigating COM
mittee of Senator Davis and which 1t was thought
unsafe to Law before the public because 1t might
tend TO destroy confidence in the management of
the public finances, fails TO elicit the material for
passing sensation.
The discovery upon which Senator Davis evil
IDENTIFY hangs the most of his sangulne eXDectarOns
the one which chiefly inspired his movement
seems to consist of series of discrepancies between
the annual statements of the public debt made by
the Secretary of the Treasury and those made by
the register. Mr.. DAVIS summoned rs hi, first wit
ness in the investigation Mr. Glenni w. Scofeld
Register Of the Treasury. One single answer made
by him seems TO explain the whole matter very
clearly. Mr.. Scofeld said:
The Register formerly made bis report Of the public
debt by what they called ISSUES aud redemptons'
The ~fcrctarv's made from g Receipts and ex-
pcnditurcs.' The amount OF ponds issued ana the
amount redeemed would b. shown on the registers
amount Issued would show the amount Of the public
debt IN one way. The amount OF money, received on
issues OF bonds. Imeau might uier ~ one particular
daJe, because The moneys would De received mo TIE
Treasury and a report made the day would show so
much receipts OF money but the bonds might not Oe
issued for several dgys after report made on the basis
of receipts therefore would differ from a report
made the basis " the issues; aud so win e1yendi
the per had been subscribed and paid Tor on the
mem issued until the 1T OF July the beginning Of
another .ca wear. BY the Treasures books the pub
he debt would appear 20 be increased by that amount
but tne increase would show The Issue" books
OF the register uni the following ye so II the Treas
urrr had redeemed that amount on that day his report
would show that reduction OF the public debt but the
redeemed bonds would APPEAR the Registers
books until the first OF the following fiscal year.
Notwithstanding this full explanation Mr.. Davis
was not content and he has caused table to be
prepared showing the decrease" or Decrease 'as
shown by comparison Of the registers statements
with those Of the secretary for each year from 1888
20 1870 ignoring the fact that each discrepancy
is taken up in the next annual report. Mr.. Davis
foots no the Increase" column for the whole series
Of wears and from the total subtracts the total of the
| decrease column leaving Difference or in
crease in the Secretarys statement compared
with the registers statement amounting TO S2l7,-
1884 &C. The error of this course Of procedure
was explained several months ago in dispatch TO
The TRIBUNE but the matter still rankle5 in the
Senator's breast and promises to be made polltI-
cal weapon in the coming campaigns it is briefly
! planned again.
Among the later developments is one which seems
especially to worry Senator Beck the most active
associate of Mr. Davis IN the investigation. Ii Ii
in regard to erasures. Mr. Beck said III the Senate,
" make 10 charges ana VIII make none untlI tht
report Of the committee is had but if any gentle
man of the senate viii to the books of the Treas
ury Department and hold up any leaf of public
ledger to tine sun, If he does not lind from TO ten
scratches and alterations made his VIII not be
! as good as they ought TO be-
Among the testimony is found one table of eras-
ures and changes made from memoranda taken by
| Mr.. Woodvie, the expert of the committee in his
| examination of the " Register of Public Depart
ment warrants from July l. 1868, TO Dec. 81,
| 1850" The total number Of erasures and changes
| in five years upon this register is less than 100.
| Inquiry made at the department in regard TO them
| deyeopes the fact that this register is the
equivalent OF tho blutteT IL a coun ing house. War
rants when first issued are entered upon H. after
which they are subjected TO several examinations
by different auditing officials. aud if any error Is
discovered and the warrant tails pass 10 returns
To the place Of its origin, and the entry is either
| cancelled or corrected.
| several other matters Of more or less significance
are developed but all are, IL - believed susceptible
| or an explanation equally satisfactory.