Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-07
LET US HArE IN ACCOUNTING.

For twenty years past the Republican par,
ty has had full control of every department
of the federal government. During that
time gigantic war has been waged, and
vast sums of money have been expended
both for the maintenance of the army in the
field and for the support of the civil govern.
ment. In all that time there has never been
full accounting for the funds collected
from the people, amounting to very nearly
five hundred millions year. Within the
past ten years there have frequently been
charges Of the misrepresentation of funds
and these charges have been sustained by q
sufficient array of facts to justify thorough
investigation of the books of the treasury
but this has not been done. Senators Davis
and Glover esssyed to examine the books
but found them 80 loosely kept that it was
impossible to ascertain how the accounts
stood. The secretary explained the discrep.
ancies that appeared between the books OF
the treasurer and the auditor, by saying that
several years ago it was deemed expedient to
make change in the system of keeping
books, and it was by reason OF this change
that there was an apparent deficiency of sew
eral millions of dollars. This explanation
is not very lucid, it must be confessed.
1t has been notorious for years that there
has been great iaxity in the bureau of en-
craving and printing, and large quantities of
bank note paper kept on hand in the vaults
have disappeared. The similarity of both
the engraving and the paper of the counter
felt government notes that have of late
flooded the country has led to the suspicion
that both plates and paper were procured in
the bureau of engraving and printing.
There have bsen frequent charges of NAL
administration in the custom=houses of the
seaboard cities whereby the government has
not millions of dollars. These accusations
have been made by business men of ap-
proved standing, and have been supported
by facts that admit of no dispute. No
effort has been made to arrive at the amount
of these irregularities-to call them BY no
harsher name-nor have the perpetrators
ever been called to account.
In various internal revenue Offices in
many parts of the country frauds of the
greatest magnitude have been committed,
and the government has lost millions in
taxes that should have been applied to the
reduction of the public debt. Except for
the prosecution, half hearted OF best, of a
few revenue officers in connection with the
whisky frauds, none of them have been
brought to justice.
1t is about time that an accounting in
these matters was had. The people want to
know whether the federal officers have COL
lected all that is due the government, and if
the moneys so collected have been properly
applied. They want the books of the treas
ury overhauled and the money in the vaults
counted, that they may know if any is miss
ing and who to call upon for restitution In
case there is deficiency. They can neve
have that accounting as long as the Repub
lican party remains in power. Each secre-
tary of the treasury belonging to that party
will feel obliged to cover up the irregularities
Of his predecessor for the sake of the party
That irregularities have occurred the people
feel confident, and they want to know Just
how far they have been plundered by those
they have trusted with the management of
their affairs. Let the Democratic party gain
control, and there will be thorough over
hauling of all departments and reform of
all the abuses that have grown up in the
last twenty years.