Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-29
OUR FINANCE SYSTEM.
SENATOR OAvlS'S INVESTIGATION or
THE TREASURY.
Discoveries Showing Discrepancies Of Hun
dreds Of Millions Of Dollars-Ihe
Occasion that ex-Secretay
Boutwell, Should Embrace
to Make an espla-
nation.


ate to-day, Senator II. q. Davis. OF Wes
Virginia, submitted the majority repor
OF the special committee appointed u
the Forty-fith Congress to examine tn
books and methods OF the United State
Treasury. The document is one OF grea
length, and SO far ~ it was possible 4
make IL, in the time taken, thorough
able, honest and non-partisan. In pre-
senting the report Senator Davis said tn,
committee found numerous aud serious
discrepancies in the Treasury accou nts
Mr.. ingalls, denied that any discre
pdnCies existed, and said that all altera
tions OF accounts Was fully explained bl
changes in the systems OF book excepting
Mr.. Conkling asked what the expense
Of the committee had been.
Mr.. David said between $4,000 ant
81 900; that no fact reported by thu
committee had been contrayerted.
Mr.. Dawes said u two and a.half year
investigation had resulted in nothing
but the discovery OF what was knowr
before: that there were alterations In the
treasury books but all Of which hat
been satisfactorily explained; that the
good name aud credit oi the Govern
ment was being unwarrantably as
persed.
Mr.. Edmunds asked whether ther,
was any evidence OF fraud ioundr
Mr.. Davis said the instructions % the
IA Ii. ln
ycstigatc anything but the lace OF the
books.
Mr.. Elmunds said the resolution ap
pointing the committee, directed them
10 report the nature Of the dlscrcpan
cirs aud Why they existed. The report
ignored this. lie intiMated that II was
"a more effective campaign document as
il stood.
MIR. Davis said the report would be
taken up in lew daysand it would JUS
tily itself. lie Was as Jealous Oi the
credit Of the Government rs any Scna'
tor. Ii would be remembered that the
report related chiefly To- what occurred
between 1860 aud 1870. lie believed
the accounts were more carefully KEPT
nov. The expiration OF the morning
hour shut oil debate. The consideration
oi the report, It II expected, viii conf
mand very general interest. The con
clusiOns aud recommendation Oi the
committee were IA follows:
Conclusions
/. The fiscal year OF the United States
closes ON the 3Oth Ut June. Tho Secre'
tary's office originates all warrants, no
titles the first Comptroller, Treasurer and
Register as to the number, character
anl amount Of the last warrant issuco
at the end OF each fiscal year, while tho
finance and other official reports ar,
made to Congress the following Dccem
ber. This allows ample time to adjust
the ACCOUNTS.
.. The committee find that the oilicia
finance reports of the Secretary Of thS
Treasury. and the tabulatcd statements
Of the Register, relative to the rcccilI
aud expenditure ui the public money
aud of all dues tu aud from the Uni
ted States, substantially agree up to and
including the year 1869, and they all
substantially agree since the year 1871
but the reports and statements OF 1911
on these subjects do not agree IN many
and large amounts with any oil the oil
clal reports made to Congress prior tC
1870.
3. The changes OF figures in the state
ment which, apparently, increased tn,
public debt aud the receipts aud eX
pcndturcs, going back many years, took
place between lS6g aud 1871. In No.
vembcr, 1871, the Chief Clerk OF the
Treasury Department, with the knowI-
edge Of the Secretary OF the Treasury
directed in writing the Register, Stpi'
the official book keeper of the Govern
mcnt. to make changes in OF omit tn,
Public Debt statement from hls (thg Reg
istcr'sl report,
1. The statements Of the public debt
and receipts aud expenditures rs con
tanned in the finance report Oi 1871
differ widely from the previous official
reports, aud apparently increase the pub
lie debt, while the changes IN the finance
reports commenced with the year lS'},
and continued ill 1870; yet down Il
1861 the increases and decreases in the
debt nearly balanced each other, show
ing that the debt and the receipts and
expenditures were stated with substan
tial correctness aud accuracy prevloustC tC
1861.
8. The testimony OF ID. Gulliord, oI
the Treasury Department shows that
three items, amounting To S,2iS,
S27 -, were added 10 the state
ment Of the public debt in I'll,
Office OF the Register IN 1871
lin order to harmonic the two These
items are not on the public debt books
in the Registers office, but were added
10 such statement by order OF the Secre
laTyo the Treasury.
6. The first tabulated statement mad,
by the Secretary Of the Treasury OF th'
receipts and expenditures and OF the
public debt. MAS in 1870, previous tC
that date the register only had made tn,
tabulatcd statement OF the public deb
and Of receipts and expenditures which
appeared IN the annual hnance report
ol the Secretary OF the Treasury. The
warrant division Of the Secretary
Office 10y means Of which such changes
in figures were made, Was organiked as
such in 1870, but was not expressly rec
osnIed by law until 1873,
!. From the beginning Of the Govern
ment To 1870 the public debt account
was kept and It's statements made uI
from the accounts known rs Issues ant
Redemptions," but since 1870, from the
accounts known as Receipts and Ex
penditures." The changes Of and ap
parent increases in the pubic debt state
inents are alleged 10 have resulted iron
the new system of making up that state
ment.
BY this new mode IL appears that th'
receipts and expenditures on account o
the public debt, IRON the organization
Of the Government 10 June $0th, 1871
were.
Total reCeiptS.. --'- eys ~. =
Total cxpenditurcs ANe't1Staa
.............. q. &c .ioo SO, s
Pubic debt lane ~ Ian. a.
oonflna 10 The SeEetarys
monthly statement and n
nance rcpon Of July !. ISL, 81 i1Il'aA :
Difference between the two
modes pt stAtcment...-,......-.--. Nle,lVsN1te
The secreiary's explanation Of thu
alleged discrepancy viii be iound IN tn
=