New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-29
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.

NOTES MISPLACED BY TREASURY CLERKS.
WHAT REPORTS BY THE TREASURER AND con-
TRoIIRR sHow-cARELEssNEss, But NOTHING
WORSE.
WAsHISGroN, Aug. 29.---Acting Secretary
French has caused investigation to be made by Treas
urer Wynan and by Mr. Knox, Controller of the Cur
renew as TO certain notes found upon the floor and
among the waste paper of the Department. He says
that nile accidents without careless
ness on part of official empoye, yet ne does
not think the facts furnish for the remova. OF
any employee for Of the head OF either
the offices question. The report OF the COnrOler
of the Currency is in part as follows:
"On the day previous the finding of these notes IN
the waste-paper basket shipment ma ne OF twelve
half sheets $50 500. the First National Bank OF
Carroll ILL., the rule of tins Office in making ship
of unsigned currency to National banks for the
vault clerk TO deliver to the person counting the package
from the vault The number OF sheets desired ior SUPP
is taken from the package and the amount taken
deducted from tue full amount upon the wrapper Inc
remainder is then counted, and If found correct de-
ivered 10 the yault-keeper who after examining the
first and last sheets Of the packages places In new
wrapper which sealed properly marked deposited
in the vault On the day OF this occurrence one OF the
vant keepers was sick and absent from his place. and
clerk having other duties to perform was requested 70
perlorin this duty. While examining this package he
called the performance OF his regular duty Wntn
"a receipt notes gust received from
OF Engraving and PTntiI g Returning To the package
he supposed that he had already examined ana threw
the fret wrapper into the waste-paper basket. Inc
scraps IN that basket were subsequently "a,
OF the Office hut through some heSect tuS
were not discovered The clerk who neglected to make
tue proper examination Isl young man OF excellent
ployed ia the Office, and his negligence Is attributed TO
the that lac performing duty to which he had
not been accus omed large lumber OF Such passages
ere In this office daily and more than ninety
millions of unsigned National bank notes shipped esca
ouah "a
and it is believed that this accident VIII have the eect
the diligence OF those engaged In TINS duty
and prevent any like occurrence hereafter.
WHAT THE TREASURER CONCLUDES.
The following copy of the report of Treasurer Wy
man: ION Tuesday morning, August Ii, at about s
o'clock there found the floor OF the room for
mery used punching and cancelngroom in the re-
demplion division of the Treasurers office, by work
man. not an employe of the office but engaged in making
changes in said room, package of ten $1,000 United
States notes. cancelled and strapped This package was
delivered by the workman to of the employees OF the
division upon arrival of the latter, aud by such
ployc reported the chief of the division upou his ar
rival, about O'Clock. This $4,000 was a part OF
X223 200 United States notes which had been redeemed
Counter to tie redemption teller transferred
the day previous the delivery clerk 10 be classified by
bered ana cut in two prior to delivery halves
velicaton by other officers previous To hna de-
Alter describing the method of operation and showing
how came TO be mlslsid the treasurer con-
ton in handling this money Is evident inc Sney
hsu been checked transferred 10 tie tables
from the boxes afterwards 1t was placed IN the
vault at the close Of the day. either OF these
counts would shO the deficit which would then
have readily been traced entertain no suspicion |
that misayng OF the notes was other than an acct
dent Had the parties In charge, or others employed In
the been disposed TO take and hide the money
for dishonest purposes no use could have been made OF
them unless 81 collision with others In the DIVISION at
tended with such risks 10 render such scheme I'M
practicable ard unlikely to he attempted The amount
OF notes destroyed during the fiscal year 1882 and winch
through the hands OF the parties employed
In the delivery clerks some Sb9OO0,OOO, ana
during The fiscal year 1888 S13O,OCOo0O and In the
years preceding, amounts great or greater without
loss William H. King, acting as delivery
CLERK employed In the division seventeen years
and in his present position over SIX years. Jesse t.
eoat the ssenger has been in the division twelve
yeas and iu his present position upward OF four years
be permitted to add that in my experience or
some twenty years in this Office have know Dumber
of instances which safes vaults have been left un-
locked which moneys securities have been LETT
OF OF the vaults and safes at the close OF business
and found by OIL eTs than the ones in whose custody
they were. These findings have occasionally been In
large sums and usually discovered by those
eonnee office, and III this respect the present
differs others With all the precautions
Than can Treasurer leaving the Office
pntl all Is settled and all moneys, after Inspection
by the chiefs Of divisions, certified 10 hiIn 10 be
under locked) 1t impossible TO provide against
occasional carelessness by OF the hundreds handling
this Office.