National Republican., 1884-10-31
ARMY OFFICERS, ACCOUNTS.

Annual Report OF the Third Audltor-Trouble
I'm Settling Signal Officers Accounts Because
OF Unauthorized Expenditures Directed by
the Chief Signal Officer.
The report OF the third auditor of the treas.
ury for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1884,
shows that there were ID, 7O6 accounts, involv.
ing S92,674093 settled during the year and
that there remains unsettled 81, 1877 accounts,
involving s0i, ,0G7,l 1853. The amount involved in
the settlement of quartcrmasters' accounts, to
wit SIG 203 2i7 Is S. B5i, ,25S greater than during
the previous fiscal year. The unexamined
accounts OF pension agents are reported to be
steadily increasing, extending at, present
through period Of iiltcen months and amOunt-
Ing TO the sum of ST2.0s9,l7S, and representing
1900, 900 vouchers. The number of vouchers
paid by the, agents during the year was
the same period was l,loi,sll. In
addition TO the 100000 vouchers
unoxnmined at the close Of the
fiscal year, 1t Is estimated that ut least l,300-
600 win be- paid by the agents during the pres
ent year, the bulk OF which, or at least 1000
UUD. Will be received before the close OF the
year and be then awaiting examination. In
Justice to the pension agents the auditor says
their accounts should be audited within rea
sonable time, thereby giving them timely no.
tlce Of any error or oyerpayments. In order to
enable them promptly TO correct their rolls
Us IL Is vi great
Importance to the government that the ac-
counts of officers disbnrsing such large sums
should be examined and adjusted us soon as
possible after payment,
lie refers to the difficulties In the way of the
settlement OF the accounts of volunteer ofli-
GERS and to the progress that has been made
In their adjustment
The auditor says that in his last annual re-
port mention was made that on settlement of
sundry accounts for disbursements In the sig.
nal service II was found that, In violation Of
law, expenditures had been made Of the re-
ccipts from commercial business over certain
United States military telegraph lines, and
that In the adjustment of such accounts the
officers were debitcd with such receipts, but
were not allowed credit for the disbursements
made thcrcfrom. The officers Interested were
notified of the adjustment of their accounts
and that they were held accountable for the
funds expended In violation of law. Their
answers thereto Were, in substance that they
made the cXpedltllres In conformity with In.
Structions received from the chief signal officer
During the year that officer addressed letter
to the third auditor, In which he claimed that
the expenditures were made In conformity
with law. This letter was referred to the So.
cond comptroller for consideration and de-
cisOn, and was returned to this Office with
that officers concurrence In tho view held by
the third auditor, which fact was commuui.
Gated TO the chief signal officer with the sug-
gestion that 1t would be well to present the
matter to congress, with the view OF obtaining
such legislative action rs would enable the
accounting officers to allow credits for the ex-
action was taken, but II is believed congress
failicd to provide remedy for the matter,
consequently the accounts referred to remain
suspended.