Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-12
work In the second Auditor. once


WASHINGTON. Sept. 1l.--Colouel John
=. Williams, Third Auditor of the Treas
ury, today addressed letter to the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury stating that on Il Q
LIST day of May last, when he assumed
the duties OF Third Auditor. il was noto-
rious that the business of the office vas
largely in arrears. because the clerical
fierce was not sufficient for the proper
dispatch of the work. The pension
division was nearly year behind in Its
examination, and the settlement of 40
counts of pension agents involved the
sun OF f5s.ll7,sl3. while misoell snsous
accounts against the Government, in
eludiR9 State war claims, amounted to
$6.5sI.1T{. Soue Of the work in eollec-
lions in the District was over two years
in arrears. In the horse claim division
over il.00o claims we're pending and un-
settled, involving $l.7l6,3s6. The un-
settled accounts of the army quarter-
masters and oommissaries amounted 30
f5.A6,s6, making q grand fetal of
fi0& b37 OH.
In the short space Of four months,
ending on the 3ist of August, without
increasing the clerical force, Auditor
Williams says, the accounts OF all pen
sion agents have been examined and
settled ul TO the 1st of June last, and
the clerks in the division are now ex-
aiming and settling the accounts of
the last quarter, which is the current
work. AZ showing the Improvements In
the working capacity OF the clerks of
that division, he says that during the
sronths Of May. June, July and August,
1854, there we're examined and settled
accounts apgrecatine SIS, $50. For
the corresponding fsur msnths OF ISIS
the same clerks. with perhaps three or
four exceptions, examined and settled
$55.lo6,T1s. These figures make their
eun Comment. In the horse claims
division 6ls claims have been adjusted
or rejected. involving ts6,295. besides
carrying on the lsrae amount Of cor
respondsnce necessary On q proper dis
pasAl OF these remaining. Daring the
same period in tSSt. 20 Gases were
disposed Of. involving x2I,17&. The
accounts of the qusrtermasters,
cnmmisssries and engineers are up as
far as Il IL possible for them 10 De. and
the clerks IN tAese divisions are DOG en-
gagged in current wsrk. The claims of
the Districs Collections Division and
ths Horse Claims Division are the
onlv ones In arrears. and the character
of the work necessarily preclsdes The
possibility of its being dene promptly.
This Is explained on the plea that in
almost every ease the information re-
quirvd from ctficers and outside sources
iav0lves Eene delay.
Auditor Williams says IL 10 due 10 the
clerks. with few exceptions. ta say that
ssuce the pre sent auditors ;neambency
thsy have been fsishfal and Ell sient.
Tue Improvement in this respect Is ssGa-
ply wondesfal. As a conssanence. q
large ansoans Of york hes bern per
formed. aaa therefore the whale easi
ness u in q very satisfactory condition
Tue Auditor SAYS IN this ecnnectsoa.
however. that Ia may De stated that
slnee the 4th day Of March there ar-
pears 10 have been an astonishing I'M
provement IN The h<alth Of the CLERKS.
fssst year. Of ias esefks. there vere fsSss
SICK days TodAy the andisox knoxs Of
only tvo clerks who are absent on sick
leave. As the result Of the Improved
condition OF the bassHess OF TIE once.
and OF ths fscs thai greater effioieney
has been Obtained. the Ihtrd Auditor
rxcomm cnds q rcdacssan IN the eiericsl
farceA Tie law new provides fsr lSs
elsrkA There are uss six vacancies BY
resignation, which need nos be SLED.
Tbs services of twelve nore clerks can
be disp<ne~6 ussh vithsat inJ1rs 10 the
pahlie swrvisc. making q sctAi redncsion
ef eifhtcea eserkA