The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-20
THE SECOND COMPTROLLER
Makes a Display of Some Small Savings to
the Government.

Makes a Display of Some Small Savings to
the Government
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The Second Comp
troller of the Treasury has furnished the follow
ing statement in relation TO claims which have
been disallowed by him: In adjusting the ac-
counts of pay director of tho United States
Navy the Second Comptroller discovered two
vouchers. one for $27, purporting to be for $40
five-cent foreign postage stamps and the other
for $50, purporting to be for photographing fifty
anatomical specimens for the naval dispensary
They were both made out in the name of q
woman, who is artist and were certified to
and approved by Philip S. Wales.
Chief of the Bureau of Medicine
and Surgery The Comptroller reports
that investigation proved that they were both
false and fraudulent; that the money was actual
ly paid for two crayon portraits of Wales"
drawn by this artist. The artist signed the
vouchers upon representation that there was
no appropriation from which such expenditures
could be properly paid, and that it was neces-
sary to make the vouchers in this form in order
to obtain payment, and that it was customary to
do so. The vouchers being regular in form, the
pay director was protected in paying them. but
the Comptroller directs that The amount be
charged against Surgeon general Wales, in his
account with the government The Comptroller
also disalows. in the account Of this pay director
item of $l4l 20, being for subsistence of the
committee on appropriations or the House of
Representatives while making visit on board
the United States steamer Tallapoosa from
Washington to Norfolk. Fortress Monroe and
Hampton, on March % to 81 inclusive, 1884
There resolution of Congress authorizing
the committee to make the trip at the govern
ment's expense, and the Secretary of the Navy
had no authority to furnish the committee with
subsistence and pay for the same out of the ap-
preparation for the support of the navy.
The Comptroller also disalows. in the settle
ment OF the accounts of Paymaster Smith,
United States Army, item of 81. $40 "a TOR
16, 1853 miles of travel claimed to have been per-
formed by Surgeon Billings in attending the
international Medical Congress at London in
August 1881, and in travelling elsewhere
throughout the various countries in Europe
under An order from the War Department of May
IL, 1881 Under this order it is claimed he trav-
eled the number of miles above stated between
the lst of June and the 10th of November The
Comptroller holds that the War Department
had no authority to send a delegate
to the international Medical Congress
at the governments expense; that Congress
alone could authorize such mission, and that the
service was in no proper sense military service.
He also holds that order from the Var De-
partment, which leaves it TO the discretion of the
officer as to the extent of his travel is void, and
does not authorize the paymentof mileage that
the Department must designate in the order the
place or places from where and the point or
points to which, travel is to be performed, and
directs that the amount paid in this shall be
charged against Surgeon Billings, in his ac-
counts,