Morning journal and courier., 1885-04-06

| the Secretary has informed himself accurate
~ of the debts and assets of the government
and that he proposes hereafter once a month
| to let the people know the true condition of
the government exchequer. Now there was
no necessity for the employing of special
expert to obtain this information SO that it
might be placed in the form in which it is
presented in the new debt statement. Mr..
Mcclellan, chief of the bureau of warrants,
or any one of dozen clerks in that bureau
could have supplied this information on a
few days notice. The two forms appeared
on the LIST inst. and showed wide discrepan-
cy between the conclusions reached respect
ing the total amount of the public debt as
well as the amount of reduction in the debt
during March. The new form adds S97, 900, 600
of Indebtedness which Mr.. Mannings prede-
cessors in Office have heretofore ignored, or at
least have not recognized as debt and also
figures an increase Of about $50 600 in the
debt during March, while the old statement
made up in the form adopted and put out by
his predecessors shows reduction of about
$483, 900 during March. This discrepancy
between the two statements will astound
some people and they will suddenly wake up
with suspicion OF belief that somehow for
mer Secretaries have all along been concealing
this trifing list of government indebtedness
as well as deluding the people on the first of
each month in the matter of the monthly
debt reduction. But there is no occasion for
establishment, as the discrepancy is easily ex-
planned. There has been no juggling with
the debt statements and the new statement
contains no information concerning the ma
TONS Indebtedness or finances that cannot
be found in the old one. The difference be-
tween the two in the matter of increase in
the public debt is simply due to the fact
that in the statement the sum of the
Pacific railroad bonds, principal and interest.
is placed among the liabilities of the govern
ment, is treated as SO mtfeh money loaned
and lost and chat the fractional silver coin
and minor coin in the treasury cash box is
relegated to separate place as assets Gun
available for the reduction OF the debit
thus adding SO much more to the total debt
These two items, the Pacific railroad
bonds and interest, amounting to $65, $780,
204. 50 and the fractional silver coins and
minor coins, amounting to S31 sos, 377. IA,
make up the $97, 139, 49,. AZ discrepancy be-
tween the two statements. Whether it is
proper to consider the amount of the Pacific
railroad DOuUS d Ddu u0UG upOu Tie
government will never realize anything, and
the fractional silver and minor coin in the
treasury cash box as unavailable
assets, is question that has no
connection with explanation of the
discrepancy between these two forms of debt
statements. Both the old and new forms
will be issued monthly until July 1, and
after that date the old form will be discon-
tinued. tt g discrepancy between the two
statements respecting the debt reduction dur
ing the month of March amounting to S573,
G04.16 is simply due to the different view
taken of the amount of the total debt on
March i and of what constitutes
available cash assets and liabilities. The
new statement shows On increase in the debt
during March of 81 O42, 1924. Al and an in
crease of cash available for its reduction of
1858, 06529, net increase Of debt ''less
cash in the treasury" during March of $685.,
956. IS. The old statement shows a decrease
during the month of S476, 81 90 in the debt
and an increase of S7,616.89 in the cash,
net reduction of $493, 747.9S.