The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-11
INDIANA WAR CLAIMS.
Third Auditor Williams Claims to Have Di
covered Evidences of Irregularities

Third Auditor Williams Claims to Have Dis
covered Evidences of Irregularities.
WASHINGTON, Oct 10.-Third Auditor Will
Jams, of the Treasury Department, has addressed
letter to the Governor of Indiana, in which he
states that in view of the unsatisfactory condi-
ton of the records of his Office concerning the
claims of the several States against the United
States, filed under the provisions of the act of
Congress approved July 81, 1861, to indemnify
the States for expenses incurred by them in de-
fense of the United States, and acts supplement
tai thereto, he had found it necessary to make
thorough examination of such claims, in order
to arrive at an intelligent understanding of
their present condition The examination of
the war claims of the State of Indiana, under
the acts referred to, has just been completed,
and he incloses, for the Governors information
and such action as he may deem advisable an
abstract showing in detail the amounts which,
he says, have been erroneously, improperly and
unlawfully allowed the State-first in excess of
vouchers presented second, twice for the same
service; and third, amounts allowed without
vouchers. amounting in all to SAC 123 The
abstract he says serves TO show gross
careleSsness, or something worse, in the
settlement and adjustment Of these accounts,
for which some person or persons then in the
Third Auditors office are responsible. This. Mr..
Williams says, is evident Saws Mr. Williams:
Take, for example, voucher No. 1870, account of
q. z. Kendrick, charged and abstract fled by
the State, and allowed by the Third Auditor, for
$3, $50, whereas the voucher itself called for 50.
$780, thus raising the amount $1,000. Voucher
No. 1914 account of Robert Bennett 6S Co.,
voucher for sd 1t is charged the abstract
filed by the State and allowed by the Third
Auditors office, s., 425, difference of $5,37i.
Voucher 46l1, account of A. Bookwalter. amount
= ~ \
by the State and allowed by the Third Auditor
for $3.50 There are other little items for small
er amounts which will be observed in the course
of an examination OF the abstract"
Mr.. Williams says further: The amounts
allowed and paid twice by the government will
also attract attention. II is assumed-as It was
the uniform requrement-that duplicate vouch-
were taken in the settlement of these &C.
counts 1t appears that one time it was the Gus
tom of the State officials having these accounts In
their charge to file of these duplicate vouchers
for ordnance and ordnance stores in the Second
Auditors Office, which is charged with the settle
ment of ordnance accounts. where IL was allowed
and paid The other voucher was filed in the
Third Auditors Office, a claim against the
government under the act of July 81 1861. ana
allowed and paid. In large majority of the
claims however, it appears that the agents Of
the State, after presenting to the Third Audi
tors Office the single Of the duplicate voucher,
which was settled and paid, in subsequent settle
ments presented the other voucher, and it, too,
was audited and paid, thus making double pay
ments to a very considerable amount"
Auditor Williams respectfully submits that the
next Legislature should promptly provide for the
restitution of this money. IL il be said that there
is an unsettled account still between the State
and the general government. growing out OF ex-
penses incurred by the State in furnishing troops
in the war of the Rebellion, for which it should
be reimbursed as provided for by the act of Con-
eress, Mr. Williams responds that the general
government has not only been generous to Indi-
ana but to all the States in the adjustment and
payment of their claims, and that, so far as he is
concerned he is prepared to promptly, and
without delay, adjust and settle all accounts of
the State of Indiana where the necessary and
proper vouchers are presented; but he is inclined
to the opinion that he ought not pass upon a sin
gle claim of the State until this sum of SAC, ,123
is covered into the Treasury. The auditor con-
cludes by stating that tbs. perhaps, proper that
that he should add that the erroneous and un-
lawful allowances shown in the accompanying
abstract occurred at various times-frst in the
year 1865, and continuing down to the year 1874,
and that the claims in which the errors and
overcharges, or whatever else one may please to
call them, were discovered. appear to have been
formulated and filed by Gen. W. Fl. II. Terrell,
ate military secretary to the Governor, and
Thomas B. McCarty former Auditor of State,
who were the legal representatives of the State
in such matters.