Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-10-11
INDIANA'S WAR CLAIMS
The Third Auditor OF the Treasury
Discovers Some Grave Errors.
Accounts Paid Twice.
Discrepancies between the Vouchers and
the Abstracts How the Govern
ment was swindled.

WASHINGTON, Oct. l0-Third Auditor
williams Of the treasury department has
addressed letter to the governor OF
Indians In which he states thatin view Of
the unsatisfactory condition Of the
records Of bis Office concerning the claims
OF several states against the United
States, fled under the provisions OF the
act Of congress approved Jolly %, 1861, to
indemnify the states for the expenses
Incurred by them in defense
OF the United States and acts
supplemental thereto, be had found It
necessary 10 make thorough exgmina.
ton Of such claims in order 70 arrive at
an intelligent understanding of their pres
ent condition. The examination Of the
war claims Of the state OF Indiana under
the acts referred TO has Just been com
pieted and he incloses for the governors
Information and such action as he
may deem advisable, ap abstract
showing In detail Che amounts which
he sal have been eironeously, improper
ly and uulawfully allowed the state First,
In excess Of the vouchers presented Sec
ond, twice for the same service, and third,
amounts allowed without vouchers,
amounting In all TO s46,l The abstract,
he says, serves to show gross careless
ness, or something worse, In the settle
ment and adjustment Of the &C
counts, for which some person or
persons then In the third auditors Office
are responsible. This, Mr.. Williams
says, is evident. Take for example
voucher No. $50, account OF o. z. Ken
drick, charged In an abstract filed by the
state and allowed by the third auditor for
$3.50, whereas, the voucher Itself called
for $3.50, thus raising the amount $1,000.
Voucher No. 1914, account Of Robt. Ben
nett & Co voucher for s5i IL is
charged on an Distract fled by the state
and allowed by the third auditors Office
for S5425, a difference Of S597l. Voucher
No. 1911, account Of A. Brook water,
amounting 70 $3.50 is charged on an alb
strAct presented by the stste and allowed
by the third auditor for $3.50. There are
other little bills for smaller amounts
which will DC observed In the
course Of an examination OF the abstracts.
Mr. Williams says, further: Amounts al
lowed and paid twice by the government
will also attract attention. II Is assumed,
as II was q uniform requirement, that
duplicate vouchers were taken In the set
Element OF these accounts. IL appeared
at one time that 1t was the custom OF the
state officials, having these ac-
counts In charge, 70 die one
OF these duplicate vouchers for
ordnance stores in the second auditors
Office, which is charged with the settle
ment OF ordnance where II was allowed
and paid. The other voucher was tled
In the third auditors office as a claim
against the government under the
act OF July "a, 1861, and allowed
paid. In large majority OF the claims,
however, 1t appears that the agents Of the
state after presenting to the third audi
tors office a single copy OF duplicate
vouchers which was settled and paid, In
subsequent settlements presented the
other vouchers and II, too, was audited
and paid, thus making double payments
TO very considerable amount
Auditor Williams respectfully submit
that the next Legislature should promptly
provide for the. restoration OF this money,
II II be said there il still an unsettled ac-
count between the state and the general
government, growing out OF the ex-
penses incurred by the state in furnishing
troops In the war OF the rebellion, for
which II should be reimbursed
as provided for by act OF congress.
Inc general government has not only
been generous to Indiana, but TO all the
states, 10 the adjustment aud payment OF
their claims, and so far as he is con-
cerned, he Is prepared to promptly and
without delay adjust and settle all &C.
counts OF the state OF Indiana where the
necessary and proper vouchers are pre-
sented, but he IL inclined TO
the opinion that he ought not
pass upon single claim Of
the state until this sum OF SAC, 1871 ia GOV.
cred into the treasury. The auditor con-
eludes by stating that 1t is perhaps proper
that he should add that the erroneous and
unlawful allowances are shown in the
accompanying abstract FIRST In the year
1868 and continuing down to the year 1874
and that the claims In which errors and
oyercharges, or whatever else one may
please TO call them, were discovered,
appear to be formulated and filed by w,
Il. +. Terrell, late military secretary Ia
the governor and Thomas b. Mccarthy,
former auditor OF the state, who were the
legal representatives OF the state In such
matters.