Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-26

'ITTSBURG DISPATCH
| which was not discovered at the time he re-
tired, and if that shortage was traced back
| to him twenty years aiterward, the men
who were on his bond Cor their estates IL
they were dead) would be responsible for
| the deficiency. It is not easy to make up .
perpetual bond for any large amount"
A Nice Way to Get Bond.
Mr.. Huston's bond was made up among
his townspeople in Connersville, Ind. They
asked him to let them make the bond, and
| he did not see it until ID was sent on to
Washington approved by the Federal court.
He did not ask anyone 10 20 on his bond.
In fact, he was surprised and gratified
shortly after his appointment to receive an
offer from gentleman In Baltimore whom
he had never seen, who wished to go on his
bond for $40, 1000. Mr.. Huston has since met
the gentleman who made this offer, and they
have become very warm friends.
Strangely enough the law does not require
any of the employees under Mr.. Huston to
| give bond to- him, and he is responsible for
all of their official acts. There are more
than 280 Of these employees, all of whom are
selected by the Civil Service Commission.
The Treasurer has no voice in their selec-
tion, and he has no way Of knowing any
thing about their responsibility, their hab-
its or their antecedents. Yet, IL one OF these
employees should embezzle some of Uncle
Sans funds, the Treasurer and his bonds
men would be held accountable by the Gov
ernment.
Not q Very Desirable job.
~ will say to you what have said to the
President" said Mr.. Huston, "that there is
not man In the United States competent to
fill this Office who would. accept it if he
knew its duties, its responsibilities and its
rewards. The salary-S6, ,000-is a mere pit
tanee. Why, there is not Il trust or guaran-
tee company in the world which would take
all of the salary of this Office and assume the
responsibility of its incumbent. The Office
has grown beyond all expectations and all
provisions of law. The business of the Dis
trict of Columbia In the Treasurer's Office is
alone 10 times greater to-day than the whole
business of the Office was before the war.
81 came across an old statement not long
ago, made in the year 1899 I believe, show
ing that the amount of money expended on
salaries in the Office of the Treasurer OF the
United States during three months of that
year was 81, LOG. That included the salary
of the Treasurer. The regular increase in
the business Of the Office from that time was
very great, but the increase Immediately
following the war was enormous. The laws
regulating and providing for the office have
not kept pace with the increase Of its busi-
ness. p"
An ONCE Governed by Precedent
For that matter, the laws which define
the duties OF the Treasurer of the United
States are very vague. If we followed only
what the law requires Of US each day, we
could close the business of the office in two
hours This Office is governed by prece-
dent. For example, there is nothing in the
law requiring Us to accommodate banks
with money of the denominations which
they need in exchange for other moneys.
Yet we ship out $500, 900, 900 year in this
way for the accommodation Of the banks of
the country"
Mr.. Huston says there 10 nothing In the
office of Treasurer which could be an attrac-
tion except the honor connected and the
prestige 1t would give to q man who desired
to use it as a stepping stone to position in
the financial world. The second is not an
attraction to hun; and be believes that there
isjust as much honor in having held the
place for six months and performed its du-
ties carefully and conscientioAsly as in
holding it four years. 1t is not likely that
any changes will be made in the Treasurer's
Office by Mr.. Huston's successor. Mr..
Whelpley, the efficient Assistant Treasurer,
Will undoubtedly remain.
The Signature on the Bills.
The retirement of the Treasurer means a
great deal of work for the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing. All OF the plates
now used in printing currency will have to
be changed, Mr.. Huston's name being cut
off and the fac simile of the signature of
Mr.. Nebeker substituted for it.. Captain
Meredith, the chief of the bureau, has his
engravers at work on Mr.. Nebeker's sigma
ture now. For some time after Mr.. Huston
retires money will still be issued bearing his
signature, the date of issue, of course being
after the time when he retired from office.
In the early days of General Spinner's
term, when the Treasurer of the United
States actually signed the bonds and notes
issued from the Treasury Department, the
signature changed with the change in the
Office; but to-day the only ink which touches
the face of silver certificate, or a Treasury
certificate, or any other form of paper circu-
lating medium issued by the Government, il
printer'sink. And it takes much time and
sgreat deal of care to make the necessary
changes in the plates used in the printing Of
securities. GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.