The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-29
UNCLE SANS STRONG BOX
COUNTING THE MoNEY IN tbs Q.
G. TREASURY.

From the Philadelphia Press.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-Ths new treas
urer of the United States has nearly fin>
ished counting out Uncle Sans money. At
the close of the last count that was made Of
the money In the treasury the cash was
found to be $40 short, but the amount was
subsequently swept out of the corners of
one OF the vaults in the shape Of some stray
silver coins. 1t is said that no deficiency of
this sort has ever occurred, save
once, when the specie turned over
to a new treasurer proved TO be
Just 8 cents short. and the outgoing
official was obliged to make up the amount
cut of his own pocket II it should ever
happen that an unexpected hole in the as
sets was made by an embezzelment or 9TH
erwise, the treasurer would be responsible,
but congress would undoubtedly make 1t up
to him by a special Appropriation. 1t is
hardly likely that such q thing can occur.
however. inasmuch as things at the treas
ury are go arranged that not even the treas
urer himself can possibly steal dollar, nor
yet the Secretary Of the Treasury, nor the
register, nor the cashier, nor any one else
unless conspiracy was organized. Fur
thermore, il any one succeeded in breaking
in from the outside ne could not very we'll
get away with more than 200 pounds of
gold, which only represents about $50, 900.
A million dollars worth Of that metal
weighs ona ton. This would be discourag-
ing.
Not long ego there were certain treasures
of considerable value in tho treasury, in the
shape of articles made of gold and silver and
precious stones, which had to be looked over
and receipted for as well as the money.
Most of these things were presents which
had been made to various Presidents of tbs
United States and to other officers of the
government by foreign powers aud poten
tates and which they could not accept on
account Of the existing law forbiddinS the
reception Of such favors. Among them
was bottle of altar Of roses given to Pres
ident Grant by the Imaun of Muscat,
which held pint Of this valuable fluid !;
also bottle of pearls, another bottle of dia-
monds, gold sword scabbard, O diamond
snuff box, ten beautiful sabers from Ali
Pasha Bey of Egypt and lots of other such
trifies.
THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL.
In old times the patent office was a sort of
museum Of curlosities and these gifts and
other valusbles were deposited there. A
large part Of them were stolen twice, and
on the occasion of the second robbery the
thieves got away with pretty nearly all of
them that were worth taking. They Sc
cured the bottle Of pearls and the bottle of
diamonds, as well as the diamond snuff box,
the scabbard of the gold sword and num-
Der of medals. Not even the pint bottle OF
altar of roses did they leave behlnd.
On the following day a reward of
81, 500 was offered for the capture of the
goods and the burglars. The latter we're
traced to New York, where the treasures
were recovered, although the precious arti-
cles of gold and silver had been melted
down, after removing the gems with which
they were set, for pawning separately.
Later on it was thought advisable to hand
over the whole business to the care of the
treasury, which was done in 1888. The coll
lection remained in its hands for some
years, until while ago it was turned over
to the National Museum.
There were some curioSities among these
valuables which are rather difficult 10 ac-
count for. For example, two Rio de la
Plata dollars, a shotgun with gold mount
ings, seven gold coins from ancient Rome, a
pair of pistols, and pearl necklace. There
were ever 80 many medals Of all sorts in
gold and silver. One box there was full OF
diamonds and pearls, which had been pre-
sented by the Emperor of Japan to President
Monroe. The gems were not Of the very
finest kind, being intended for the decoration
of sword>hilts and purposes of that sort
but nevertheless they were worth q good
deal OF money. For years that box OF jewels
gave great annoyance to the officials at the
treasury. Congress never passed an act
permitting Mr.. Monroe to accept the gift In
question, and SO it was transferred to the
national museum, together with the res.
There were other valuables also given into
the hands of the treasury, which were
captured and confiscated during the war.
Among them were 240 watches, eighty-fve
chains, eleven rings, six lockets, one brace
let, and one pair Of compasses. Most of
81. g..
person of a southern banker with whom
they had been deposited for saft keeping.
He fed with them on his person and was so
unfortunate as 70 be caught.
CONSCIENCE MONEY.
The United States treasury receives many
mysterious contributions sent In by UNI
known persons whose conscience accuses
them of having swindled the government In
one way or another. Nest of The frauds
thus rectified are committed against the
customs and internal revenue laws. The ma
jority of people seem to regard the govern
menI as they do corporation, which, having
neither a soul to be saved or body to be
kicked, may be cheated TO any extent jus
tifiably, but now and then an individual
turns up who gets worried about it
after ward. Such penitents send the amounts
they think they owe TO Washington usually,
where the sums pass through the hands of
the bureau OF public moneys into the treas
ury. Contributions of this sort, as low as
a two-cent stamp, are received, while some
times they are as high as several thousand
dollars. A while ago eight halves Of as
many 81 900 notes came in. accompanied by
a notification that the remaining halves
would follow II acknowledgement was E1ads
of the receipt of the first consignment.
Some of the communications are rather
amusing.