Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-04
MATTHEW'S REPORT.
Important Recommendations for Con-
gressional Action.

Important Recommendations for Con-
gressional Action.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-A. c. Mathews,
first comptroller of the treasury, In his
annual report recommends legislation
to protect the government in regard to
suits brought against the United States,
to the Importance of some statute OF
limitation which will fix some time
within which claims shall be presented
for payment against the government;
double compensation allowed persons
holding Office under the states; collec-
tons of balances due to the United
States, and individual deposits for sur
veylng public lands. "These subjects
are of public Importance" says the re-
port. "and In my judgment the atten-
ton of congress should DO invited to
them" During the year 5S,S46
warrants were examined, aggregst-
ing S2,1s7 1856 ,J75.75, and 2s,-
79S accounts certified to the register
OF the treasury aggregating So, 69l.S N,-
593.34. A great mass OF miscellaneous
work was also done In tho office, in
GLIDING the writing of 10000 official
letters Aside from this large amount
of official work, requiring the personal
consideration of the comptroller, was
done, which included the investigation
OF the decision upon legal points arts
ing III the adjustment OF accounts; the
examination OF claims presented by the
declsons upon applications OF the is,u-
ing of duplicates IN lieu OF bonds AMI
other securities lost or destroyed, and
also for the transfer of the same; the
examination of the powers of attorney
OF the collection OF money due 10 cred
itors OF the United States; decisions
upon the rights of persons claiming to
be executors. administrators or heirs
of deceased claimants TO receive money
due from the United States; the exam
ination Of official bonds; answering
calls for information made by con-
gress, the departments and private per-
sons; receiving and examining emolu
ment returns, and other work of q mis-
cellsneous character"
The department estimates Of eIpend-
lures of the government for the next
fiscal year, ending June 80, 1924, under
the law, should have been IN the hands
Of the secretary OF the treasury, who Is
charged with their transmission TO con-
gress, on the lat inst, but they have
not made their appearance. Asa mat
ter OF fact they do not generally reach
the treasury much before the date of
meeting of congress. Secretary Rusk
of the department of agriculture has
practically completed his estimates and
they only need rev sion TO make them
ready for the secretary of the treasury.
II e Gays they did not vary materially
from the appropriations made by con
gress for Ihe current year. a total OF
about s., OO0, 900. Some slight additions
viii be recommended in order 20 carry
on the WORK made necessary By the ex-
tension OF the scope aud purpose of the
department
"If congress would do what ought n
De done 10 advance and encourage the
agricultural interests Of the country. !"
ssid Secretary Rusk. "Bfty millions If
dollars would be appropriated Bat s.
q -. al that vast interest, the greatest
n tie land. has appropriated tof "a bv
the government tares millions % del
lars "a Year. Why. a single vessel Tor
TIE navy costs more than that. and
sevsrai OK them are being built every
year
A to The operations ~ the current
year. ehloh -ill include nine months
81 the act year - sac present sdrn.nis
iFativs term. Secretary f,sstsf calea
istad that the treasury eill shev a
"a sEee OF 10000 GO nn tie ath ~
Jsns. is1s lac hnans.ai statement
for s~pte m bsf saass th.f ths ehoiefa
scare sd aat sppf~eishly affected
easlnHis fscs3pss. e. that in all pfats
t4tifg tEa estimates ST revenues nssao
ssi Ys.F vil bs faily ifffHs sut ~ ths
fs4Fs