, 1892-06-22
OUR ARCHIVES.
A Treasure House of Valuable
Documents.
Something About old Records at
the National CapitaI--Acres of
Files In the Treasury Depart
memt.


Files In the Treasury Depart.
ment.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 22.-F. D
Mussey, of the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, says: The oldest accounting off
Ger under the government is the register o.
the treasury. The oldest employee of the
registers office is Chris C. Graham, whose
father was many years ago register. By
this experienced Official 1 was shown
around the department, and through the
Office of the register, which occupies a
great portion of the building. After exhib-
iting great many millions of treasury
drafts which had been issued in payment
Of interest on registered bonds Mr.. Ora
ham took me to the division of accounts.
This division occupies an immense room
which is filled with gentlemen who are en-.
gagged in bookkeeping. 1t is the substrat-
um Of all the bookkeeping which is done
by the government, Every dollar which
is received or paid out of the treasury is
made note of in the registers which are
kept in this room The chief of the divis-
ion showed me an old register in which
accounts were kept during the revolution
airy war.
Upon one page / saw the names of Lieu
tenant-General George Washington, Major
General Ward, gadier-General Nathan
lei Greene, and the name of another man,
both famous and infamous, Benedict Ar
mold, colonel in the Continental army
In another division l saw a Well-preserYed
record which is even more remarkable.
The first entry in this book was made in
April, 1776. That is three months before
the declaration of independence.
The patriots who were preparing the way
for the grand movement, the declaration
which has resulted in the establishment of
a federal government, granting liberty and
ultimate equality to all men before the law,
began their work long before the signing
of the deed, and established an Office in
Philadelphia. By what authority their
moneys were raised, or by what authority
disbursed, it is not necessary here to make
inquiry or explanation. The old book
shows that work was commenced long be-
fore the declaration was issued.
The files of this Office occupy many acres
of storage room in the great building. The
high walls from floor to ceiling, are COW
cred with little boxes, which fit closely
into pigeOn-hOles prepared for them. They
are labeled precisely and accurately. In
one of the immense file rooms | discovered
that l was under the great staircase of the
treasury, in the basement, and almost in
the cellar Shortly afterWard found that
in the roof of the building there were other
file rooms. Here are accounts, settled and
unsettled, going way back to the founda-
ton OF the government.
Mr.. Graham showed me one remarkable
thing among many which deserve mem
ton. Many years ago government clerk
cut from paid and returned treasury note
splendid engraving of the American
eagle. In so doing he clipped out also the
number of the treasury note. Recently
that American eagle, with the number
upon 1T, was returned, and payment de-
manded of the department. upon the
ground that all the rest of the note had
been destroyed by rats. The claim was
supported by many affidaYits, but when
it was presented to Mr.. Graham for final
decision and action by the department, he
went to his files, where there are several
millions of similar returned and paid
notes, found the original, and fitted into it
the eagle from which it had been cut. The
result was that the man who tried to de-
fraud the government out of $500 which
had already been paid to him is now in the
penitentiary, where he properly belongs.
Accounts are so carefully and accurately
kept in the treasury, and all important
papers 80 carefully filed away, that it will
be wise for all persons who can read and
keep themselves posted to make note of
this event and not try to defraud the gov
ernment 1t is an impossibility to do so.
Mr. Graham is we'll advanced in years, but
his colleagues in the department say that
his services are invaluable, and that he
has saved millions of dollars to the govern
ment. Yet the salary of this important
and valuable official is only 81, 300 per an
mum. To those who are receiving for their
daily toll much smaller sums, 81 800 will
seem like large stipend, but when it is
understood that there are officials in Wash
ington who have nothing to do but to
draw their salaries, and depend upon such
men as Mr. Graham to carry on the work
of their divisions and bureaus, who are
paid from $1,000 to $1,000 per annum, It
will be seen that Mr.. Graham receives a
very small stipend for his valuable services
and years Of experience. He is a modest,
unassuming gentleman, who has several
times declined to accept the chief clerkship
of his division.
The people should understand that there
are brains in the ranks, and that many of
the gentlemen and ladies of whom the
reading public know nothing whatever,
never having heard their names, are very
intelligent and painstaking serfs ofthe re-
public.