New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-07
QUESTIONS OF FINANCE.
AN EXAMINER WHICH DOES NOT EXAMINE.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST THE TREASURY.
MADE WITHOUT PROOF.


From The Weekly Tribune.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: am a subscriber 10 The Tribune and The
Eyaninern As a rule l believe in the principles OF
both papers, but do not like the mean little filings.
in which The Examiner" sometimes lndulgcs with &c
gard TO the Administration. ! wish Mir. lior would
publish the Enclosed clipping which have cut from
The Examiner" and then say whether 1t Is correct or
not. Respectfully yours, o. l.. T.
Potsdan, y. y, Feb. -, 1s32.
The following Is the clipping taken from " The
Examiner" Of January :. 1892:
The reports OF the Treasury show from time to time
an apparent surplus. but 1t seem, TO be maintained as
a private merchant might heep good balance in bank
by the simple process of paying bills. The mer
chant is under the disadvantage that he could be sued
and made pay; the Government can walt until II Is
ready to pay, and there is no remedy. Men In GOV
eminent employ have been made 70 walt months 10Y
their pay, and all matters being delayed by various
processes known " red tape as to make the
money in hand go far possible This is rather
ytfu business for Government like ours, especially rs
its OILY reason Is an unwncness face tho facts and
confess that our expenditures exceed
income
1t is difficult to tell Just what the Editor Of
The Examiner" means by this statement IL he
means what he says, then he certainly should give
facts and figures 10 prove his assertion. one
would think that the Editor of The Examiner
power TO pay bill when it pleases and TO shove
one aside when it pleases precisely as a merchant
who is hard up may and often does Such is by
no means the case. The Treasury Department
has no option in such matters The appropria-
tons are made by Congress. SO long there is
money in any fund the Treasury officials must cash
the warrants drawn against that fund. II the
money is exhausted in the general fund, then the
reports must show such to be the case and then
the Treasury would lie unable 10 pay the approprla
tions that Congress has made. Then we might
truthfully say that our expenditures have come TO
exceed our income"
If such is the fact the proof Of it has escaped
my observation. No such state of facts appeared
in the statement made by the Hon. O. p Spaulding
before the House Committee haye known Mr.
Spaulding for almost forty years. l do not he
lieve he made false statement regards the
condition of the Treasury. He did not intimate
that any such juggling i'll bookkeeping had been
reSOrted TO or had become necessary. | wish
THE Examiner would be more explicit and state
actual cases. 1 am aware that claims against the
Government are very difficult to collect. Indeed,
in many instances the delays outrageous and
work great harm to the honest creditors of the
Nation But that is the fault of Congress, and
is in no way chargeable to the Treasury Depart
ment. That Department has power even to
treat with such creditors.
1t is true that the last Congress cut down the
income Of the Government many millions of dol
lars, and made large appropriations for the pay
ment Of former deficiencies; but we are still get
ting money enough to meet oil legal demands. At
least, so understand the situation. l am aware
that the Democratic press has been claiming that
the Treasury is bankrupt; but who has believed
this assertion? The Democratic Committee of the
House summoned The Secretary of the Treasury
just what THE Examiner states is true. Did
they succeed? BY no means. They did succeed in
showing that the Treasury is still able TO meet
all its obligations, and that the probable receipts
will exceed all the authorized expenditures by
eral millions of dollars. Did Mr.. Spaulding the
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. deliberately
mislead that committee? Did he lie about the
situation? j do not believe he did anything of
The kind
To find fault with everything in the world Is |
no difficult task. But never to find fault with !
out carefully examining the case, and then adher
ing strictly TO the truth, is very difficult To
charge the officials of the United States Treasury
with tricks in bookkeeping, which are resorted 10
only by failing merchants, is a serious matter IL
is still more serious 10 state that such tricks are
made simply for want of courage to meet the exact
conditions Of a bankrupt Treasury will venture
the assertion here and now that there is not
PARTICLE Of truth in either charge. j do not be-
licve there is any lack of funds TO meet all the
needs of the Government, nor do | believe there
is any disposition To postpone the payment OF
any actual appropriations account Of a depleted
Treasury.
In proof OF my position offer the official state
mont Of a man whom I know TO be honest and
truthful. and who ought TO be able TO know.
against The statements of men who deal only in
generaties, and who, so far as know, have faiied
TO file any definite bill Of particulars.
II is no wonder that our correspondent calls such
ut,erances mean little filings" They no doubt
seem such TO him To me such statements appear
uncalled for and wicked, because they mislead The
people and create unjust preiudces against honest
officials. No man shall surpass me in condemna-
ton of corruption or even trickery IN high places
but too much care cannot be taken TO prevent I'M
lust and unwarranted criticisms Of faithful public
officers. Men can hold places in the Treasury
Department of this Government and still be above
all practices that are even tainted with dishonor
r. G.. HORR.