New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-16

MONEY NEITHER RETURNED TO THE sENDERS
NOR TURNED OVER TO THE GOVERN
MENT-No RECORDS KEPT AND GREAT
LAXITY OF BUSINESS METHODS
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.1
WASHINGTON Nov l5-Secretary Gresham, in adj
dtion TO the many embarrassments arising d.
rectIy out Of his laundering management OF the
country's foreign affairs has had to contend re-
Gently with the discovery OF more or less serious
Irregularities in the conduct by his suoordihateS
OF the Passport division OF the State Department.
\ short time ago the Secretary became satisheh
that the business affairs OF the Passport DIVISION
were improperly managed. Numerous complaints
were lodged ct the Department from persons VINO
had applied for passports The writer's said that
although they had made requests and forwarded
the customary fees, no passports had oeeh re-
celvcd by them. nor had their remttahceS pe'"
returned The clerk I'm charge OF the Passport
Division had been employed in the state bepar'-
mrnt FOR many years. Neither his honesty nor
his ability had ever been questioned, and IT was
at first supposed that he could not be to blame ior
whatever errors had been committed
COMPLAINTS from applicants for passports be-
cone so freauont and emphatic. however, that an
Investigation was Instituted. The inquiry soon de-
Welcomed some important facts. Il was found that
sums of money had been repeatedly received AT
the State Department which had not been ac-
counted for I'm any manner one OF the first steps
taken after the investigation began Vas TO remove
the passport clerk to other and less respohsipie
duties The result OF subsequent Investigation iul.y
warranted this action. for it became known 'hat
money had been received at the state Department
as passport fees. and never accounted Tor Inc
remittauces were in the form OF money orders
postal notes checks banks in Washington ana
drafts on banks in other parts OF tle country
The money orders, postal notes. checks ana drafts
were I'm most cases found in the clerk desk
They had not been paid however. ana no credit
was given 10 the Government for the larger part
o, the sums In fact. record was made o' the
receipt Of the money. either in the books OF the
state Department or otherwise
Tho records also failed to show in numerous in
stances that any passports had been issued 10 the
persons who had applied for them ana forwarded
tho proper fees That Is to say. money had been
received from individuals going abroad no pass
ports were made out. and the remiances remained
uncollsc:cd The presence Of the unpaid money or
ders postal notes checks and drafts In the clerk
desk seemed to warrant tho assumption that no
misappropriation OF Government money hai taken
place certainly not of the sums indicated 10y THESE
| money orders etc. Further investigation brought
| ont the fact. however that ~ exact account was
kent of money received for passports. The absence
of any record Of rho kind therefore highly con,
| fus!ng Whether or not dishonesty was prd'lised
may be discovered later. but AZ present me pues-
! tion cannot h" answered WIN ''E u's. ~ 49,
tain;y \ surprising feature Of the matter IS that
money received ~ the stat Department for pass
ports l. would seem natural 80 suppose that me
n1ssuort clerk would be- responsible, but such IS
/ no, fact. n f. said. 80 loose nave peel inc
| Iu.inees methods 81 this branch Of the state De.
nar;fneni IN recent years that there is no means or
| fixing the exact amount q money which has been
| received from applicants for passports IN lndly
| cases persons who have paid the passport fees by
! money orders have been reimbursed in run II mas
/ been possible - learn their names anu addresses,
| and in all such instances the money which the APP,
plicanfs RENTED has been sent t. them rms couli
| not Doe done however. in cases where postal notes
| " re- used Where the names ana residences OF
| persona Who used checks ana drafts 10 pay pass
u,r, dues were known. reimbursement mas been
! made Il is assumed that in some instances The
| passport fees paid In cash. II such * the
J cas-. there IS 10 record of the fact
Tho s.nal'n.ss Of the fre paid for each passport
! 81 easily accounts for the neglect OF many OF the
appliranfS who failed receive papers 10 demand
an cNpllrntiou from IN" DEPARTMENT. ana me abuse
! now IA .covrr.d consequently became irnly rooted
/ ami cas-, = contnuancr The full results of the
| inquiry have not yet been made public.