Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-14
THE FIRST CONTROLLER
He Reports the Operations Of His Office for
the Last Year.
Certain Important Recommendations
Made-The New DOckery Sys-
tenn of Accounts.

In his annual report to the Secretary Of
the Treasury. First Controller Bowles gives
a detailed account Of the operations of his
Office, and suggests sevtI al changes In the
general n ethods of business. Warrants to
the number of 59,GO7. ard to the amount Of
2,2lO,349, 795 were examined and passed
during the past fiscal year, and q, 769 ac-
counts, involving s7,571 so, ,S65, were ad-
justed.
The accounts of the officers of the
United States courts continue to be
the most difficult Of satisfactory ad-
justment. The chief reason for this
arises from the manner in which they
receive their compensation, all Of them be-
ing paid by fees varying with the amount
of business transacted in their offices. 1t is
believed, says the controller, that II these
officers were put upon permanent annual
salaries, with fixed allowances for ex-
penses the principal difficulties now ex-
perienced would be overcome and direct
saving to the government might be effect
ed. If the present system Is to continue.
he urgently renews the recommendations
made IN his last annual report, that the
jurisdiction of the district and circuit
courts Of the United States concurrent
with that of the court of claims, upon suits
brought by these officers, be taken away.
and that the jurisdiction Of the court OF
claims in such cases be made exclusive.
tlement of the accounts of these officers
arises from the fnsufficiency of the appro-
priations for the payment OF their fees
made by Congress in the regular annual
appropriation bills. 1t is recommended that
the attention of Congress be especially
called to this matter, and that they be
urged to make ample provision for these
objects in the regular appropriation acts
for the next fiscal year.
1t is suggested that Congress be recon-
nended ~ provide that all fees and allow
ance made to officers OF the courts be paid
out of the regular appropriations for their
fees anG compensation.
The DOckery Accounting System.
In regard to the Dockery accounting sys-
TEN, under which the office Is now operat-
ing the contI oller says:
1.-The act of July 81 1894. making appro-
priations for the legislative, executive and
judicial expenses of the government for
the fiscal year ending June 80. $685. makes
a decided alteration in the accounting Of
fees of the treasury and a radical change
in the system Of accounting. The detail
the first controller, as well as by the sec-
ond controller and the commissioner Of
customs. is abolished, as are the Offices of
the second controller and the commits
sioner of customs. the first controller being
made the sole controller of the treasury.
revision of accounts under the new sys-
TEN will only be made when either the
head of department or the claimant Is
dissatisfied with the settlement of an ac-
count by the auditor, or when the con-
troller himself has reason to believe that
any particular account ought to be SUBJ
jected to a second revision. Much labor
will be saved by this system, and the ad-
tustment of accounts ought to be greatly
expedited. 1t is believed this can be &C.
complished without danger of mistake or
loss to the government