The sun., 1894-09-11

ReorEsalsatio- IN the Treasury Department
that - Not In the Line OF Reform.


that is Not In the Line or Reror-.
wAsHINGroN Sept. iO-There appears to he
a wide difference Of opinion among Treasury Of
fcials a. to the practical results to be- derived
from carrying out the recommendations OF the
Dockery Commission. The reorganization OF
certain bureaus in the Treasury Department.
authorized by Congress at the suggestion of the
Commission, is due to take effect on Oct. l. The
appointment division Of the department is
working its force extra hours at present in ar
ranging the details Of the proposed reorganiza-
tion. Prominent officials of the department,
who are actively engaged in this work, do not
hesitate to say that the results likely to arise
from some Of the changes in the system OF deal
ing with accounts may prove troublesome to the
Government
One of the most experienced members Of Sec
retary Carisle's staff said to-day in comment
ing upon the recommendations Of the Commis-
sion, that the abolition of the system OF requiring
the Comptroller OF the Treasury to pass finally
upon the accounts of the various auditors Is apt
to encourage rather than to discourage the set-
tlement Of questionable claims. Under the
present system the Comptroller is required to
examine and pass upon claims after they
have been approved by the auditors.
Millions Of dollars have been saved to the Gov
ernment by the Comptroller overruling the de-
cisions Of the auditors. Now the decision OF an
auditor is to be made final, and the check which
the Comptroller had upon them is to be thrown
Off. Those who are familiar with the practice
of the Treasury Department recall q notable in
stance of the value Of the Comptroller's check
upon an auditor. During the first Administra-
tion of Mr.. Cleveland a clerk in the Third Audi
tors Office, having charge of old army
claims, put through number Of fraudu-
lent claims for horses supposed to have
belnnvpd In pfflrprs aud Killed during tho
late war. He forged the papers in the cases and
realized something in the neighborhood of
s 1000 UP to the time he was detected in the
fraud by the Comptroller. The fraudulent claims
passed the so-caled scrutiny of the Third
Auditor, and were not discovered until they
came up for review in the Comptroller's office.
The dishonest clerk Is now doing time in the
Commenting further on the recommendations
of the Commission, the official went on to say
that he is familiar with the details OF the pro-
posed reorganization, and thus far he has been
unable to discover wherein the service Is to be
materially benefited beyond the dismissal OF
about 200 minor employees. At the same time
the salaries Of the fivc auditors and the Comp
troller are increased. the auditors from $4,000
to 81, 900, ard the Comptroller from $4,000 to
$4,000 Thu. 1t appears that, although the
duties Of the Comptroller are materially cur
tailed hs Sry " h tSseo Sy ns S3m's hn
supposed to be engaged in formulating an
economical plan, for the transaction Of public
business are paid from $4,000 to $4,000 per an
mum, with unlimited expenses. Under the act
which provides, for them they might, T. they
ington for their accommodation. charter a
yacht. or order themselves to make tour of the
United States One OF the experts who Is fore
most in suggesting some OF the reforms pro-
posed in dealing with the Governments ac-
counts, is said to have been unable to properly
ad just the accounts OF Southwestern railroad
company In which he was interested before ne
was appointed TO the Dockery Commission.
The Commission has been nearly one year at
work upon three divisions of the Treasury De-
partment. in addition to doing little smelling"
in the Post Office Department and the General
Land ONCE. They are supposed to make an in
vestigaton of all the departments befo:e they
due deliberation ut the rate OF from $4,000
to $4,000 year, with all expenses paid. Al.
though the proposed reorganization is supposed
TO he conducted in civil service and an eco
nomic basis II is understood that there is
three-handed contest between the Secretary. the
heads of the various bureaus, and the Congress
sional outside influence over the removals,
transfers. promotions, and reductions to be made
in accordance with the recommendations of the
Commissioners. Truly IL may be said that
merry war" Is now going on in the Treasury
Department.