Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-23
T H E IL B RARY GAS E
What Treasury officials Say About the Ir.
regularities.
No Thought of Wrong Doing ON Mr..
SpO6ord's Pnrt-A Deposit Made to
Cover Possible Deficiency.

Treasury officials are still reticent regard
ing the accounts of Librarian Spofford, al
though it is admitted that Mr.. Spofford
has deposited $4,000 with the treasurer ON
account of the shortage discovered by the
treasury accountant. This amount has
been received ION account"
What Mr.. SpefIord Says.
Mr.. Spofford said today he. deposited
So, 400 in the United States treasury last
Wednesday in adjustment of his accounts
with the department Mr.. Spofford said
this was not in the nature of filling a de-
fcfency. however.
Law Governing Disbursing officers.
The statute under which a dispursing Off
Ger may render himself liable when his ac-
counts are irregular is the following:
Section 543S. Every person who makes or
causes to be made, or presents or causes
to be presented, for payment or approval.
to Or by any person officer in the civil.
military or naval service of the United
claim in upon nn,d against
or any department or officer thereof,
knowing such claim to be false, icu-
tious OF fraudulent, or who, for the
purpose of obtaining or aiding to OBJ
claim. makes, uses or causes to be made
or used any false bill, receipt, voucher, roll,
account, claim. certificate, affidavit or
'depc sition. knowing the same to contain
airy fraudulent or fictitious statement or
entry, or who enters into any agreement,
combination or conspiracy to defraud the
government of the United States. or any
department or officer thereof, by obtaining
or aiding to obtain the payment or allow
ance of any false or fraudulent claim, or
who, having charge. possession, custody or
control of any money or other public prop
erty used or to be used In the military or
naval service. who, with intent to defraud
the United states, or willfully to conceal
such money or other property. delivers or
causes to be delivered to any other per-
son having authority to receive the same
any amount of such money or other prop
erty less than that for which he received
certificate or took receipt and every per-
son authorized to make or deliver any GER
tiffcate, voucher, receipt, or other paper
certifying the receipt of arms, ammunition,
provisions, clothing, every person
so offending in any of the matters set forth
in this section shall be imprisoned at hard
labor for not less than one nor more than
five years. or fined not less than 81, 900 nor
more than 5000.
Treasury officials Views.
Officials of the Treasury Department
think that the charges against Mr. Spot
ford do not make him liable to the above
statute, and, If sustained involve only
breach of trust. If Congress appro-
prfated a certain salary for clerk
IN the library the government Is not
injured. it is said, by the clerk signing
pay roll for the full salary and receiving
a less amount. The clerk is supposed to
know what he signs, and his voucher Is held
by the government as receipt in full COW
ering the transaction.
Nor is there any ground on which to
prosecute Mr.. Spofford. treasury officials
say, If he should have received fees not
authorized by act of Congress. If a person
sees proper to pay for service fee not
authorized by law the government is not
deemed injured by the transaction.
So far as the commencement of any pros
ecution of the librarian Is concerned there
has been no thought of suggesting any
action of that kind on the part Of the
Treasury Department.
No Intention of WrongdoinE.
1t Is thought possible in the Treasury
Department that the President may take
some action in the case of Mr.. Spofford
though it is not generally believed that
the veteran librarian had any intention
Of wrongdoing in the very unbusinessfike
methods he pursued in keeping his ac-
counts. For this reason, which will doubt
less be laid before the President in due
time, it is hoped by persons friendly to
Mr.. Spofford that the library may be re-
organized on plan that will divorce the
duties of the librarian from those of an
accounting officer, and will make the keep
ing of the copyright accounts a separate
work