The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-08-09
BALANCE IN THE TREASURY.
Jockey Juggling of the Democratic ON
cIal in Charge.

cial in Charge.
On June 20 the cash balance of the
treasury was S193, $3.50, 592, OF which
S1O7, 532, 24O was gold. On July 10 this
balance was 500, 5O4,3 800, of which
S1O6, 80, 735 was gold. In the interval
of nineteen days the cash balance of
the treasury had decreased So, 322, 232.
In the same interval the treasury re-
ceived SIS, 776, Asst, and it paid out s51,-
$50, 900. This left deficiency of s12,-
$50, 542. Yet the cash balance had
only fallen So, ,232. In other words,
the treasury had somehow paid out
S12, $50, 542 more than it had received,
and yet it's cash on hand showed re-
duction of but So, 32a, 232.
These are official figures. There is
no bookkeeping known to candid busi-
ness men by which any going concern
can for three weeks pay out more than
it receives by S12, $50. $40, or over $780,
600 day, and keep its cash balance
almost intact. II is not enough to say
that warrants are out which have not
been presented, for of these expendi-
lures, S24, 900 had been paid out
week ago by July IL. People do not
keep United States warrants which
bear no interest without cashing
them. Banks do not keep them
when they are deposited without turn
ing them in for collection Treasury
warrants return to the treasury for
payment with the prompt pertinacity
of all checks and drafts.
Yet the fact remains. The treasury
has paid out more than it has received
by Sl2, $50, SAG and its cash balance has
fallen only one-fourth of this sum.
Some discrepancy in these two state
ments is always liable. Disbursing
officers balances, outstanding checks
and various items whose payment is
deferred alter the cash balance. But
the difference never ought TO be very
great or very conspicuous. In the
normal management of the treasury i:
never would be.
Unfortunately Secretary Carlisle has
shown that by some ingenious book
keeping the cash treasury balance and
its rise and fall may be altogether
separated frem me cash receipts and
of the government A
year ago in the first two months of the
fscial year expenditures were s., 900, 900
larger than receipts and the cash
balance rose 100000 This dis
crepancy was jockeyed along until,
l, just before a new bond
issue, the cash balance fell in one
month from S119,919,7l9 to s1O7, $40, 146,
or S12, $40, 573. This was just about the
s14, 900, 900 by which expenditures had
exceeded receipts in the previous four
From time to time the same
has been repeated, but
never as fagrantly as to-day.
Public confidence rests on confidence
in the stability of the currency; the
in the stability of the cur
rency rests en- confidence in the treas
ury balance, confidence in the treasury
balance exists or not as the treasury
are accepted. If these agree
among themselves all is well. If they
disagree they are sure to be chal-
Ienged. When they are challenged
danger begins
Doubtless an explanation exists for
the discrepancy cited; but should
treasury statements be under any need
of explanation? Is it well to manipu-
late this balance as has been done be-
fore and is being done now on a larger
iladelphia Press.