Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-26
KIECKHoEFER'S ACCOUNTS
Difficulty Auditor Holcomb Had in Secur.
ing Them From Him.
Money Finally Deposited That Had
Been Held Ten Years-The Present
System of Bookkeeping.

1t Is claimed at the Capitol Ivy those who
have been interested in the new system of
government accounting as provided by the
laws prepared by the Dockery commission
In the last Congress that the discovery Of
the alleged defalcation In the State De-
partment funds was due to the new sys-
TEN. 1t Is said that the safeguards thrown
around the handling Of government moneys
under that plan made 1t impossible for
any Irregularities in accounting officers
statements to continue.
In this connection some interesting cor
respordence has come to light between
the Treasury Department and the State
Department relating to MIR. Kieckhoefer's
accounts. Auditor Holcomb of the Treas
ury Department is the officer who discov-
cred the irregularities in the State Depart
nent accounts, and his statement of the
matter as prepared for member Of the
House Is as follows:
Auditor HOlcOmb's Demands.
May 81. 1895. wrote Mr.. Kieckhoefer
as follows: I have to request that you
render to this office for audit your accounts
of moneys received for the United States
during the past three-quarters of the cur
rent fiscal year from sales of the Revised
Statutes and other laws; from passport
fees: from fees for copies. ana all moneys
received from all other sources
Not having received any response from
hleckhoefer by June %, I wrote the fol-
lowing: On May 81 / wrote you letter, of
which the inclosed is a copy, requesting
that you render accounts of moneys receiv-
ed from passport fees, sales of laws. etc.
l have received no acknowledgment of the
letter, and the accounts have not been rem
dered by you. l now request you to rem
der the accounts referred to at once. If
they have not been presented when a requi-
sition for an advance of money has been
received will deem it my duty, under sec
ton II, act of July 81, 1894. 10 disapprove
the requisition. My request is urgent for
no deposit of moneys referred to since Oc-
tober q, 1852. Notwithstanding the law re-
quires the deposit of passport fees to be
made at least quarterly
'On the date of this letter / called at the
State Department and informed Mr.. Uhl
assistant secretary, of my request to Mr.
kleckhoefer. and his disregard of it, Mr..
Uhl assured me that Mr.. Kieckhoefer
would be called upon to attend to the mat
ter and, in response to my request, author
lied the examination of the books Of the
department in the settlement of Mr.. Kieck-
hoefer's accounts.
Explanation, but No Accounts.
'On June % Mr.. Kieckhoefer called at
my office, which he said he did by instruc-
ton Of Mr.. Uhl. to explain why he had not
answered my letter of May 81. He in
formed me that the accounts requested
would be soon rendered, but stated that he
had nothing to do with these accounts and
was In no way responsible for the moneys
collected. He referred to the case Of his
predecessor, Mr.; Morgan. in which a dis
trict court, southern district of New York
held that his sureties were not liable for
passport fees. 1 thought 1t proper that the
state Department should be informed of
this statement, and at once gave the in
formation to Mr.. Uhl. On July Mr.
kieckhoefer deposited in the treasury the
sum OF $31,342.53. moneys received from
passport fees and sales of statutes.
ON July IL. Mr.. Kieckhoefer not having
rendered the accounts promised 1 wrote to
the Secretary Of State, calling his attention
10 the fact. The accounts for passport
fees and sales of laws from October l.
1877. were received in this Office August l.
1885, having been transmitted by the act
ing secretary of state. On September H.
1893 an account was received for sale of
condemned government property, amount
ins to $1,O5S.S6. OF this amount more than
one-half was collected during the year
1884, and held. contrary to law for more
than ten years. The amount was depos-
tied In the treasury August 81. 1885
Two clerks were detailed from this Of
hce with instructions to make a thorough
investigation of the books of the chief Of
the bureau of accounts and discussing Of
ncer. The Secretary of State offered every
ldCiity LOT the investigation. The WORK
was commenced August and ended De-
cember as to all accounts except trust
accounts"
Balance Yet Due.
Auditor Holcomb transmits a statement
OF the deposit made by Mr.. Kieckhofer
since he was called upon to render ac-
counts. 1t includes item of s1306s o.
moneys received from the American replb-
lies being the first deposit made since April
:. 1888. The statement shows a balance
63.76. W Wv
The correspondence also includes a
lengthy memorandum, signed by Mr.. KIeck-
hoefer and addressed to Mr.. RockhilI, urg-
ing the "non-applicability of certain pro
visions Of the Dockery bill to diplomatic
and consular accounts" This protest was
made at the time of the passage of the
Dockery bill and was replied to in a lengthy
communication from Auditor Holcomb, who
did not concur in Mr.. Kieckhoefer's con-
ciusions. This statement answers in detail
the technical objections to the new systom
OF accounting urged by Mr.. kieckhoefer