The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-28
A JOB NOBODY WANTS.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TREAS
URER OF THE UNITED STATES.

Account for Every DOllar-Mr. MOE
gan Likely to Remain.
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Washington. D. C.-In the rush OF APP
plications for office under the new admin
istration. there has been a singular lack
of enthusiasm over the office of treasurer
of the United States. Some men who look
only at the salary attached to place
and do not stop to consider its duties and
responsibilities have thought that the
g. 600 a year which Treasurer Morgan row
draws would be very acceptable to them
But the men who know what the treas
urership involves are not ambitious to
take The place It is quite possible that
in the end the President viii permit Mr.
Morgan to continue in Office. The present
treasurer is a gold democrat, and his adj
ministration of the Office has been per-
feetly satisfactory. His term does not eN-
pire in any event until the LIST Of june
and it is not likely that he will be dis
turbed before that time, even if some
good republican is found willing TO I'LL
mis- shoes
There never is a rush for the office Of
not onerous. but the responsibilities of the
place are so great that few men Wculd
care to assume them. The treasurer OF
the United States has charge Of the mil
lions of dollars of gold, silver and paper
currency stored in the vaults of the treas
ury department, and of the other millions
being handled in the offices of the re-
demption division, the national bank note
division, etc. For the safety of these
enormous sums he gives a bond of $4,000
"a perpetual bond. If a shortage should
be discovered in the treasury vaults l0o
years hence and it could be traced back
to the period when Mr. Morgan was
treasurer, the heirs of his bondsmen could
be held responsible for II.
on the other hand, the clerks and mes
eengers who handle the millions of money
in the treasurers Office give no bond to
secure him against loss by their careless
ness or dishonesty. All these clerks are
held accountable for the money they ham
die; but If one of them should steal
a SECONDHAND there is possibility sin
guar as II may seem-or if by some mis-
chance a large sum should be mislaid or
should disappear from the vaults or the
desks without leaving trace of its desu-
nation and the clerks responsible for its
safe-keeping were found to be unable TO
make good the loss the treasurer would
have to return the money TO the govern
ment, and nothing but an act of congress
would relieve him of the obligation. Not
long ago some sheets OF bills disappeared
from one of the treasury bureaus and could
not be traced. Their face value was 500
Mr.. Morgan made good the $500 and asked
congress to reimburse him, as he could not
place the responsibility for the shortage in
his Office. Congress has not made good
the $500 yet, but it probably will at the pres
ent session.
Only one other loss has occurred in Mr.
Morgan's administration, That was the
disappearance OF so silver dollars, which
were taken from the silver vault by a
young man named Anderson in 1894 This
shortage was made good. and the treas
urer lost nothing by the crime. In the
administration of his predecessors ths re
have been many thefts from the treasury,
and treasurers Of the United States have
been required to make up large sums; but
none of them has ever lost any considera-
bic amount. If no neglect on the part OF
the treasurer is shown, congress always
makes good any shortage which is not
made up by the clerks at fault.
When Mr.. Morgan gives up his charge
there is little doubt he will have to make
good some slight discrepancy in the con-
tents Of the vaults. He does not know
of any such discrepancy now, and it is
just possible that none exists; but 1t Is
almost the invariable rule that the treas
urer when the count of his currency is
made, finds that some small sum is lack
ing. In reality, this money is not lost
Some day. when the great coin vaults are
cleaned up, the missing dollars will be
found in corners. But the treasurer car
better afford to make up the hundred dol
lars or so which is missing than to have
the vaults overhauled to trace a loose dol
lar which has fallen between the bags Of
money. Mr.. Morgan's predecessor had tC
make up small discrepancy in the cash
So did the treasurer who preceded him
If the responsibility for the missing dol
lars can be placed, the clerk responsible
is required TO furnish the cash; and wher
the vault is cleaned out in the regular
course of business and the loose money
is found in the cracks of the flooring thu
amount is returned to him.
On the wall of Treasurer Morgan's offici
hangs small frame in which is a re
ceipt bearing Mr. Morgan's signature.
certified the receipt from his predecessor
OF N40,Sl7, 4l9.7S %, the amount Of gold an,
silver coin, treasury notes, national banl
notes and bonds on hand when Mr.. Nor
gan entered the treasurer's office nearl
four years ago. OF this $174.77O, 40. 81 wa
In the cash vaults, $314S5 .406 in the re
serve, $31, $50, 90 In the treasury 81 800
600 in unissued certificates and S21S, 27S, O01
2-S in bonds held by the government 4
trust TOT the lnQlanS. W men Mr.. Nor
gan gives up his office he will have t
show his successor that there is in tn
keeping of the treasury's Office thi
amount plus the money received by IN
treasurer from the various sources, an
minus the amount paid out by him 70
which he can show checks or vouchers
Just how much Mr. Morgan will turn owe
no one can tell now. The amount in Ia
hands OF the treasurer varies greatly froI
month to month. and even from day {
day. II Will probably be more than $500
100000. All this money viii have 10 d
counted before Mr. Morgans successc
signs receipt for IL. With the eNceptio
Of the silver coin every piece of none
and every bond viii be counted LITERAL,
Each piece Will be handled separately b
the fingers of experts acting as "a commi
tee on behalf Of the retiring treasurer, III
new treasurer and the treasury depar
ment. The value OF the silver coin. whic
will be counted by weight, is about Sl52
100000. The bags Of silver will be brouei
from the vaults and Weighed Each ba
OF dollars contains 1000 coins A corrci
ponding weight Is placed in the opposll
side Of the balance, and il the bag OF col