Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-07-30
There Are More Than Seven
Hundred Million Dollars to
be Handled.
It's all IL Coin, Bul.io n, Notes, Certificates
and Bonds Vaults VIII be Closed
Until the Accountants Certify
to Their Correc; ness.

nous vaults Oh the treasury OulIulu2. III
Washington, a force of SO expert and
trusted employees IF the department,
have been engaged dmiag the entire
official day III counting the contents of
Uncle Sans strong box. As the old
gentleman is understood TO have there
IN something over 700,000,000 in gold
aud silver coin and bullion. notes.
certificates and bonds, this same force
of men and women will still be en-
pleyed in counting and piling up the
public hoard through all the not days
of summer, and will not have finished
their mOnOtOnous but important task
until the autumn winds are blowing
| the falling leaves about the parks Of
the capital city, says the New York
Herald.
TIN. laborious operation i rendered
necessary by The transfer OF the custody
of the public moneys from the retiring
treasurer Of the United States To hi,
successor Of the new administration,
which took place at the beginning Of
the fiscal Year, JUL l. At the close OF
business on June 80, all the money,
! bonds and bullion received that day,
with the retiring treasurer's statement
OF the contents of the vaults. was de
! posted IN the subterranean vaults, and
! the massive door, OF steel was closed,
! locked and sealed. The work of retir
Ing Treasurer Morgan was over, anu
the official keys were handed over It.
his successor, Ellis II. Roberts. former.
! ly of the Franklin National bank, New
York, whose autograph you are perhaps
carrying IN your pocketbook today. toi
| il has appeared on all the paper eur
rency issued by the government since
July /.
The vaults that were sealed on the
3Oth of June will not be reopened foI
|
bonds till the last dollar of the retiring
treasurer's account has been counter
and attested and the total is found t.
agree exactly with the amount AIMED
! in his fer statement. Such moneys
as are received at the treasury in IN,
meantime are deposited in other vaults.
The work Of counting the contents OF
the sealed vaults is under the persona!
supervision of the chief of the public
moneys division of the department. re-
presenting the secretary If the treasury;
the chief of the loan division. represent.
ing former treasurer Morgan, and
cashier Of one OF the national banks.
representing Treasurer Roberts. Thes'
mrn are the appointees Of the secre
tary of the treasury, are perSona.lr
responsible to him and will make L
him a report OF their findings whei
their work is completed Ii is thel
that the transfer statement of tn,
retiring treasurer will be formerally
approved
The office Of the treasurer of th'
| United States Is. under the secretary
the most important in the gift of tn
treasury department, both III response
bility and emolument. The treasure
i charged with the receipt and dis
bursement of all public moneys thai
may be deposited in the treasury il
Washington and in the sub-treasurie>
in Boston, New York, Philadelphia.
Baltimore, New Orleans. San Francisc, =,
ST. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati,
and in the national bank United States
depositarIes. He is the trustee for the
! bonds held To secure national bank cir
culation and public deposits in national
banks. He is the custodian of the
Indian trust fund bonds. agent for the
! payment of the interest on the public
debt, and eX-otlicio commissioner of
the sinking fund of the district of
Columbia. His salary is So O00 year,
and in his Office are employed at the
present time over 800 clerks. His OPP
portunity for the distribution of pat
ronage. however, Is not great, the only
officer whom he is permitted to appoint
being the assistant treasurer of the
! United States. All of his clerks are
within the jurisdiction of the classified
civil service.
The office, though one of great dig
nifty and responsibility, is not one in
which individuality of character can
well display itself. There is no chance
for the orginators of new policies Of