The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-19
CASH WE FOUND AT MANILA
the TANGLED FINANCIAL INHERT-
LANCE SPAIN LEFT BEHIND.

Wnen the A"6FlChub Aooh AohbotsiOh
and of tho Revenue Collected Since
Tben-Bstter Business Methods in Vogue
but Smuggling and other Customs
Frauds stm Praotlced Occasionally,
MANILA. Dec. 23.-when Major KIlbourne,
The custodian OF public funds OF Gen. Otls's
Government OF the patch Of the Philippines
ruled by the United States. shut up his office
this afternoon and started for his drive on
Maiecon and the Luneta. the books he locked
up behind him showed that since the Ameri-
eons began 10 do business In the old building
where the Spaniards ran a lottery they have
aiken in the rather comfortable sum OF S2,029.-
s96.97. OF course that is silver and has to be
divided by two TO show the amount OF human
money received. but three millions even Of
dobe dollars would make a pretty effective
wolf fence. This includes. however. the $780,
l44.25 which was seized in the Treasury
and tho Mint. and has remained sealed up
ever since. waiting the determination Of the
fate OF the Philippines. That leaves q little
over S2.000.0 900 as the receipts Of about four
months. or a tribe over 100000 a month. In
Cn0 same Umo inc expenditures nave Deen
only 81. 172,667.44. Even In the ciroumscribed
condition Of affairs nj present this shows a
surplus Of over S2l6.OOU a month. Gen. Otis's
administrator is making and saving money.
or course that does not include the
expenses Of the army. but in figuring on what
the country can do Just now II Is hardly proper
to count such military expenses.
When Manila surrendered Lieut.. Col. Potter
and Majors Keleher and Kilbourne were de-
tailed to take over the Spanish Treasury and
Mint. Major Whipple was appointed custo-
dian OF public funds. That was when Gen.
Greene. as Iptendente- General de Hacienda.
had charge OF all fiscal affairs. The first bust
ness OF the three Americans was to get into
the Treasury and the Mint and find what was
there. The Treasury building is very near tho
Ayuntamiento. or headquarters building. and
is rather an imposing structure. II is built OF
stone and ts OF massive heavy architecture.
On the ground floor there are the Treasury
vaults and a few offices. The second floor Is
given up to offices and to the lottery, which
was one OF the mainstays Of tho Philippine
finance. This lottery. by the way. cut both
ways. In the last drawing before the battle
OF Manila Bay ten OF the sailor men Of the Con-
cord bought 81 tickets. Seven OF them got
one-tenth tickets OF the same number. and that
number drew a $4,000 prize. When the first
man asked Commander Walker for leave to
20 ashore tn collect his 81 900 the skipper
granted It. but by the time the fourth man got
along he was very suspicious. However. the
Jackies all got ashore and all got their money.
and there was a high old time in Hong Kong
that night.
Everything about the Treasury building
was locked up. and the first difficulty the Ameri-
cans had was In getting the doors open. The
Spanish system made three men responsible.
NJ Nnn ~ flaro tr,,.tnI ~ Ill - i
the law did not permit him TO dose. Therefore.
everything that was locked bore three looks.
each different from the others. Each official
carried a key which would open one lock. and
the whole three had to be present whenever
anything that had been fastened up was to he
opened. The three Spanish officials were the
Treasurer and his two chief assistants. They
were notified by the Americans to be present
at the Treasury building very early in the
week after the surrender. but at the appoint
cd time they were not on hand. For a few
days after that 1t was a gam Of hide and seek
some Of the Spaniards would come. but the
others would not. Then when finally all we're
present some of the keys had been left be-
hind. At last threats of arrest brought the re-
luctant officials to terms. and they all went to
the Treasury together. each with his keys.
everything was locked up. Even the big,
wood-covered water tanks In the courtyard
were fastened with three big padlocks.
The Americans proceeded with the utmost
care. The Spaniards had protested vehem-
emily against the seizure Of the Treasury and
had renewed the protest with added vigor
when they learned that the peace protocol
had been signed before they surrendered.
30 the Spanish officials were required to wit
ness everything the Americans did. After
they had opened the vaults and the rooms
where stocks or securities or other valuables
were kept. they were required to stay and
watch the count. They didn't like it a bit.
but that didn't bother the Americans. who
worked away at the count. II didn't take very
long to count the gold in the Spanish Treas
ury. All told 1t was only 1900. and that on
a silver basis, 80 there was only So 100 of
gold. But there was about $130.OOO In silver
coin Of several brands. all 'dobe. and that was a
more tedious business. Then there were bank
notes and checks and bonds and such things.
and about 1000 sacks OF copper coin. so that.
altogether. IL was a job OF several days to make
the count.
whenever the count was suspended there
was a performance the like OF which the Span
iards were not accustomed to see. Not only
was everything locked up-it was sealed. And
not only did the Americans seal against the
Spaniards. hut they required the Spaniards to
seal against them. The Spaniards regarded
al tuht az lubU 30 muCn Uummery, done for
show and subscribing no legitimate purpose
whatever. They did their part In the sealing
moro and more lanEuidly. and at last forgot
their seals. Major Kilbourne supplied the de-
nciency. He used his own ring for the Span
ish seal and then gave 1t to one OF the Span
iards TO keep until the whole party met again
to 60 on with the work. Afterward that was
done regularly until the count was finished.
IL took several days to complete the count.
AS each vault or com was examined
and the money or securities counted or listed
. statement OF the contents was made out.
which the three Spanish officials were required
to sign. This was kent by the Americans. who
gave the Spaniards "A receipt setting forth tho
items thus seized. The valuables were kent
In several places about the treasury. There
were some compartments which wore not
pointed out by the Spanish officials and which
were discovered by tho Americans only after
come time had elapsed. In all such cases Gen.
Otis appointed a board OF officers to examine
the property found. count or HIST 1t. and make
return TO the custodian OF public funds. There
10 49, -