New-York tribune., 1900-05-13


Elsewhere in his report this officer naively
says that the result has been satisfactory and
at all times sufficiently accurate to meet the re-
qurements, but until recently not sufficiently
accurate for statistical purposes
The collectors of customs were officers of the
Army detailed for that duty. The total amount
collected by them from January to June 30.
1899 S6.!)S2, 90 20 and the total disburse-
ments amounted to $5501 3SS IS, leaving bal
ance in the hands of the treasurer and the col
lectors of customs of S1.4S0,021 o. 1t appears
that until April II, 1888 no appropriations were
designated under which customs funds were
allotted for disbursement, and that allotmentS
were based on estimates submitted, designating
the particular work to be done such bar
racks and quarters, sanitation. etc. The Auditor
remarks that with the inexperienced disburs-
ing officers found among the volunteer troops
and the lack of time necessary to formulate
any other system, the simple one at first in
force was the only one to attempt
THE AUDITORS CRITICISMS
Some further extracts from the report of this
officer will be found both pertinent and interest
ing. He says:
About the time of military occupation aduitor
from Washington His daeS were dened to ebe be
10 audit the accounts of all officers in the customs
COLLECTORS and that Of the treasurer Of Of cus
ne to 6e os o 6er ee l.
lett no provision for the audit of practically the
order from headquarters division of Cuba Of March
IL, 1899. was detailed auditor of the island of
Cuba. charged with the audit of all accounts aris-
ing from the Disbursements of the customs
audited by the auditor of the service. This
@ the Of all funds allotted
GERS OF the military service of the civil depart
the he Tnf5 Of
or or tae torn & Of ACCOUNTS to be kept and rendered
Each disbursing officer had been left to follow his
Under the Instructions of March a. 1899, this
once drew up complete set Of blank forms. which
a to fG M uae So r M IS n@Wh h
the system OF accounts thus Instituted has worked
tP to u5l JUNE 'ss Sc M oee had received s c
ase31ns arst snbmttsa t5Is thea
egnssr G service M 6 m
a more laborious task than that of getting these
s ACCOUNTS into proper shape so as not to bring dis
Having been disbursng officer of the United
s5stes 5s d Army for several years had kn0
aHdsor aGgt for the war Deparment but no know
oe books and o 81 be an Kept or th
worked out, no experienced assistance being OBJ
not ali disbursing officers labored my object has
been more 10 assist them in getting together and
and evidence of their disbursements than to hold
time ss to a" ve if
ance. the least irregularity.
The recent disclosures regarding the postal re-
cefpts and disbursements in Cuba, all the ac-
counts of which have been under the direct
supervision and control since July l. 1890 of
the auditor and treasurer appointed as were
their predecessors, by under the authority of
the Secretary of War, and performing their
duties under direct military supervision, cannot
be supplemented at present by accessible docu-
mentary information as fully as would have
been practicable if the report required by a Sen
ate resolution adopted January % had been
submitted before this time. but there is serious
reason to fear that the existing system has not
been found as successful in its application to
postal accounts as it has been in even
other branches of the insular service.
According to statement signed by Adna K.
Chaffee. Brigadier- General L. S. v, Chief Of
Staff. dated August H. 1890 which is contained
in a report by the Secretary of War in response
January l to June 80, 1899 amounted to $780,
ASS %, of which $4,000 account of
to $261 124 10, of which $1S1 0O4 3S was paid for
s9es34 %; clerks in postonices s23,o15 S. post
g. letter ca carriers 7s In other
words and figures. 20 per cent of all the dis
bursements were on account of salaries, of which
81 per cent or more than half, was account
OF salaries of the Director General of Posts and
his assistants slerks Gle KS etc This was in addition
was also item amounting to $2.O11 56 for
aGriage for harness and I'd The
921 90. and for printing and stationery"
S11,527 40.
In the same document is a statement of the
funds allotted by the Auditor to Havana during
the six months ended December 81 1899. from
which it appears that the sum of $312 oh SO was
on account of the postal service.
The monthly accounts carried current OF Cap
tain E. F. Ladd. treasurer, covering the
period show that he received from F. G. Rath-
bone, Director General of Posts S216,235 IA, and
paid to him on warrants on account of the postal
service S3I2.014 SO. According to the several
foregoing statements the total receipts on ac-
count of the postal service during the year ended
December 81, 1899, amounted to S415,716 20. and
the total expenditures amounted to 1888, 739 OF,
leaving a deficit for the year amounting to
S21S. .022 %. But in another statement the total
receipts are put down at SOL 002 and the total
disbursements at S63l ,929 10 for the period.
That would leave deficit of S420 927 10 instead
of S21S,022 2S. Appended to this statement is
this suggestive remark
The several items in the foregoing statement, to-
wit. customs service internal revenue service.
ises as wen as ali other Incidental expenses Of the
respective departments and II is impracticable for
the Department to furnish the aggregate of sal
aries paid the employees in the several branches Of
the civil government in the island, they are IN
cluded by the auditor in the expense account of
each department of the service.
And also the following:
The of salaries paid the Department of
Posts during the months of October and November
by this Department of the amounts paid for the
remaining months of the year 1899 for the reason
! that no reports thereof have yet been received
SUSPECTS UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
BELIEF IN HAVANA THAT THE GOVERN
MENT WILL LOSE ABOUT $4,000
Havana Nav 12-Messrs Reeves and Pay