Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-17
| MAJ. bARTLETT'S
| ACCOUNTS SHORT
No Trace Left of an Amount
Approximating $4,000.
HAD HANDLED MILLIONS
Disbursing Officer of the Treasury for
Years.
HAD SURPLUS EACH MONTH
Recent Order by Secretary Shaw VIII
Prevent a Recurrence of
Similar Conditions.
Disbursing Officer of the Treasury for
Years.
HAD SURPLUS EACH MONTH

1t was stated at the Treasury
Department today that an investi-
CATION, recently concluded, of the
accounts of the late Major George
A. Bartlett, for twenty-five years
dlsburslng officer of the Treasury
Department, shows a shortage ap-
proNimating $4,000. About $I4,-
600 of this amount, however. is said
to have been innocently paid out
on fraudulent vouchers presented
by James w. Boyd, clerk in the
marine hospital service, who, in
September last, was arrested and is
now in Jail pending his trial
for misappropriating government
funds.
The Fidelity and Deposit Com
pany of Baltimore has been called
on to make the loss good, and the
bond OF the late Major Bartlett will
fully cover the shortage.
1t is said to be possible that in the ex-
animation which the bonding company will
insist upon making the shortage will be
fully explained. but treasury officials say
that the books have been gone over with
the greatest care and that the shortage is
not one of bookkeeping explainable by
any of the usual processes of intricate ac-
counts.
What could have been done with the miss
ing money no one has an idea. Maj. Bart
lett was not known to speculate in stocks,
grain or cotton, to bother with the races
or to lavish money upon wine women.
He was thirty-third degree Mason
member of the Mystic Shrine, G.. A r.
member and of the United States Soldiers
Alliance and took an interest in the affairs
of the District National Guard. Every body
liked him and trusted him.
Discovery of the Shortage
Maj. Bartlett died February % of this
year, and an examination of his accounts
by experts of the treasury began immedi-
ately afterward, even before the present
disbursing officer, w. S. Richards. went
into office. 1t is stated that the shortage
revealed not long after the examina-
ton was begun, but nothing was said about
it because it was thought that further and
more careful inspection of the books would
reveal the reasons and furnish eXplana-
ton. When this did not prove the case the
examination became more rigid, Secretary
Shaw himself having feit that there must
be some mistake somewhere The books of
the late disburSing officer were examined
for many years back. almost to the begin
ming of his entrance into the disbursng
office
Secretary Shaw, Controller Tracewell and
several trea sury officials were in confer
ence today as to the shortage The treas
ury will lose nothing. as the bond OF Maj.
Bartlett was much larger than the short
age. Part of the shortage, as explained. Is
technical having been charged up to Mai
Bartlett after the discovery of the pecula-
tIons of James w. Boyd. Boyds manipuia-
tions'of government money began before
disbursing officer was appointed for the ma
rine service, and his vouchers were render
ed to Maj. Bartlett. The question as TO the
Boyd shortage, however, Is tied up in the
courts now, with several banks and bond
ing company fighting to see which Will
have to meet the losses. There is some
question whether Mai. Bartletts bond
would be legally liable for any of the
S14 900.
Despite the fact that Maj. Bartlett's ac-
counts were audited each month, the short
age evidently. according to treasury OH
cials, grew from year to year. In his long
service in the treasury 1t is estimated that
Mai. Bartlett had paid out nearly billion
dollars. If not fully that sum-
How the Shortage Was Possible.
The treasury idea of how the shortage
came about was explained by treasury
official today along these lines:
ment employees at Washington are paid In
cash. If they were paid by check the treas
urer's Office would be congested for several
days. and the clerks would have to leave
their desks during Office hours, or the treas
urer's Office would have TO run nights and
Sundays In practice, disoursing officers
draw semi-monthly enough to pay the reg
uiar roll in fuE.
Some of the clerks VIII not have served
every day of the month and some Will be
- T.f taa.
bursting officer will therefore have left in
his possession quite a little sum of money.
He Is charged on the treasurers books with
the amount he draws and is given credit
for the vouchers he turns In. The differ
ence is shown to be in his possession.
Secretary Shaw's Order.
'.The disbursing officer for the Treasury
Department has been required to make
showing to the auditor each month. and
Mai Bartlett invariably had the necessary
cash In his possession When the defaica-
ton of Mr. Boyd was discovered Mr.. Shaw
issued an order requiring all disbursing
officers within the District of Columbia to
turn back into the treasury any and all
money in their possession on the Sd and
17th day of each month, ana to make sub
sequent payments during the month by
check This takes from the disbursing Of
ficer the temptation incident to having cash
In his possession and makes wel1-nigh i'm
y,ossfble shortages like the one of Mai.
Bartlett This order of the Secretary of
the Treasury caused considerable criticism
from other departments and several ap-
peaied to the Secretary to rescind 1t. This
he declined TO do. Maj. Bartlett always
had in his possession a few thousand doll
lars OF cash, which he has been able to ex-
hibit whenever called upon by the auditor,
which under the secretary's orders. has
been each month
Laxity in Auditing.
Secretary Shaw, as explained. has prac-
ticaiiy put stop to the possibilities such
as existed under the old auditing methods,
by reauiriDg that when disbursing officer