The Washington times., 1906-07-17
DIED LAST FEBRUARY.

Bartlett died. after a lengthy illness.
on February -. OF this year. His ac-
counts were then under Investigation
and Il IS asserted at the Treasury De
partment today that undoubtedly the
[ knowledge OF this fact. and the fear or
being discovered, FASTENED his demise.
The preliminary examination resulted
IN a satisfactory audit, but when his ac-
counts with dlsbuCsiBg officers, etc,
outside of WasLiI gt0u, were completely
wound up it w5s found that he did not
have the account with them the
amounts his books pretended TO show.
Paid On al Clerks.
II is Impossible 10 tell inst when the
money was distracted. II may have
been going on for years, ia small sums
at a time. lie paid OF ali the clerks OF
the Treasury Department IN cash, and
every month there were several thou /
sand dollars left in his hands
Shortly after Boyd's detalcations were
discovered. and before Bartlett's short /
age was found out. Secretary Shaw is
sued an order requiring every disburslng
officer 10 pay back into tie Treasury all
money Ieft over, within three days after
his regular disbursements were made.
Under this system such shortages as
that OF Bartlett could not have occurred. /
Bond Covers Shortage.
Major Bartlett was under a bond OF
Sc 0J0 As the amount lost for which he 1
was responsible was $4,000. this bond. |
which was without limit, VIII fully cover
/ the shortage.
Experts Y oTk on Books.
BY officials Of the Treasury Depart |
meat II was said today that experts
we're put on the majors books within
three hours after his death, and that
/ the true state Of affairs. which was soon
suspected. has Just been brought 10
/ light as the result OF those investiga-
tions started Immediately after the
majors death.
Contrary TO this statement. however,
there was q rumoT which could not be
confirmed today, that an examination Of
the Bartlett books after his death re-
suited in a report from the examiners
that his accounts were all right, and
that some trivial incident within the
last two or three weeks caused re-
examination Of the books.
It was said at the Treasury today that
Major BRruetts success in hiding MS
defalcatiOus viii not result IN any
change in the system Of conducting the
disbursing for the Treasury.
System Of the Office.
The system under which the disburs-
| ing officer OF the Treasury works was
given out as follows ST the treasury
this afternoon:
The salaries of all clerks ana Gov
ernment employees at Washington are
/ paid ia cash. If they were paid by
check the Treasurer's Ohice would be
couEested for several days and the
clerks would have to leave their desks
| during office hours, or the Treasurer
Onice would have to run nights and
Sundays. In practice. dlsbursing Of
hcers draw semi-monthiy enough 20 pay
the regular roll in full
Some Of the clerks viii not have serv-
ed every day OF the month and some
will be absent at the time OF payment.
| The disbursing officer VIII therefore
have left in his possession quite little
sum OF money lie IS chAIgSn ma Oh 'i,s ne
draws and Is given credit Tor the
vouchers he turns in. The difference is
shown TO be IN his possession.
Report Each Month.
The disbursing officer for the Treas
urv Department has been required to
make a showing to the auditor each
month and Major Bartlett Invariably
had the necessary cash in his posses
sion. When the defalcation Of Mr..
Bovd was discovered Mr.. Shaw issued
an order requiring all disbursing OFF,
GERS within the District OF Columbia TO
turn back into the Treasury any and
all money in their possession on the
90 and nth days Of each month. and TO
make subsequent payments during the
month by check
This takes from the disbursing officer /
the temptation incident to having cash |
in HIS possession and makes well-nigh /
impossible shortages like the one of |
Major Bartlett. This order of the Seere- |
tary of the Treasury caused considerable !
criticism from other departments, and |
several appealed TO the Secretary 10 /
rescind it This he declined - do. |
Major Bartlett had been disbrrs ng Of |
ficer for the Treasury Departmt at for /
about twenty years, during whicl time /
he had paid out in cash many r1llliOn 1
dollars. He had always had IN his pos
session a few thousand dollars OF cash 4
which he had been able to exhibit when /
ever called upon by the auditor, which,
under the Secretary's ordefs, had been
each month.
Major Bartlett's death on the 18th OF /