The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-09

pSNs VI lHt AIS1dl gov I ~ - Nhc
Committee OF the Treasury which
exercised supervision over the affairs
or that department as directed by Con-
gress. This committed or board as it
was sometime called. appointed two
persons who We're to act in the capac-
lty or joint treaSurerS, and To attend
10 the matters of routine connected
with the office. The administration OF
the department of finance was con
Quoted through the instrumentality Of
committees for the first three years
OF the war, but this arrangement
proved TO be unsatisfactory. and in
IT'S the treasury department was re-
modelled. 1t was provided that the ex-
elusive control should thereafter be
vested II five offices which were dis
tlnct from each other: namely. the
JOINT treasurers. the Controller. and
the two amb of Accounts. The
functions and duties of each office
were explicitly enumerated by Con-
gress- This experiment was tried for
the same length of time as its prede-
cessor. the committee. In 1871 the Of
lice Of Superintendent of Finance was
created. His duties were manifold and
his responsibilities great. He had
the supervision of all matters which
miSht be classified under the general
head Of business. By a resolution Of
Congress in the same year in which
this office was created. it was provided
that the taxes of each state should be
kept separate from the continental
taxes. The appointment of officers to
collect the money which was to be
pad into the commOn treasury was
entrusted to the superintendent OF
Finance. A great deal of the commu-
nlcation upon matters pertaining to
money acquisitions. etc. from 17S1-4
was carried on between this officer and
the governors of the various States.
During the earlier part OF the war
/ [ n T. lVnh Il Cl--
uatiOn where money was needed. tho
treasury authorities We're instructed
to forward whatever amount was
specified. Recommendations were
made to the States as to h meas
ures should be adopted in matters OF
general concern. bat more particularly
as regards military affairs such as the
pay of the troops, their rationS, etc.
In 171S, the financial demands upon
Congress became so multitudinous
that three days in the week. Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Saturdays, were set
aside for the consideration OF the
business connected with the treasury
department. All demands upon tho
treasury had to he first passed upon
by & before any money could
be drawn. These claims varied from
very small sums for expenses incurred
by individuals in the common cause,
to large mounts for the continental
troops.
The machinery through which near
ly all the money that passed rom the
continental treasury to North Carolina
and vice versa, was the Governor OF
the State and the delegates to the
Genera Congress at Philadelphia
These persons were instructed from
time to time to draw or the continent
al treasury for such sums as the Cen
eral Assembly Of the State should di-
rect. At this time money could be
sent from Mace TO place ONlV by sea
or overland, and the delegates had TO
exercise q great deal Of care in their
choice of persons who were to be en-
trusted with the transfer OF money.
The funds intended for North Car
DINA were sent to the Governor.
who turned them over 10 the state
treaSurers. Certificates Tor the CONT
mental Loan Offices were sent in the
same way. and were turned over to the
treasurer of the Ioan Office of North
Carolina.
The chief executive or the State was
entrusted with wide powers by both
the Continental and tho
General Assembly in cases Of unusu-
al urgency. In 1871 it was resolved,
THAT Governor Caswell be desired to
appoint proper persons within the
state OF North Carolina TO purchase
with secrecy and dispatch. all the
understandable leather and deer skins
in that State proper for the making OF
shoes, b~reecheS, saddles, harness ana
military accOutrementS, that he be
desired to detain SO much thereof as
can be manufactured into shoes and
breeches within the space OF TOUR
months. sending on to the ciOthier
general. at Lancaster. in Pennsvlva-
MA. the shoes and breeches which may
be made. from time to time. and 1eliv-
erjng the residue Of sad leather and
skins 10 the order Of the Board Of
War. that he be authorized to draw on
the treasury for such sums as shall %
necessary for the execution Of this
business, n transmit accounts and
nrices given, and Quantities purchaS-
Cd 70 the BOARD Of War and clOthier
general" This was q resolution or
the Continental Congress. in the fol-
lowing year SIMILAR powers Were con-
ferred upon the Governor ~ TIE Gen
eral Assembly.
The delegates Of the State 10 the