Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-11
For Once Government Is
"Done" in Its Cash Account.
PAYS OUT $4,000 IN ERROR
Redeems Bond to Holder Who Had
Only Life Interest.
MUST PAY IT OVER AGAIN
Mistake Occurring Away Back in
Treasurer Gilfllan's Day to
Be Rectified.

One Of the mighty few instances on
record of the United States having been
done in its cash accounts came TO
light at the Treasury Department today
in a decision handed down by the con-
troller of the Treasury.
In this particular instance the govern
ment is short more than $4,000 and has
no way Of helping itself. 1t became a
victim through the carelessness Of its
own officers, and the victimization, too,
was not criminal in its nature.
Prior TO 1879 the late Samuel j. Little
of Georgetown owned four certificates of
per cent stock of the old corporation
of Georgetown. Upon his death he left
life interest in the stock. to his sister.
Mrs Eliza A. Ricketts,, and the residue
to his minor children, J. c. Little and
Julia A. Little. In the settlement of
the case before the probate court the
actual possession of the four certificates
of stock was passed to Mrs. Ricketts,, so
that she might collect from the treasurer,
from time to time, the interest due her.
First Controller Gives His o. X.
Shortly after this United States
Treasurer Gilfillan issued a circular
calling upon all holders Of Georgetown
corporation stock. which was one of
the old forms of obligation by the Dis
trict Of Columbia, to present the GER
titicates for redemption. Mr.. Ricketts,
took the four certificates to the Treas
urer's Office indorsed Il hereby assign
the within certificates to the Treasurer
of the United States for redemption, on
account Of Eliza A. Ricketts,"
The treasurer refused redemption
upon this Endorsement. Mrs. Ricketts,
then asked the first auditor of the
Treasury, as he was known in those
days, to approve the indorsement, but
he refused She appealed to the once
OF the then first controller of the
Treasury and obtained the desired ap-
proval.
At that time the final accounting office
of the government was the first con-
troller, and when he had put his 20. n
on q matter the treasurer and first audi
tor were bound. Accordingly the treas
and So. 23 interest.
In 1894 Julia \. Burnell, formerly Julia
A. Little, the daughter of Samuel j. Lit
tie, made claim for the $4,U2l ., alleging
Ricketts,. who had q life interest only
The claim was disallowed by the Treas
ury Mrs. Burnell and her husband then
entered suit for the amount before the
Court of Claims. A year ago they oo'
tanned judgment for the amount, and In
the deficiency act of June %. 1910, ap-
propriation was made to pay this claim
along with others.
Upon the presentation or the claim fof
payment the auditor for the Treasur,
Department again held it up. informing
the controller that he deemed 1t advfsa-
BILE that the payment Of the claim be
held up pending a thorough Investigation
as to whether the estate Of the late Mrs.
Ricketts, could be held by the govern
ment He asked instructions from the
controller declaring that as the payment
would be a duplicate one by the United
States, the highest accounting officer of
the government should pass upon the
question.
Instructed to Pay.
The controller held that an erroneous
payment of an amount due by the gov
ernment to a person not entitled does not
discharge the debt and a payment to
the person entitled can hardly be called
a duplicate payment.
He saw no reason why the rightful
claimant should be required to wait until
proceedings have been taken to recover
the money erroneously paid. The con-
troler gave instructions to the auditor
to settle the case and to start proceed
ings, through the proper authorities, for
the recovery of the money.
Mrs. Burnell has been fighting for six
teen years to secure the money sne
thought was hers and is just now coming
into her own, while the government Is
ont over $4,000