The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Historic Checks

| The archives OF the United States
| treasury are rich with relics. In the
files of the office of the auditor for the
treasury department may be seen the
Cancelled check sh' wing the payment to
Lafayette in 1924 of 10000 by the United
| States 'in consideration of his services
| and sacrifices in the war of the revolu-
| ton" William II. Crawford. then Secre-
| tary of the Treasury, signed the warrant,
and in the characteristic French hand
writing on the reverse is the Endorsement
| of Lafayette, says Harper's.
| Cancelled check or warrant for s15,000,-
600 represents the payment for the Louisi-
| ana purchase under the treaty of 1903.
| The purchase under the treaty. charac-
terized at the time as Stewards Folly"
| of Alaska is evidenced by a warrant for
| 81, 2c0.O00 signed by f. f. Spinner, who at
| the time was Secretary Of the Treasury.
| The wording of the warrant begins and
runs: Pay to the undersigned envoy ex-
traordinary and minister plenipotentary
of his majesty. the emperor of all the
Russias." This warrant called for pay
ment in coin, and was so paid through
the Riggs bank, then private banking
institution, of Washington, after being
indorsed by Edward De Stoeckl, the Rus
sian minister at that time.
The purchase of the Philippine Islands
tant financial transactions of the gov
ernment by four warrants of 100000
each. AS treaty cannot be entered into
by one country directly with one with
which it is at war, the warrants were
indorsed by Jules Cambon, the French
minister, who had delegated authority to
| represent the Spanish government.
The Panama canal purchase represent
ed the largest financial transaction Of
the government. The payment was made
| by common draft, payable to -. Pier
pont Morgan & Co., special disbursng
agent through whom 1t was paid to
| the French company, the former owner.
| The late j. Pierpont Morgan himself In
\ dorsed the draft. A short time previous
| there had been issued a warrant for sl0
| Op0,OOo covering the cost of the canal zone,
| an area of 10 miles on each side of the
canal AS these Cancelled checks are held
| as receipts, 1t could happen, in case of
| their loss, that the government might
not be able to show that the moneys were
| actually paid.
| Not less interesting as relics are: "Ac-
counts G. Washington with the United
| States commencing June, 1175, and ending
June. 1888, comprehending space OF
eight years" Under this caption are
three or four dilapidated calf-bound ac-
count books in the handwriting of the
| great American patriot. These accounts
were mostly kept while he was on the
march, but they were brought up with
| great accuracy from day to day. At the
end of each book there is comprehen-
| sive recapitulation. Individual money ano
funds of the government expended by
him are specifically indicated. In foot.
note he calls attention to a particular
item. which he appeared to have paid
| but for which he had no voucher. He de-
Quoted the amount Of the item from hi,
credit until the matter could be definitel,
! settled. All of his accounts are express
ed in English money. A contemporaneou,
account book kept by Caleb Gibbs shows
the personal expenses of Washington and
| his military family" meaning. no doubt
' his immediate staff The entries are usu-
ally headed Headquarters, on the