The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-08-01
CHECKS KEPT
IN TREASURY


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 showing the payment
To Lafayette in 1924 OF $500, 900 by the
United States in consideration of his
services and sacrifices in the War OF
The Revolution" William IA. Crawford,
then secretary OF the treasury, signed
the warrant, and in the characteristic
French handwriting ON the reverse is
the Endorsement of Lafayette.
Cancelled check or warrant for
slh,OOO,00O represents the payment for
the Louisiana purchase under the
treaty OF 1903. The purchase under the
treaty. characterized at the time as
Stewards Folly" of Alaska, is evi-
denced by a warrant for $1,000, 900
signed by +. T. Spinner who at the
'iine was secretary of the treasury. The
Woidins Of the warrant begins and
runs; faN Ia the Undersigned envoy
extraordinary ana minister plenipoten-
nary of his majesty the Emperor of
all the Russias." This warrant called
Tor payment I'm coin and was SO paid
through the riggs Bank. then a private
banking institution of Washington, at
ter being indorsed by Edward de
Stoeck, the Russian minister at that
time
The purchase OF the Philippine ISL
ands from Spain is represented in the
important financial transactions of the
government by four warrants of So
100000 each. AS treaty cannot be
entered into by one country directly
With one with which IL is at war, the
warrants We're Endorsed by Jules Cam
hon, the French minister, who had del
eSated authority To represent the
Spanish government.
The Panama canal purchase repre-
scented the largest financial transaction
OF the government. The payment was
made by common draft. payable to
j. Pierpont Morgan IL Co., special dis
bursting agent" through whom il was
paid To the French company the for
mer owner. The late j. Pierpont Nor
gan himself indorsed the draft A short
time previous there had been issued
warrant for $4,000, 600, covering the
ost ot the canal zone. an area of ten
miles on each side of the canal As
these Cancelled checks are held ar re-
ceipts. il could happen, in case of their
loss. that the government might not be
hlp show thar no
tually paid.
Not less interesting as relics are.
Accounts: O.. WASHINGTON with the
United States. Commencing June. l7.5,
and ending June, 1888, comprehending
Il space of eight years" Under this
caption are three or four dilapidated
calf bound account books in the hand
writing of the great American patriot.
These accounts were mostly kept while
he was on the march. but they were
brought up with great accuracy fiom
day to day. AT the end of each book
there is a comprehensive recapitulatiCn.
Individual money and funds of the
expended by him are spe-
officially indicated. In footnote 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 his
credit until the matter could be def
.nitely expressed in English money. A
account book kept by
Caleb Gibbs shows the personal ex-
penses of Washington and his military
family" meaning. no doubt, lis i'm
mediate stan. The entries are usually
headed. Headquarters, on the
For the most part they
cover purchases of food supplies, but
now and then are such entries as;
To cash for broom that Peter
bought some time ago Cd"
Cash paid for mending the char
lot Is.
Agreed with Peggy for A.. per
month for the generals washing and
As. per doZ. for the gentlemen of the |
family"
Among other things of interest IN the |
auditors office are books showing al |
owances to members of Congress 10
and from Washington. In the thir-
tenth Congress 1868 for mileage is re-
ceipted in a faint, uncertain hand, ID. |
Webster" A payment of $3.50 for III
laws attendance il shown To have been |
made To Henry Clay.--Harper's Week |
y.