Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-09-17
TREASURY RELICS
Historical Treasures on File In
the Auditors Office.
ACCOUNTS OF G. WASHINGTON.

These Cover a Period Of Eight Years
and Are In the Handwriting of the
Great Patriot--Receipts Signed by
Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.
The archives Of the United States
treasury are rich with relics. In the
files of the Office Of the auditor Of the
treasury department may be seen the
cancelled check showing the payment
to Lafayette in 1924 of 100000 by the
United States lin consideration Of his
services and sacrifices in the war Of
the Revolution" William Fl. Craw-
ford, then secretary of the treasury,
signed the warrant, and in the char
acteristic French handwriting on the
reverse is the Endorsement Of Lafa-
yette A Cancelled check or warrant
for $15.000,000 represents the payment
for the Louisiana purchase under the
treaty of 1903.
The purchase under the treaty. char
acterized at the time as Stewards fol-
ly," of Alaska is evidenced by war
rant for $7.2O0,O00, signed by f. e.
Spinner, who at the time was secre-
tary of the treasury. The wording of
the warrant begins and runs, PAY to
the undersigned envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary of his
majesty the emperor Of all the Rus
sias." This warrant called for pay
ment in coin and was so paid through
the Riggs bank, then a private bank
ing institution Of Washington, after
being indorSed by Edward de Stoecke,
the Russian minister at that time.
The purchase Of the Philippine Is.
lands from Spain is represented in the
important financial transactions of the
government by four warrants of S5,-
100000 each. As treaty cannot be
entered into by one country directly
with one with which 1t is at war; the
warrants were indorsed by Jules Cam.
bon, the French minister, who had del
egated authority to represent the Span
ish government.
The Panama canal purchase repre-
scented the largest financial transaction
Of the government The payment was
made by common draft, payable to
-. Perpont Morgan & Co., special dis.
bursting agent" through whom 1t was
paid to the French company, the for
mer owner. The late ]. Pierpont Nor
gan himself indorsed the draft. A
short time previous there had been Is.
sued a warrant for $10000,000, cover.
ing the cost Of the canal zone, an area
of ten 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 Unit
ed States, commencing June, 1775, ant
ending June, 1888, eomprehending 8
, space Of eight years" Under the cap
ton are three or four dilapidated call
bound account books in the handwrit
ing Of the great American patriot
These accounts were mostly kept Will,
, he was on the march, but they werI
brought up with great accuracy frou
, day to day.
At the end Of each book there is {
comprehensive recapitulation. Indlvid
ual money and funds Of the govern
ment expended by him are speci6call.
tention to a particular item which h
, appeared to have paid, but for whicl
be had no voucher. He deducted tn
amount of the item from his credi
until the matter could be definitely SET
tied. All Of his accounts are express
ed in English money.
A contemporaneous account book kep
! by Caleb Gibbs shows the personal ez
penses of Washington and his militar
= family" meaning, no doubt. his In
IT mediate staff The entries are usual
headed, Headquarters on the march,
e For the most part they cover purchase
Of food supplies, but now and then ar
such entries as.
y TO cash for broom that Pete
d bought some time ago. sixpence,"
Cash paid for mendlng the chnrio
! shilling
Agreed with Peggy for shilling
per month for the generals washln
and 4 shillngs per dozen for the gei
tlemen Of the family"
ii Among other things Of interest In III
N auditors office nre books showing a
" lowances to members OF congress I
aud from Washington. In the Thi
teenth congress S0G3 for mileage is r,
d. celpted IN faint uncertain hand u
Webster" A payment Of $500 for II
days attendance is shown TO hay
hnpn nnda IN Hpnrv Clay $50 Hnrnpr