Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1914-01-30
Burke Is
Under Criticism

U1Qef VrltlClSm
The following appeared in The Chi
caso Tribune Of Jan. 22, as a special
dispatch to the paper from John CAL
Ian O'Laughlin,' the Washington rep
resentative of The Tribune:
A perlious condition of affairs ha.
been revealed in the office of the
treasurer of the United States, prob
ably the greatest financial clearing
house in the world. 1t was disclosed
as result of an. investigation iu..
ended.
The confusion which prevail. i,
such as to retard the work Of the
auditing officers Of. the. government, to
impair the efficiency of the force
handling the accounts to make evi-
dent the inability Of the office to fur
nish the information desired BY gov
eminent debtors and creditors. and
even to jeopadize the safety Of the
public funds. ,ss
Flaws Found BY Experts.
The report. presenting the results
Of the investigation. has been handed
to Tho Tribune correspondent BY
high official of the treasury DEPART
ment.
The investigation was made by
Harvey s. Chase & Co.. certified pub-
lie accountants Of Boston, who were
employed by the secretary of tho
treasury.
The finding of this concern have
aroused Congressman Good of Iowa,
who is insisting that in the legislative.
executive. and judicial bill a provi-
sion be inserted requiring the affairs
OF the treasurer's Office to be investi-
gated Immediately. 1t is expected
there will be changes in the personnel
OF the treasurer's Office, the chief Of
which is former Gov. John Burke Of
North Dakota.
Peril. Shown in Reports.
Here. in brief. are the 6ndinss re-
ported:
!. There prevails a lack Of accur-
ate knowledge regarding the condi-
tion and correctness of national hank
accounts.
z. Opportunities exist for gross
irregularities which would enable the
mulstins Of the government Of huge
sums Of money and the easy e,c.pe
Of the thieves.
3. The present method Of examin-
ing and clearing checks has produced
congestion. with the result that the
daily amount Of uncleared checks has
not been below $40,000,000 in
months.
4. No bank could continue in
business were it to hold checks for q
week before charging them to tho
customers accounts.
5. Disbursins officers are unable
to secure statements of their &C.
counts earlier than from one to four
months: which. in the case Of a pri-
vate depositor. would cause, him to
change his bank Immediately.
Years -Enteries Sc, 600, ,ooo. 900
During the, year ending June. 80.
'S'2. the total of the entries passing
through the books Of the treasurer.
office was close to $6,OOO,000. zoo.
Ihe Office maintains accounts in
1000 national banks. i furni.he.
the funds and keeps the account.
Of nearly 5000 government di.bur.-
ing officers. 1t acts as agent for T.
80 banks in the redemption Of their
bank note circulation. and it handles
for the postoFice department the de-
posts Of surplus money order. funds
from $4,000 postmasters.
1t receives every business day from
$4,000 to 10000 checks. and il must
keep the continually changing records
Of nearly $1.oooaooo. 900 Of paper
currency secured by gold and silver
in its vaults.
In the performance of these and
other highly responsible duties. the
services Of over 81 people are requir-
ed in the Warrington Office alone.
Exact Knowledge Demanded.
1t 10 apparent that to record the
great amount Of business which pass-
e. through the treasurer's office, with
its extraordinary maze of entries.
transfers. issues. redemptions. ex-
changes. etc. not only 10 unusual
skill required from the bookkeepers
and accountants. but the system of ac-
counting should be so complete and
effective in all it's parts that it would
thoroughly control the millions Of
items passing through the books each
year and every moment safeguard the
vast sums for which the treasurer 10
responsible under the law.
Mr.. Burke. whose title is treasurer
Of the United States" was appointed
to the position he holds largely be-
cause of his delivery of the North Da-
kota delegation to the Wilson column
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