Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1898 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

Charles Page Bryan is to be made United States minister to Brazil, in place of Minister Conger, who will be sent to China. The Comptroller of the Currency has declared dividends in favor of the creditors of these insolvent national banks: Ten per cent., the First National Bank of Helena, Mont.; 5 per cent., the Northern National Bank of Big Rapids, Mich. Auditor Castle of the Postoffice Department at Washington has discovered irregularities in money order accounts which may possibly result in a loss to the Government of a considerable sum. They were brought to light as the outcome of a new system of checking accounts by postmasters which went into effect on the first of the year. About three years ago the practice of checking money order accounts in the office of the Auditor was changed, they being audited by stubs or coupons and not by the orders themselves, as had been done previously. If the postmasters’ returns corresponded in each item with this coupon or stub the account was assumed to be correct and was closed. When Auditor Castle took charge of the office he discovered defects in the system which made it possible for dishonest postmasters to rob the Government. He then put into operation a new system, which he believed would cover all defects. Several cases have already been detected in which orders were issued for as high as SBO and SIOO and were reported by the issuing postmaster at $1 or $2 each. How many such frauds were perpetrated during the three years in which the old system was in operation can only be guessed. “I am sorry to say that up to date it looks as if the people of the United States were not after all so very much interested in Cuba.” This is the comment of Secretary Sherman on the failure of the public to respond to the President’s appeal for aid to save the starving concentrados. It is no longer possible to conceal the fact that the contributions to this humanitarian purpose have been practically nil. Some other plan seems to be necessary. The American people are warm-hearted and generous. If they have not been so in this case there is believed to be some reason for it. Government officials and Senators are now explaining. At the same time they are taking pains to state that the Government will not appropriate funds for this purpose. As to this statement Secretary Sherman says: “It should be understood nt the outset that this Government hns no right to take money from its treasury and distribute the same among the Cubans who need aid. Congress has not voted aid for such a purpose,, and it is doubtful if it would appropriate money for tfiat purpose, if asked to do so. I may say in this connection that it may be the people of the United States feel that if they contribute in abundance the relief asked for, the Spaniards, rather than the Oubans, will receive the benefit of it. If the supposition be correct it will explain in a measure the reason why the requests recently made have not been responded to.”