Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/89

Rh taken up for final adjustment. The amount appearing as due them under the act of May 23, 1850, in connection with the Eighth Census, is in the neighborhood of $9,000. All but one of these claimants, however, appear on the books of the Treasury Department as debtors in larger sums to the United States, on account of moneys in their hands for the expenses of their offices at the outbreak of the rebellion, and not accounted for. It is, therefore, unnecessary to contemplate or provide for their payment as marshals in respect to the census, at this or any future time.

There still remain two United States marshals and twenty-three assistant marshals at the Ninth Census with whom no final settlement of account has been made. The total amount of the possible claims on these accounts is $5,270. Of the marshals unpaid, one has made no claim for compensation, having, as is understood, absconded; the other is reported by the Department of Justice as a defaulter to the United State in a much larger sum than his compensation would amount to for services in respect to the census. Of the assistant marshals indicated, four, claiming a total amount of $501.63, have failed to return their receipts for payment as required by the Treasury Department; five, claiming the total amount of 81,27S.20, have been refused payment for fraud, or gross delinquency tantamount to fraud, and fourteen, claiming the total amount of $2,738.04, have failed of payment by reason of the refusal of the marshals of their respective judicial districts to furnish the pay certificates required as a condition of payment by the act of May 23, 1850. In the majority of cases this refusal of the marshal is based on the refusal or neglect of the assistant marshal to make copies of his returns as required by law. In each of the foregoing cases a statement of the reasons for refusing or delaying payment has been filed in the Department for reference, should any of the claimants appear at a future time. I see no reason, however, to believe that any considerable portion of these claims will ever be perfected for payment.

The balance of appropriation on account of the Ninth Census remaining unexpended at date is 81,450.90.

The clerical force of the Office has been reduced as rapidly as was consistent with the performance of the duties before enumerated. The following table exhibits the number and grade of clerks employed at each of the dates specified. In accordance with the universal custom of the Department, a short leave of absence was given each clerk on discharge, to afford means and opportunity for seeking other employment. It will, therefore, be understood that the actual service in the Census Office of these clerks ceased by an average term of one month earlier than would appear from the dates in the table: