DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS AND DISBUESEMENTS. 237 



MONTHLY CHECK STATEMENTS. 



The nsual monthly check statements were rendered by the Treasury 

 at Washington and subtreasuries at New York and Chicago. These 

 statements were verified and certified as agreeing with the records of 

 this office. During the year 11 cliecks were lost in transit through 

 the mails or by the payee. Duplicates of these cliecks have been or 

 will be issued at the expiration of six months from date of the original 

 check. 



STATEMENT TO CONGRESS OF ANNUAL EXPENDITURES. 



A report in detail of all expenditures from the several appropria- 

 tions of the Department for the year ending June 30, 1809, including 

 the names of persons emploj^ed and the sums paid to each, as required 

 by statute, was prepared in this office and transmitted to Congress 

 at the beginning of the last session through the Speaker of the House. 

 This report was subsequently printed by order of Congress. Copies 

 may be had on apjilication to the House document room. 



CONTRACT FOR SEEDS. 



Bids were invited early last fall, in the usual way, for furnishing 

 seeds to the Department for the fiscal year 1900 for Congressional dis- 

 tribution. Nine bids were received, varying in amount from 164,900 

 to '179,017.60. These bids were examined and tabulated by a board, 

 and an award was made by the Secretary of Agriculture to Mr. Charles 

 Parker, of Santa Clara, Cal. , the lowest bidder. A contract was made 

 on the line of the contract for last year, secured by a sufficient bond. 



ANNUAL SUPPLIES. 



An advertisement, dated April 2, 1900, soliciting bids for annual 

 supplies to be furnished during the year ending June 30, 1901, Avas 

 issued on April 7, 13, 20, 27, and May 1, 1900. All bids received in 

 response to this advertisement Avere opened on May 3 following, and 

 carefully tabulated and passed upon by a board of award. The 

 recommendations made by this board were approved by the Secretary 

 of Agriculture, and were forwarded to the Treasury for final action, 

 under the ijrovisions of the act approved January 27, 1894, amending 

 section 3709 of the Revised Statutes. These recommendations were 

 subsequently approved by the Treasury board, established under the 

 above provision, and contracts were awarded at prices generally 

 higher than those paid last year for the same class and character of 

 goods. The increase in price is due entirely to the general advance 

 in the cost of nearly all materials. In the item of fuel alone the addi- 

 tional expense to the Department for the ensuing year will be about 

 $1,800. All contracts Avere secured by sufficient and satisfactory 

 bonds. 



ESTIMATES OF APPROPRIATIONS. 



The estimates of appropriations for the year ending June 30, 1901, 

 were prepared in this Division, based, as usual, upon written recom- 

 mendations submitted by chiefs of the several branches of the Depart- 

 ment. These recommendations Avere fully considered and approA^ed 



