REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS 



AND DISBURSEMENTS. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Division of Accounts and Disbursements, 



WasMngt07i, D. C, September 27, 1917. 

 Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the work of 

 the Division of Accounts and Disbursements for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1917. 



Respectfully, A. Zappone, 



Chief of Division. 

 Hon. D. ¥. Houston, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



CHARACTER OF WORK. 



The chief of the division and disbursing clerk is charged by the 

 Secretary of Agriculture with the duty of preparing aU requisitions 

 for the advance of public funds from the appropriations for the De- 

 partment of Agriculture to the disbm-sing clerk and to special dis- 

 bui-sing agents charged with the disbursement of pubUc funds; the 

 keeping of accounts and appropriations ledgers relating to the advance 

 and disbursement of all items of appropriations; and the examination 

 and payment of all vouchers and pay rolls submitted from the various 

 offices, bureaus, and services of the department. He performs such 

 other duties as may be prescribed by the Secretary. 



WORK OF THE YEAR. 



APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITURES, ETC. 



To carry on the work of the Department of Agriculture during the 

 fiscal year ended June 30, 1917, Congress appropriated $24,948,852 

 in the agricultural act for that fiscal year, in addition to which perma- 

 nent annual appropriations, special appropriations, deficiency appro- 

 priations, and the appropriation for printing and binding were availa- 

 ble, amounting to $12,240,000, making a total of $37,188,852, of 

 which smn $28,056,272.03 was disbursed prior to the close of the year, 

 leaving a balance at the end thereof of $9,132,579.97, which is nearly 

 all covered by outstanding liabihties. 



Supplemental accounts for the year 1916 were also paid, amounting 

 to $1,530,876. 92. 



On June 30, 1917, the unexpended balances for the year 1915, 

 amounting to $797,207.07, were finally covered into the Treasury to 

 the " Surplus fund." 



There were received, exammed, and paid b}^ this office 129,980 

 vouchers and pay rolls, which required the issuance of 231,149 

 checks on the Treasurer of the United States. 



There were also sent to the Treasury Department for payment 

 7,137 accounts. 



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