152 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 188!». 



our accounts only became ready for final settlement on April 15, 1889. 

 This delay was in part due to the fact that the regular routine of for- 

 warding, signing, and returning the vouchers for articles purchased in 

 foreign countries, necessarily consumed much time. Delay has also 

 been caused by the retention and questioning of many vouchers in the 

 office of the special auditor of Cincinnati accounts at the Treasury De- 

 partment, although in every case his objections have been finally with- 

 drawn, and all vouchers have, after protracted delays, been approved 

 by that official. These delays, which seemed to us quite unnecessary, 

 caused us much annoyance, as many of those who had furnished mate- 

 rials or labor, almost daily, either in person or by letter, urged upon us 

 their need of funds and the great inconvenience they were compelled 

 to undergo by the delays which were entirely beyond our control, but 

 for which they were disposed to hold us responsible. 



The Auditor raised many trivial points, which necessitated the writing 

 of numerous letters in answer to uncalled for questions. This, together 

 with long waiting for replies, which were usually transmitted verbally 

 by a clerk, has greatly impeded action. In view of this experience it is 

 urged that, should Congress decide to have the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion and National Museum participate in future expositions, the law be so 

 framed as to require the appointment of an auditing officer familiar with 

 the demands of exhibition work, in order to prevent the unnecessary 

 retardment of public business, and the consequent incurring of extra 

 expense by the Government. 



If such a course be not adopted, responsibility of selecting and decid- 

 ing upon exhibits should be understood to rest entirely with the repre- 

 sentatives of the various departments, and the auditor's province lim- 

 ited to the careful examination of accounts, which, of course, should be 

 sufficiently detailed to prevent errors. Experience has proved that 

 only by some similar division of responsibility can successful results be 

 obtained. 



Another fruitful cause of delay in our work has been the payment of 

 all the accounts by a disbursing officer stationed at Newport, Kentucky, 

 instead of Washington, where, as is always the case, nine tenths of the 

 bills are contracted. The paymaster drew checks upon the Cincinnati 

 depository only, a method very unjust to employes and workmen, who 

 were obliged to wait many days before receiving their checks, and then 

 to lose something of their hard earned money by the refusal of the 

 Treasury in Washington to honor the same. The only alternative for 

 them was to present the checks to local banks, paying the usual dis- 

 count rates. 



