The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-07-31
Uashingtor, Nor. 25, 1910.
To Robert Smith, Secretary ef STATE.

1t appears that the sum Of S22,S92 67 which
stands charged upon the award account" Of m,
agency ~ London, under the 9TH art. OF the late Bri
tish treaty, compensation for my services in tha
| agency, ought TO haYe been charged against, and
| deducted by me out Of that fund which was immcd
ately applicable to The expenses incident 10 tie exc
cution OF the 7th art hence difficulty in point ol
form exists iii adjusting the said " award accOunt'
at the Treasury, which renders necessary reference
OF the subject to the President, through yDur de-
| partmcnt.
AS III the Business under the said treaty was con-
Guided previous 10 your coming into the department
OF state, and this special matter cannot therefore
be familiar 10 you, permit me briefly to eyplGn how
tins necessity has arisen.
TIE per centage OF ~ which makes up the sum
! OF S22,392 67, charged is aLovcmcn toued, was
SO charged by authorization Of the then Secretary of
state, given IN consequence of representation
made by me IN the year 1904. AT that time, and
during The whole period Of my service in England, 1
held by appointment Of the President, three sever
at offices Of very great trust and responsibility in.
dependent o. the consulate OF London, viz lst the
law agency of claims under the treaty this had
been previously held by Mr.. Williams, at a salary
OF 2.5O0 dollars per annum, 2dly the " commercial
agency under the same treaty, held by Mr.. Cabot,
at salary of $500 dollars per annuIn and 3dly,
the agency Tor obtaining the discharge of scainen
from the British navy, called "agency for the relief
and protection OF seamcn" held by Mr. ienox, at a
salary of 5000 dollars (or, 500 d6llars) per annurn
OF the whoic OF these salaries, making 5000 dollars
(or $500 doiiars) per annum received only 1000
dollars per annum to the claimants under the
treaty, did not charge any commission nor did
derive one cent OF profit in any shape form, from
the large sums of publick and private monies which
were constantly in my hands in adjusting the proc
tors accounts, saved large suns of money to the
government these, together with the sums which
obtained from the board of commissioners, enafed
me To reimburse, to q great extent, if not wholly,
he ted had cd
under the 9TH article OF the treaty.
The important and profitable office OF "asscssor"
to the board OF commissioners had been also confer
red upon me by the President and this had been in
tendedas part of my compensation; but the board
having asserted right of appointing its own " as.
sessor," coniict hence arose, which embarrassed
the progress OF the pubick business, and menaced
very mischicvous consequences on this account l
Withdrew my pretcnsions, and the President aoqui-
csced III those of the board. cannot estimate that
assessorshp to have produced less than 5000 uneas
over and above the salary of 500 do4ars per
which WIS attached TO il (! eM8
All these have been fully submitted TO the
Secretary oI State, IN my representation abovcmen-
toned, and by him laid before the President, the
President determined to allow me suitable comptu-
sation by his orc.r tn, Secretary OF State wroteto
me in the month of Nov 1874, the authorization be-
fore advcrtcd to, which was in these words:
|" Your observations on the rcasonabencss of some
remuneration for your services have, you wished,
reflections for the present is that should suggest
that you retain oui OF the next nstamen,s pas
sage through your handsto the larngs, a per CEN
tayc ot % on the awards ACTUALLY rc.cived, and
to3he'rccciscd by you and that you state il as
item IN your account with the publick. This will
baisg the equity of your claim regularly before the
government, and will leave the way open toe the
choice of modes and funds, as may finally appear
iuost proper" .n4 s
The commission of d per cent. herein allowed.
as you viii perceive, not chargcablc on all the
awards made nv the board OF comm ssioncrs, but cn
" ON that portion of them, wherein had been made
payee which reduced it in fact 60 a commission up
on abc,t one-thrd OF the business which did atshe
board, commission to that extent, however,
would have been full compensation for the loss of
the assessorshp but desircus o: adhering to the
strict letter of the Secretary OF States instructions,
deducted, only that portion of the awards ma,c
payable to me, on which finally received pGyassnt
from & British government, which suppose was
only ABOUT two-;hirds OF the awards in which was
made payce, one third OF them having been previous
ly transferred by TO the private agents OF the
spcctve awarlers that in effect had not more
than about l-2 per cent. the business which did
at the board OF commissioners, mot to mention that
which was done in the court of Admiralty Thus
this commission now stands charged (pugsnant To
hc strict letter Of the Instruction. against the awards
on winch frsceved pa1eai OF lllc English govern
ment, in what is called the award accounti" tho
MS il was in fact compensation for the whole bus-
transacted a the board il might wi hpropriey
have been, and probably il should. have been, dc.
iucted out of sum OF $4,000 dollars paid by me
into the treasury, upon what called the "spolia-
lion account" As the case stands, there has been
carried to the publick crcdi. from The last mentioned
account too much, by the amount o. the comnis- |
,ion /; that fund Of 10000 dollars therefore,
and should pay back to the "award fund" the same
amount.
This is the point now submitted, ard on which an |
explanation to the Secretary OF the Treasury, from
he Department. of State, is requested.
I have The honou- 10 b., sir, with the most per
sct consideration and respect, your most obedient |
servant, |