Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-04-13
ALEXANDRIA:
..MO.ND.3T. APRIL IS, 1918.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASH
INGT0N.
Saturday, .apr;t II, 1915.

Some shameful oblIquities, II net frauds
have been discovered in the manner OF
conducting this important concern; ana
the public will be indebted to Mr.. Ial'-
| madge for that discovery, and for the
remedy which it i. hoped congress will
be able to apply to the grievance.
The chief source OF supply f'r this
fund, as established by law, was the prize
money arising from vessels captured and
condemned; half OF which vas to 60 to
the captors, and the other halt to consti-
,ute this fund. The proce' DIS Of prizes,
therefore, was from time to time paid in
to the district courts, the officers OF
which contrived to keep the caplors qnl-
ct, by paying them their half. while that
half which ought to have been paid into
the charitable fund was refined, or
squandered, or embezzied, and, there is
reason to fear, consumed by successive
frauds.
Mr.. Talmadge came to the knowledge
Of this transac ton in this way: Having
made an attempt this session to procure
a pension for the widow and children Of
captain Lawrence. and finding that the
state of the navy fund prevented the sue
cess Of his application, he felt it his duty
to inquire more particularly into the cir
cumstsnces at the navy Office, particular
ly as the secretary of the navy was d.
rected BY law to make an annual report
Of the state of that fund; which indeed
had been done, but in way that afford
ed little or no information. Aided by
Mr.. Romans, the principal clerk in that
office, whose liberal exertions on the &C.
casion Mr.. Tallmadge ccmplimented in
the house Mr.. 7. searched into the state
Of the fun, and found that it was shame
fully abused. and tina the clerks of the
district courts had neglected to make the
returns required by law. He found that
in the year 1916 law passed esjoimng
the district judges and district ATTORNEYS
to enforce the payment; Dutwithstand
ing which very few returns had been
made. Mr.. Tailmadge exempHfed hi.
tatements by several cases of actual
ENTHUSIASTICALLY in the case OF the
Su,anuan, in ~hivh the captors received
so 1000 dollars, but the clerk of the navy
fund received no intimation whatever Of
the prize for long tine, and even tSen
was able to obtain, and that with much
difficulty and delay, only $4,000 dollar,,
the balance being detained under the
name Of neutral claim. Dir. TallmaJge
therefore brought it before congress. and
moved resolution, which was agreed to,
calling on the secretary of the navy to
make an ample report on the state of the
fund, and all the circumstances attend
ing its management and its abuses.
On motion Of Mr.. Spencer, commit
tee was yesterday appointed to inquire
into the official conduct of Judge Van
Ness, of the southern district of N.York.
Mr.. Forsyth moved to insert the name
Of Judge Tallmadge also--which, il being
intimated that tina. Judge wished to be
included in the inquiry, was asserted to.
The house refused to 60 into The CEN
sideration Of the amendments of the Sc
nate to the slave bill, by a majority of 10
rs to IS.
The Navigation bill from the senate
was brought under the consideration of a
committee of the whole, Mr.. Bassett in
the chair, MIR Holmes spoke against the
bill. soon after which the committee rose,
and nehouse adjourned.
The parliament of Lower Canada, on
the 18th # March. rejected (by vote
Of 90 t. 16) d p OPPOSITION to consider the
ezpediency OF granting comp. nsatiOn
to the memb rs to deiray their expe nse;
in attending the ,e.sions of psrliampnt.