Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-06-26
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF
INVESTIGATION

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF
INVESTIGATION !,
The Select Committee OF The House oil
Rsnressntstiyes) to whom was referred tae
Masnorial or Address, of NiDian Edwards,
having. 10 obedience to the resolution OF
the House Of Repre- OF the zotn
al May continued TO hold lie sittings alter
the adiournmeni of the House, until tne
2ist day of June. have agreed on the fol'
lowing -
recommending 10 their former Report,
a continuance OF the existence ana powers
NJ the Committee, il will be remembered,
thai the reason given for that recommen-
ds,;oo was. the obvious propriety, before
q final close OF the investigation, OF having
the personal presence and examination oi
IN. author OF the address which bad occa-
.;oned the appointment OF The Commit,ee.
Such examination has now been had. Mr..
Edm ards attended The Committee. IN ooe
d;.nce 10 MS summons, on the TN oil June;
his been examined as witness by ITS Of
rectron. cruss examined bS gen'le map
attending in behalf OF the Secretary VI Tue
Treasury; and his testimony, 'oge'er
with tina. oil the other Witnesses - COM
mimic ,ed with this Report. as are also
VARIOUS documents and papers, which nave
been referred to, and produced, IN the
course ct the examination
A paper in reply to the communication
ber.toior. received by the CoumI'lee,
from the Secre ,ary end sno b q he ma
ture oi an argument Oh the whole cass'
have also been presented by MIR. Edwards,
and cops,dered 10y The Committee. :,
The evidence has run into much detail,
and som. pslts of it probably have mol
very material application 10 the man SUBS
iect OF INQUIRY. 1t seemed proper, how
ever. 10 the Committee, TO allow to those
concerned liberal indulgence in this re-
sprct. :,
After patient attention to all the sv''
depce. and to whatever has been urged I'D
the way of reasoning on the case, the LON
mite. see no cause to change or modly,
in any material respect, the result 10 wh'cn
thew came on the former investigation, and
which they have already submitted TO the
House. On the contrary, they hnd' in this
further and fuller examination, eorrooo'
ration, generally speaking, OF the opinions
which they have heretofore expressed.
On some parts of the inquiry. indeed.
evidence has now been produced 10 points
which were mol individually and partIcu.
)ar,y taken into the consideration oil Inc
Comm,llee on the former occasion. 10
these, perhaps, some reference ougn' now
10 he made. They may be considered as
new articles, or new specifications OF
charge; and although not very DEFINITELY
or formally made, yet as evidence mas
been taken intended TO support them, they
become subjects OF consideration.
One O. these respects the dePosites OF
publ,c money, made OF allowed by the Sc
rre,ar, in the Banks Of this District, at the
instance and on the solicitation oil me
Rank, themselves, and IS an act ommoda-
,;op n them. at a time at considerable Pc
cunisIy pressure, IN 1918.
In their former Report, The Committee
EXPRESSED their opinion in relation 10 de.
posites OF this nature; and referred 10
nublic communication Of the Secretary, IN
which the facts were svowed, and IN
which practice OF like character was
stated IN have been Of early existence and
ionv continuance. The Committee did
NOT deem it necessary to cali Tor proof OF
that which was admitted; aud as II was Of
opinion tia, the practice itself was 'rregu
lar and dangerous, il did not think Il ma
terra, 10 INQUIRE particularly, whether, IN
the only case in which loss was appre,.
bend.d from this cause, the pro ability OF
sncb io.s was either greater or less than
tbe Secretary bad supposed. This apprr'
bsrdet lose !, in The Ease of the FrsnklID
p,nL of Alexandria In he letter Of the
Secretary 10 the President OF the Senate,
nj the 95'h o. F bruary 1898, he y, IN
yegsrd 70 this Bank, that letter OF tue
District attorney. herewith communlca.
ted show ed tba, there was no danger OF
loss to the United States.
The evidence now offered and received,
tends 10 show thai there is probability OF
ANAL loss from this Bank; but in other res
poets there is DO new view OF Inc case pre-
scented.
The debt due to the Government from
the Bank OF Vincennes. has also been
brought forward, and made the subject OF
INQUIRY and proof. Nothing distinguish
inc this case from those OF other Western
r ks in which the public money bad been
1sposi,ed. and 10 regard TO which loss bad
hanpeued, or was expected, bad attracted
the attention OF the Committee as 'mpor>
tant TO be considered, al the time OF their
former Report.
The case OF this bank had been previous
" made the subject Of Report 10 tue
House by the Secretary, on the 2ist Feb.
ruary. 1898, in answer to resolution
passed on the 3lst OF January preceding,
r. which statement of the debt. and the
means which had been taken and used to
secure it, were laid before Congress: The
evidence now taken, relates principally, as
in the preceding case, 10 the amount OF the
loss which may be expected to be incur
red. -.
The only remaining charge which may