Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-16


the pariiesknew that there was something rotten
in the proceeding!
For AIR. Fillabrown, there can be no excuse
ne gives the memorandum 0faIr. Southsrd, as his
authority and his justification Did not MIR Fill
Iebrown know, that Mr.. - had no authority 10
give such IN orier' IL has been said, that Mr.
Southland would have dismissed Mr. T. if he
had refused The act was no part Of his official
duly. MIR. + iliebrown a tavorite with Mr..
Southland, and can suppose, that that gem
ucmso would have been disposed 10 hx public
attention on the subject, by the removal of a clerk
But Ut the duty had devolved On him, a clerk,
IS the fear of dsinission sufficient to cover
over gross violation Of public duty, Shall the
love OF office be plead, jusic stion for official
misconduct. When such excuses are whispered,
IL is time tor the thunders OF reform to shake the
political atmosphere with it's electric influence
But such snct the fact MIR. Fillebrown was a
willing particiPator III Tic nelarious populations OH
this sacred fund.
The act OF the I'D OF March, 1909, to which we
have before had occasion to refer, provides,
"That, exclusively of the purveyor of public
supplies, payinasters OF the army puIscts of the
navy, military agents, and other officers already
authorised by law, other permanent agents shall
be appointed, either for the purpose OF making
contracts, or for the purchase OF supplies for
the disbursement in any other manner, of moneys
tor the use of the military establishment, OF
the navy of the United States, but such as shall
be appointed by the President OF the United States,
with the advice and consent OF the Senate Pro-
cided, That the President may, and he is hereby
authorized, in the recess of the Senate, to appoint
sill any of such agents which appointments
shall be submitted 10 the Senate at their next ses
sion, Tor their advice and consent; and the Pres-
dent oil the United States is hereby authorized
until otherwise provided by law, TO fix the number
and compensations of such agents Provided
That the compensation allowed TO either shall not
exceed one per centum on the public moneys dis
bursed by him, nor in any instance the compen-
oation allowed by law TO the purveyor of public
supplies s, :, 49,, :, ~
one day before Mr.. Newton put in his claim, Mr..
tiebrown put his hand into this fund, and drew
cut the last cent within his reach, as commission
upon the disbursement of a fund placed ia his
hands, in violation of this law.
W. have already given the law and the pro-
ceedinss OF the Board, showing that Mr. File
brown was not entitled to a commission on the
fund disbursed by him; but we have before u.s. the
copy OF letter addressed 10 him by MT Southland,
IN which he says:
NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 2, 1929.
Thomas Fillebrown, Esq
SecTy .NGvy Hospital Fund:
SIR: IL was my intention, before left the
department, TO have submitted to the consdera-
ton of the other Commissioners of the NAVY Hos
pitai FUND, your claim and account for compensa-
ton, Tor attending to the disbursement OF the mo-
ney OF the Fund which had passed through your
hands, since your appointment Secretary. I
consider the claim perfectly just, and do not doubt
ht compensation would have been made, could
the question have been submitted TO the Board
NeltHeF uie responsibility nor labor are embraced
WITHIN your duties as Secretary; and IL any other
person had been appointed 20 perform them, an al
Iowance must nee essarily have been made to him
- DO not doubt, when the Commissioners shall
understand the merits OF The claim that TO hcsta-
ton Will be felt on the subject. Nothing but my
severe and protracted indisposition, during the
whole winter, has heretofore prevented It's adjust
nent.
(Signed) 81. S."
/. will be seen that Mr.. Southland, reckless as
np.x f.ilO 81. I~.it
brown has pocke,ed the money aud that too ON
the I'd OF March Ii this be honesty, il is time
that the moral ethics of the Treasury should be re-
formed But we are not yet done with Mr. Fill
iebFown--we learn that up TO the It'll November
1925, this fund had been deposited 10 the credit Of
the Treasury of the United States, and drawn on
the warrant OF the Board. On that day, the Board,
composed OF Siessrs Souihard, Barbour, and Rush,
appointed AR. Febrown the Secretary, with a
salary Of two hundred and fifty dollars and il will
be that he has stated his account as Secreta-
~. The account will show that, between the
date oil his appointment, and The 22d OF May, 1926
MIR. Filiebrown had received and paid away two
warrants. one for SIT so. and the other $62 so,
being for aught, which see, so much on
account OF his own salary. Yet, on the 22d May
1926. MIR Southland wrote 10 MIR. F:ilebrown; as
follows:
"In consideration of the duties performed by
you since your appointment as Secretary to the
Commissioners OF Navy Hospitals, you may con-
slider your appointment as anti-dated six months
riod''
One hundred and twenty-five dollars for paving
to himself six months sllaryi! This may be HON
est, but it is too much ''aRti-datcd' for oar USE
Again, it should be borne in mind that Mr. FIJI
iebrown was clerk at one thousand dollars per
annum. This appointment as Secretary, gave
him two hundred and fifty dollars more; The anti
dating made it triple salary, and one would think
that an honest would have felt some qualms
OF conscience, when he remembered too, that
this fund was charity, provided by the honest
tar5 OF our navy, specially set apart for sick and
disabled seamen. Vel, Mr.. Filiebrown's account
shows that, in addition TO these triple salaries, for
seven payments made between the 9Th of March,
1927. and the 9th OF May of chat year, including
his own salary. he has charged two hundred and
sevehty-hve dollars and twenty cents! Does not
such honesty need reforming?
This is not all His account shows that, Tor four
payments made between the 22d of August and
the 9th OF October, OF same year, he charged four
hundred and fifty doIlaEsi! IL this honesty
Again. The account shows that large sums Of
money remained for some time nexpended in his
hands; and accordingly, under date of Sth Febru.
airy, 1927, we find him acknowledging himself to
be indebted to the Commissioners in the sum of
one thousand six hundred and fifiy-three dollars
and seventy nine cents; and yet he charges two
thousand and seven dollars and eighty four cents
Tor disbursing this fund! Shall we again be sued
ivr saying that this too is improper!
or IS this all. II will be seen, as we have said
-hai +9l1 IT OF thus sum, taken on the I'd of
GAJA " ny That day? Who can resist the
~ -iol. that 1t was taken because Mr.. Fillebrown
Hppfenensye that he would be removed, and
t1i ~ Within his reach to remunerate him for his
loss OF office! Was this honestly!
This 500 IL was the last remaining cent Of
this fund, and what assurance have we that Mr.
Fiilohfown would not have taken four times that
sum, If he could have done so! Startle not, gen.
tie readers, when we tell you that Tobias Watkins,
the chief priest Of their parfv. did on the satos