Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-06-23

same subject. They requested him 10 state wheth-
Of the petitioners had performed their contracts,
and, If not whether there was any failure on their
part, before there q failure TO pay on the part
Of the United States. Ills answer. accompanied
by n report from Mr.. Whitcomb, Commissioner Of
the General Land Office, with the documents and
correspondence required, IL received; copies Of
the original contracts, with an abstract from
tabular statement that accompanied MIR. Lytles
last ennnal report, were sent 10 the committee. !
The petitioners were contractors, as alleged by
them, for surveying portions OF the public land
The CoDmiss iOnere OF the General Land Office
has not been able to ascertain how much survey
ing has been completed, nor how much Is due to
the petitioners, owing to the neglect of tho Sur
vcyor General, Mr.. Lyle, to make his returns.
On these points the petitioners and Mr.. Lyle
widely differ. They aIlege they were not in fault
until their pay withheld, and that they suffer
great loss in not receiving what Is due to them.
Mr.. Lyle, in his letter to the Commissioner of
the General Land Office, is not definite; and he
does not specify any one OF the petitioners, but,
in general terms, he says some of the deputy sur
vcyOrs complain Of his remissness without any
iustifable grounds; and he apologies for not re-
turning n statement Of his disbursements, by
mentioning his Ill health and indispensable alb
scnce, and the difficulties that attend the collec
ton Of the orders and drafts that have been drawn
on him.
1t appears from the correspondence with which
the committee furnished, that the petitioners
or portion Of them, have urged Mr.. Ly tie TO pay
their respective claims for several months They
complain that he not only neglects to pay them.
but that he violates his promises from time to
time, and that, by reason Of his long absence from
home, their applications are neglected.
1t does not appear that Mr.. Lytle, in any YER
bal written communication with the petitioners,
declined to pay them on the ground that they had
not performed their part Of the contracts nor that
money not due them; but, on the contrary
thereof it seems to be admitted in = letter from
Mr. Miller, chief clerk, written by direction OF
Mr. Lyle, to M. Wharry, that Mr. Lyle admits
Mr. Wharry's right 10 demand his pay, and Mr.
= Iytle's inability is made ~ rest on the want Of
funds.
The letter is under date Of March 16, 1898
|, and is follows:
"Nlaior Dorsey has just handed your letter o.
the 18th instant, and the Surveyor General re-
= grets exceedingly his inability yet 10 pay the a
mount Of YOUR survevi account, which he con-
% fidentlv believed he would have been prepared te
. do before this time. The completion Of his ar
" engagements at Louisville, Tor the sale Of his pro
d perty there, WILL beyond doubt, be effected in the
e course Of the coming week. so that by the sale o
tho Louisville scrip, issued by the city council n
- will he put in funds, and will forthUikh pay you
= account He feels under obligations to you 70
:. your kindness and forbearance during his tempo
u rary want Of funds, and respectfully asks you t
> bear with him very few days longer, and he will
\ settle your claim by depositiog in bank, subject
y your ordcr.'
D. When the want Of funds is alleged the oni:
n reason why payment is not made, and when es
pectaiion is awakened rnat tins obstacle would b
III overcome in a few days by the sale Of his owl
e. private property, to meet demand ON the publ
he treasury, Mr. Lyle then had in his hands, accord
ID ing to bis own report, made on the 3lst day
nd March, 1898, $36, SAT ~. In stating his AZ
ny count, he short debited himself $4,000, and hi
u actual delalcation was $8S,S4S ~.
He was indebted on the 3Oth Of SePtembe
p 1887, 9S9,2S So. He received in Washing tor
ri in the following month, $l3, 900, according to hi
rs statement; making his indebtedness at that dat,
n. as admitted by himself, S52,2S3 8
;, This amount was reduced at the 3lst
H. March, 1898, by the following pay
mcnts, to wit:
IT Paid in 4th quarter 1887 $4,3l3 50
AS Paid in LIST quarter 1898 3,2ll %
15,435 4