Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-01-26
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1889.


DIsTRIBUrIoS.
The debate in the House Of Representatives,
on the motion for raising the Select Committee
Dctl!caiions, was resumed today
Sir. b ,ni spoke with great force anil spirit, in
favor q! appointing the Committee by ballot;
and then argued some length that the Admin
istration was Istly responsible for the def,Ica,-
tons that had occurred, naG ought - be brought
II ts proper accountability without delay.
he reminded the House. that General Jackson
IN his mug .r.l speech SAID that would de-
voyc him To ''nanagc the revenue oi the
"country and that /. was a searching operation"
both delicate and Important hign among his
official du;ies,' and would demand no nconsider-
able share Of his attention. In he discharge oi
this duty, he promised 'to select men whose dii-
Igencc and talents would insure in their respect
i've stations, abo and faithful co-operation--dc-
pending for the advancement OF the pubic ser
vice more on the integrity and zeal OF the pub
lie officers, than to their numbers
Immediately after this declaration, (said Mr..
Bond) he appointed Samuel Ssvartwout 10 the
office Of Collector Of New York. Who was sam
nc! Swartwout? He BEEN ACTIVE A
GENT ~ BURR's CONSPIRACY. Although tie ne'0
senate, called, as usual by the Erecmcc, had
been in session, this appointment mds not made
until AFTER THE ADJoCRNMENr-0nih he
tiaucA In office /, FULL YEAR tetore tie Senate
had opportunity Of acting on the nomination.
The nomination confirmed, and IN 1884 he
was re-appoiafc.l by Gen Jackson, and held the
Office until March, 1898, when his term expired
All appeared well, ST far any official disclo-
sure was made until IN the late Annual Mes
sage the President declared that 'n change IN
the Office of Collector at Of our principal
ports has brought light defalcation OF the
gravcst character, the particulars of which VIII
be laid before you IN special Report OF the
Secretary of the Treasury That report has
J,f,,, "a,
to the amount Of MILLION AND A QUARTER OF
dollars And from the report 1t appears
that the speculation was begun few months al
ter the first appointment, and continued from
year to year, throughout the nine years he held
the office, and almost entirely before the suspen-
sion of specie payments
How wa the neglect TO discover this default
explained Principally by tho allegation that
the present law deficient in providing tor an
occasional examination of the books and accounts |
Of the Collector. This idea is expressed by the
President in his message. and repeated by the /
Secretary, as well as the Solicitor, the Law OF /
fcer of tho Treasury And the President and
Secretary gravely recommend to Congress to
provide by legislative enactment, tor SUCH exam
atoms IN future. II
How viii the country be astOnshod when the I
fact is declared thai existing laws give the pow
er that IS sought. The great ACT regulating inc
Customs, passed in 1899, expressly provides that
tho Coliec and Naval Officer shall, at all tunes
submit their books, papers and accounts, to the
inspection of such persons as may be appointed
for that purpose.'-Yet no such examination has
been made!
~ '.'' Saa,e,'"g ot-
Grafton, was entered on. I
Mr. Bond maintained that the Naval Officer ut ,
n Y had grossly neglected his duty IN not ex :
aiming tho accounts of the Collector. If he :
had done this faithfully the law required, the ,
defalcaion could not have occurred. Did he I
comply with this law? The Secretary, and the 5
first Auditor of the Treasury, it is remarkable $
differ this point. The Secretary says the Ma i
val Officer omitted it because the department., by I
circular in 1872 dispensed with the requirement
of this Act Is that true? Not at all! MIR. h
Bond produced the Circular;--t was read and f
instead of dispensing with, expressly requires It's a
performance.
The Auditor says ,ha, tho Naval Officer did ex-
amino and grant the needtui certificates OF cor v
that they proved to be false! d
Now who this Naval Oficcr9 r. L. ThrooP 4
formerly Governor of New fork--a strong s
personal friend of MIR Van Buren,, ana who, hav- Il
mo by design or neglect sanctioned all these n
frauds was last spring sent as Charge d. Affairs n
10 Naples! Instead of being disgraced, as he h
should have been, he was rewarded with a higher r.
Office, aud with il received the sum of $4,000 for II
salary and outfit. "
The President and Secretary these frauds s.
took place during the time the Deposie Bank ie
system was in operation, and the whole party re- o
echo the allegation as If it were now really an a a
pology! C
What has the Depositc Bank System to do
with it? The complaint is not that he deposited a
but that he did not deposto tho money IN Bank. u
Tho Secretary condemns the old Opposite Act Il
II Congress on the ground that II had made the f
Gov ernment great money lender. In reference O
10 this, Mr. Bond read the Circular OF Mr. Tan .
Nv, when Secretary of the Treasury, at the time c.
ne engaged the State Banks to receive the pub o
ic deposits 1t is dated "Sept. Goth, lS33'- t,
md con tans this passage. ''The dePosies OF the o.
public money will enable YOU TO effect increased n
abilities TO commerce and to extend your accom-
nodations to individuals And as the duties 70
which are PAYABLE TO Government arise from the W
business and enterprise OF the merchants ongag- .e
ID in foreign trade, II is but reasonable that they
should be preferred in the additional accommoda- ii
ion which the public deposites will enable your W
institution TO give whenever II can he done with ~
ut Injustice to the claims of other cases of the
III
With what face can the Secretary talk of Con "
,ress compelling the Government to be great fte
none y-lender; while this evidence of the course ca
nd counsels of the Administration before his al
yes2 l.
y NJ L.