The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-08
IN CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES, |
Thir,,eth oongres.-ssoond Session,
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1919.
SENATE.

WALKER elected by the Legislature of Wisconsin as a
senator Tor six years from and after the 4th March next
which were read.
MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS.
Mr. HUNTER presented the petition of the president
and directors of the Fredericksburg and Tedegar Iron
Company of Richmond, Virginia asking compensation for
cannon made t9f Inc Navy Department and setting forth
their hrn belief that the guns rejected by the examiners
were fully as good any that had been previously re
ceiyed from the Treiegar Foundry; and that subsequent
tests made showed how vastly superior thew were 10 The
guns obtained from other quarters which wac referred
the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. UNDERWOOD presented the petition of Alexan.
der X Mckee and Johnson Rice, asking that money paid
By them for land 10 which the government had no lite
may be refunded; which referred to the Committee
on Claims.
Mr. BRIGHT presented the petition of John Spapcer
late receiver OF public moneys at Fort Wayne Indiana
asking indemnify Tor losses sustained consequence of
suit against HIM defauller
in presenting the petition,
mr. b. said deem IT my duty, in presenting the
petition anu accompanying papers of Mr. Spencer, TO
make lew remarks; intended mainly for the of the
COMMITTEE o. the Public Lands. Mr. Spencer was for
seVefal ears the receiver OF public moneys at Fort
wayne indiana all OF which time the receipts of the Of
nee We're unusually large, particularly the years
ard 1896. During the years have mentioned the petit
0oner received over two millions of dollars and
above the sum on which he allowed by law com
msslon ana on which he received no per cenum what
ever. Within peroi OF only eight months he received
million six hundred and twenty thousand dollars
which sum was equal to the maximum salarei business
OF his Office for years and six months This eytraor-
binary excess OF labor and responsibility accomplish
ed at great risk view of the distance and wilderness
region OF country through which he had pass, in order
reach the place appointed by the government 10 make
his depoStes and without any provision aid being
furnished hun the part of the government meet this
unprecedented state OF things
AT the expiration OF the petitioners term of office, and
before nc had time TO prepare his accounts with The proper
vouchers, for settlement, balance sheet struck at
the Treasury Department. emitting large and just credits
N FAVOR OF Mt Spencer which balance sheet will be
by reference the papers have presented repre-
Sented him deauIter in the of 1888, 1899 6S The
name of Mr.. Spencer Immediately heralded forth to
the world fahless public funciionary, unworthy of
the trust that had been reposed in him. and a place
assigned lIm IN the journals OF the country in the
column with number OF public deiauters, notorious for
their dishonesty and wiliu violation of the law, and
whose conduct was the subject of anDalverson through
out The Union in the memorable of 1910, and
aided IN small degree to shake the faith of the people
IN The honesty and integrity of those then the head of
the administrative affairs of this government.
Upon this report OF the then accounting officer of the
treasury having charge of this branch of the public SER
vice, suit Instituted the official bond of Mr. Spen
GER and Notwithstanding his earnest appeal at the Treas
uy Department, made in person ana through friends,
portunlly afforded him show las he fell assured
he could dog that the United States owed him instead of
bis owing the United States, yet he answered, The
matter is closed and cannot be opened"
The SUIT brought, as l have stated, urged to a
speedy trial, when the petitioner set up defence
credits, first for payments not allowed by the accounting
ohcer second, services not specially provided for
by law, but which, in the discretion of the easury
might and ought equity have been allowed him. third
travelling lees and expenses the transportation OF
specie to the place of deposite and other Offsets that
viii not occupy the time of the Senate detailing but
me petitioner having neglected to present statement of
his demands against the United States which he sought
TO set offset the trial to the proper accounting
ohce OF the government and procure either his apro
val or reectIon the court rued his defence admissible,
and thereupon Judgment rendered for the claimed
BY the United States Execution issued, valuable estate
e earnings OF the petitioner before he accepted the office
OF recovery was seized and sold at a time when money
was scarce and the price of property greatly depressed
All ne haQ, real personal, brought but about
twenty hive thousand dollars the United States, Through
her agent being the principal purchaser Thus this mat
Ter rested until the winter OF 1874. Meantime public
opinion had Undergone great change in reference TO
The conduct of this officer 1t was recollecteI that he
time when the penalty OF his official bond was but
thirty thousand dollars, and that if population and the
plumber of the treasury had been his object he could
have taken thousands where il was not pretended he
mai taken cents. II well known that at the time
he accepted the Office he the OF hand
some and unincunbered estate that the claim OF the
government had stripped him of all that he had-Mr.
spencer never seeking to cvade the payment OF The lui
ment attempting in any way conceal convey his
property The change and reaction which public sentl-
ment underwent in favor OF this officer (who always
hitherto had maintained an unsu|lled repntaon) was
great that the legislature OF Indiana at the session OF
si-i5 in preamble and resolutions, expressed their
deep regret at the manifest injustice that appeared to have
been done this officer in The settlement of his accounts with
hegovenment and directed their senators and requested
Their representatives TO their influence TO procure the
opening restaemcnt, and REIMBURSEMENT OF the The
resolves OF the legislature accompanied by the petition
OF four thousand respectable citizens of State of
all parties many of them the immediate neighbors OF Mr.
Spencer who knew hun Intimately, and believed hun IN
capable oil wu violation OF the laws in the discharge
OF his duties as receiver, or that he capable OF dis
honest act The influences have referred to, when
soldaed and brought bear induced Congress to pass
law directing the settlement of his accounts upon prIncl
pies OF equity and Justice Soon after the passage OF this
act the Second Comptroller entered upon the work, and
he result OF his abors embodied in report contained
IN the papers which have just presented, which shows
that alter giving TO Mr.. Spencer all the just credits 10
Ia xUas nb fho instI IN innn nj hp
tSpencer) the creditor of the United States in
The sum of $5l5 so, instead of being her debtor in
'he sum OF S33330 rs, the previous balance sheet
made out by the accounting officer OF the treasury
showed, and which the basis of the evidence
upon which judgment rendered against MIR.
Comptroller (who, permit to say, OF the most
accurate and reliable officers connected with the public
servce IN or out OF this city, folio we'd by mme
date edeedIng to Mr. Spencer of all the real the
United States had purchased the execution issued
The judgment obtained, before stated, and paying to
petitioner the balance found 10 be due him 1t will be
seen by reference the papers have presented that
much OF the real estate purchased improved
Town property. The rents and profits, during the IN
eTegnum | have mentioned, being over four wears
was appropriated TO the OF the United States
The Improvements fell into much dapi
Gated condition in the hands OF public agent than
They would have done in the hands OF imme
date owner. refer to these facts to show the actual
pecunary injury resulting to the estate OF Mr. Spencer,
ana which independent OF the clear Just, and lndls
VuaOe claim he has the United States tor the refund
ing OF the resulting from the proceedings had
against hun IN this Sir the costs actually paid by
we defendant IN this amounts TO about two thousand
great popney esrge upon The runous results 10 both