The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-30
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.



plain the circumstances which led to the rumor
ofhs defaIcation. ! am informed bya gentleman
familiar with the whole affair that the first init
nation Mr.. z. had of any difficulty relative to his
accounts was my paragraph in this morning |
Republic. 1t must be borne in mind that no Gov
ernment accounts kept at bank. Mr. Zant-
fingers transactions and accounts with Corcoran
& Riggs We're, therefore, private arrangements
with which the Department has nothing to do
Even had there been good reason for dishonoring
his check at the bank it constituted no reason for
charging him with deiacation. Had he been no.
tilted by the Department that his check was not
good, and then failed to make it good, the charge
of defalcaton would have been sustained. But
no such form observed; and the following
statement will show how easily malice could
found an unjust charge of malfeasance:
Mr.. Zantzinger's accounts have not yet been
settled with the Department. Ever since he left
his office desk he has been engaged in making up
his vouchers for the last quarter. In consequence
ofsuaerng induced by fall some weeks since
he has not been able to close his up as rap
idly possible. Still, he has sent in his accounts
for over S250,000 Of disbursements. A few DAYS
more would have enabled him to complete them;
and, he holds vouchers sufficient to cover every
dollar for which he has not accounted, of course
no motipe for fraud exists, even if there could be
any disposition to achieve that sort of distinction
| But to come more particularly to the case in
question: Mr.. Zantzinger, for his own accommo-
dalton, placed the money put in his hand for dis
bursement with Corcoran s. Riggs, at whose
bank he kept several accounts, under diff
ferent heads. One of these accounts was
devoted exclusively to the Portugal indemni-
ty fund.- and the bank teller, having made up
and closed that account, certified a balance of
a little over $40 900 to be due to Mr.. 4. The lat
ter having got through with that branch of his
accounts, desiring to put his successor, Stubbs in
possession of the balance on the Portugal fund.- so
that he might be able to meet drafts of claimants
against it, gave his check to said Stubs for the
balance certified to be due him on said account as
above The teller declined to pay it on the
ground that MIR. Z. was indebted to the bank on
another account, some seven or eight thousand
dollars. Mr. q. knew nothing of the refusal un-
til this morning, when he apprized that the
draft had been dshonored.
AS it will readily be SEEM this state of facts pre-
sents no implication or just suspicion Of defalca-
ton; but the opportunity seized to inflict a
serious stain upon his reputation. 1t is only ne
cessary to add that the whole matter will be ar
ranged to-day; and that settlement of the late
discussing agents accounts will be apt to show
balance against the Government in his favor.
4 Who is to be Engneer-in-chief of the Navys
MIR. Copeland declination has thrown this ques-
ton all open again. 1t is important that the place
RI should be filled. We need responsibility in the
engineering department of the navy 1t cannot
be entirely secured until Government has its own
furnaces and machine-shops But partial respon-
sibty is better than none, and that is secured by
the appointment of one man, whose duty is to de-
! sign the machinery for our naval steamers, and
see that it is properly constructed. 1t was most
commendable regard for the public interest that
led Secretary Dobbin to make efforts to secure the
services of such man Mr.. Copeland; and the
latter gentleman scarcely ask higher evil
dence of the estimation in which he is held pro-
fessionally than is found in the offer of the re-
sponsible post rendered him. But such evidences
of confidence not bread Mr.. Copeland can
earn outside the Department twice the amount of
the salary attached to the place offered him. In
deed should not be surprised if he receives a |
sum quite equal to the salary Of Engineer i'm chief
for his services as consulting engineer at the New
York Allare Works alone
| Efforts to secure the undivided service of an
| engineer of extensive experience and reputation
at the salary allowed by law, can hardly be sue
cessful. doubt whether the Secretary will make
another effort Perhaps he will return to the Gus
tom OF former years, appointing no engineer-in-
chief, but calling in as consulting engineers, when
necessary, men OF eminent and deserved reputa-
ton in their profession. This was the practice |
prior to August, 1912, when the engineer corps of
the navy first established. When the steam
frigates Mississippi and Missouri were built we
had no engineer chief; and Mr.. Copeland was
then called in by the Department TO design their
engines and machinery. return to that system
would be tar preferable to the appointment of an
incompetent man head of the corps. Still a
better course would be the promotion of some
good practical man from among the subordinate
engineers i'll the Department There are several
such who have given evidence of genius, expert
ence, and ability. There are engineers Martin,
/ Williamson, and Sewall-all practical and sound
men. The first of these, especially, where
known, bears an excellent reputation intel
hgent and slilful man. He has on several occa-
SONS exhibited skill and ingenuity in the perform
ance of his duties that show him possessed of the
mental resources, well as the mechanical abili-
ties necessary to eminent professional success
Why not promote him to be engineer n-chief?
+ know him only by his engineering repu-
ltation--a reputation not widespread enough
yet to place him beyond temptation by the
salary Copeland refused. It must be conceded
that the promotion of a competent from the
ranks of the engineer corps will stimulate health
) full emulation among the subordinate engineers,
each of whom will strive to establish his own
claims to similar promotion, when opportunity
may offer The experiment. certainly is worth
trying. fit deemed desirable, on extraordinary
occasions, the temporary aid of consulting engi-
neers of larger reputation may readily be obtained
The President has Just completed contract
with Clark Mills esq.,, for the erection in this