The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-23

An article appeared in the Evening Star of this city on
the l4,h instant, headed Who's Entitled TO the Pre-
mium," which. by implication, charges dsbursng officers
on the Pacific with having drawn bills of exchange
on the Qusrtermaster General payable IN Nep York city,
when there was public depository in San Francisco
ready 10 supply them with all necessary money, and
thereby having put large premiums in their pockets
Ii probable that those concerned in the Star" are
innocent of any intentional wrong TO the officers whose
fair fame ID assaulted in this article But is due to truth
and Justice that pronounce the nsnuatons contained
in the article referred 10 most unwarraned and un
founded impuation. Ii not founded Jdcts but on
unfair and improbable Prescriptions. II does great in
Justice mertorious officers now the distant shores
Of the Pacific do no, hesitate to assert, that, in
time of peace, no regular discussing officer on the
western coast has charged the United States
with discount on any bill OF exchange or draft drawn
by himself A great many drafts drawn by officers of
the department during 1850 and 1851
sold at injurious discount to the holders persons
who had performed services and furnished supplies TO-
the department with the expectation that payment would
be made in current money. II must be recoeced that
during this period there existed great deficiency in the
quartermasters app OPERATIONS There no money to
pay these drafts with, either in New York San Fran
cisco delay was necessary; which fact shows why
the drafts of solvent banking houses in San Francisco
commanded premium OF from to per cent, while
those Of government officers could be disposed of only at
gen. who was obliged TO receive them for labor perform
ed or property sold. Had il been compatible with the
duties and dignity of public officer TO have gone into
the market and competed with bankers and brokers,
he would have met with Tuinous defeat. II would
have been case OF eolvency side and insol-
yency on the other and his private account would
have been charged with the loss al the United States
treasury is untrue that there public depository
10 San Francisco during any part oil the period within
at were ia M
recent date Il is true however, that there col
ecof OF who held, rather ought have held
very large sum in his hands; but it is fact that no
disbursng officer could have obtained a cent from him
without first covering the amount with treasury war
rant and the latter article sent only rare in
tervas and for insufficient Officers OF the sub
sisence and quarermaers departments were compelled
to pledge their pirate credit order 10 bold the yubt
drafts up al par The chief quarermsser al Benz.
ca obtained for public $50 600 or more Of Col
leelor Collier bis priua.e qua, arlss That there is
now necessity for ths roundabout way OF getting
money" admit The officers resor,ed to these methods
OF raising funds from motives the most honorabe-a de
sire 10 the public interests. The arrangement COW
made for the supply OF funds Is proper and business
Such did not exist during the period complained Of
Thyi officer drew to the extent OF million Of dol
lars is not at all improbable but to suppose that hi.
drafts sold for premium under The circumstances 10 pre-
posierous and absurd considered simply In business as
peot. No officer OF the army ever received premium
when his public did not show it. No officer on
the Pacific ever received penny By way Of pre-.
MUM, either directly indirectly for private benefit and
il is unlikely that the accounting officers will assume thai
they did in absence OF positive proof The shasgs 10 OF
too serious character 10 be entertained without dec
evidence
have written this in vindicsiion Of absent officers
and request you will publish II. CHINOOK