, 1859-06-10
Statement Of M. c. II. Armstrong, concerning
the Report Of The Third Auditor. .a
PoTNr ELLIOTT, Nav 20, isl

PONr ELLIOTT, May 70, lsSS.
Editor Pioneer and Democrat Iad
sIR:-Last evening, for the first time, obtained
sight at the much talked Of report letter Of Mr.. A.
klnson, third Auditor Of the Treasury, on our war
claims .rg....... "a.
l may be wrong, but think the gentleman was sz,
pected to make fair and impartial report upon those
clams leave 1t to any one 70 read and judge whether
the whole letter from beginning to end does not bear
the most unequyocal evidence, of testy impatient,
and hunored hostility towards the claims submitted
to him for examination. Iustead Of appearing ~ en-
impartial judge he the position Of an attorney
taxing bill Of cOsts-as II the government had lP
pointed him TO find all the weak points 10 those
counts and make the most Of II, that the smallest
possible amounPmight bo paid without any reference
TO the amount justly due. II such were Mr.. Akin
sons Instructions he has done his duty f..t adi
l have neither time or inclination 70 dwell At any
length this matter. shall therefore, only makeA
few remarks in answer to his absiract Of my rrsgn'
larities. .s. ..f-,t
Before entering upon this however, i will call your
attention 10 the fact that this gentleman finds iau
with every one OF US accounting officers except Capt
Kelly for furnishing copies only OF the accounts, and
with Capt. Kelly be finds fault for having furnished
originals In other words having made bis accounts
in trpicate. This looks very much like the rpon
would have been adverse, matter In what eonditoh
the accounts had been rendered. $3.50
will now proceed in justification Of my conduct -
Quartermaster 10 enter into explorations.
The Auditor says &c. H. A., Quartermaster Al Camp
MontgOmefy, &C. turns over 70 A. D. Name, AoIu-
ant, $3s worth Of clothing the day before he len The
service Adjutant Kane previously received from him
horse aud two blankets whilst but t2l Is charged
against him on the rolls" How the fact Of Kansb
leaving the service the day after turned ever an
amount OF clothing to him Affects my accounts can
not conceive. And IL the Auditor had examined the
accounts pertaining to Capt. Maxons Company, he
doubtless would have found the clothing charged 10
Kane, who was a member of that company. As 70 The
horse and blankets, Kane presume used them whilst
in the service aud then turned them over 10 one q The
Kirtey in favor Of VIM. p. Wells 4 Coz" Mr.. Wells
was my clerk; previously he had bad charge Of the
property at Montgomery; when took charge ~
sumed the business that bad besn done By Mr. W.,
consequently some Of the invoices and receipts In
Mr.. WIS name instead Of mine. The property spoken
Of as turned over to Mr. Krtey accounted for b.
him; he rendered accounts. As q voucher for The
clothing stolen, filed Mr.. VIM p Wells afidayitahs
Is well known in this country, and the people can
judge whether he would be likely to peIjure himself
Provisions delivered for Of the court Witnesses
and attorneys at Camp Montgomery" The whols
country knows that court was held at Camp Mont
gomery, aud the probability is that they ate something
while in session. The voucher forwarded might not
have been dated II 50 ii clearly an accident ~.
Q. Cole, commanding Puyalup Rangers" presume
the members Of a company Of volunteers had right
to subsistence and clothing; 80 the eommandeF q
the company was the proper person TO receipt 70 ne
for it. He, the Auditor, also says ~ O. Cole repre-
seDted as lieutenant Of Capt. SwindaPs Co. ?, but
the rolls do not show him to be such.r This is imme
diately after saying he was commanding Puyalup
Rangers. IN. Il. Hathaway, Quartermasier, tuned
quantities Of stores but has no accounts showing
from whence or whom he received them" N. R. n.
was Quartermaster when received property from BIN,
credited him with what received; this the Auditor
admits, or rather blames me for so doing; think
would be no better II received the property Apd gavo
no credit for Il. Hathaway's business settled n
Millard, and the Auditor, who saw 30 much, misn.
have seen that was charged with the property On
those accounts. "Lieut. Powells company reeeived
on July 3ist nearly twice as much subsistence 81
was entitled q for the rest Of tho serVieen blelI
Powells company was issued nations 70 At Wsua'wI
Ia, and was 70 march TO the settlements hef0e beng
discharged. write this for the people end lesvep
N them to say whether such uarsh should DO under
taken without ratiops. As TO rationS Issued 70 Gov