Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-01

Mr.. Bailey testifes that his attention was
called to the matter about the last of March
1897 II had conversation with you (Mr Gull
lom) about the matter, and told you YOU
should return the 81 800, the amount in question,
to the Treasury; that the depositing that amount
in the bank Of Suter. Lea 4 Co. did not answer
the purpose which you designed it should. You
said it was your purpose to have the matter
done correctly, and would so make your settle
ment at the Treasury. / told you that you
should charge yourself in the account current
with this item Of 81 500, the amount withheld
from these clerks, and that would make the
account agree. / understood you to say you
would have the matter carried out in that
way" He further states that when the act of
March Sd, 1857, was passed, requiring disburs-
ing officers to keep their accounts with the
Treasury, the chief clerk, Mr. Ingram, ia
making up his estimates of the amount In the
hands of Suter. Les Co., included this item
OF 81 800 and that it was returned to the Treas
ury as part of the general deposit.
In the account rendered to the Treasury by
the clerk. after the close of his term, filed on
the 81 OF March. 1853, the clerk is charged
with balance on hand. and among Others with
this item, without date; "a amount withheld
from VIM. Bailey, j. C. Greenleace. j. J. Bur
nett. and :. ). Stanton. ON vouchers returned
to the Treasury on the last quarter of the year
1876, SioO each, by reason Of non performance
of service, 81 500
was never drawn from the Government funds
and on the final settlement at the Treasury
was fully accounted for; that he was prevented
by this investigation from presenting his ac-
counts for settlement at an earlier day
Thus it appears that the said clerks per-
formed no service during the three months in
question, and received 10 pay; the amount of
their salaries reverting to the Treasury, and
your committee see no ground of complaint on
their part certainly, and none ON the part of
the Government.
Your committee have thus disposed of the
principal matters OF charge against the late
clerk. Some other matters were brought to
their attention, and were investigated with a
great deal of labor to themselves and some cost
to the Government, but nothing appeared that
Is deemed of Importance to bring to the notice
of the House.
1t appears that the late clerk, on going into
ofhce, found several persons of standing and
experience holding places, whom he retained
In has employ; and they are still retained
They have been examined before your commit
tee, and without exception testify that they
know OF no fact tending, either directly or in
directly to show misfeasance, malfeasance, cor
ruptlon, or dereictiOn of duty on the part of
the late clerk. This is negative testimony, in
deed, but coming from the source it does is en-
titled to much weight.
Witnesses have detailed various statements
OF the late clerk respecting the profits of his
office among them j. J. Burnett. :. S. Stan
ton, and Hon. Charles Ready who saws: Some
few days before the adjournment of the last
Congress, during night session of the House
ne (the clerk came and sat down by my desk
after some conversation upon different subjects
asked him myself, L think, what his Office
would yeild him, he stated in substance that he
had made $50, 900, but if the book resolution
should pass, his office would be worth, he
| thought, $4,000.
give this n the substance Of the converse
| ton. That was before the book resolution
| passed. AT that or some other time though nv
impression is that it was at that time, he spoke
| OF having had the advantage, on account Of his
position here, of engaging in some specs culations
| and making some investments in stocks and
real estate. do not recollect very distinctly
| what was said upon that subject; the idea was
that he had made $50, 600 in consequence of
| holding the office. Mr.. McClarin, of Carthage
Tennessee, neighbor and the private fnan-
| elal agent OF the late clerk says, that when
| with his acquaintances st home he spoke of his
| once rs profitable one, aud thought be would
| make some $4,000 or $40 600. He explained
the matter by saying that there were good op-
| portunities offered to the clerk of the House of
Representatives to make money by dealing il
| western lands, stocks, land warrants real
| estate &c; that his position gave him credit
and increased facilities for information. He
was considered one Of our wealthy men I
| have been acq quainted with General CuIlom for
| eighteen or nineteen years and from the time
of my first acquaintance with him. his wealth
has been annually increasing. As he increased
| IN years he increased in wealth and latterly
the increase has been larger thsn formerly. -
1t is shown that his means were ample. his
credit good, and his character for integrity ir-
| reproachable
Mr. French, one Of bis predecessors in Office
| on being asked what are the opportunities in
| this city for such man to realize money by
dealing in real estate, and taking advantages
in buying and selling. says Il should think
perhaps, no man could make money faster in
any other way"
1t appears in evidence that the clerk has
fully settled his accounts at the Treasury, and
that during his entire term of Office slI monies
to hls credit as clerk were drawn only upon
checks prepared by his chief clerk, or the per-
son acting for him in his absence which were
drawn upon vouchers being presented.
Your committee now having completed the
iaooIs assigned them by the House, pray to be
discharged from further consideration of the
subject referred to them.