New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-23
4 CASE FOR IMPEACHMENT.

4 vast embezzlement of public money had been
discovered, and that Isaac V. Fowler, the Post
master, one Of the leaders of the New-York De-
mocracy, had become what Mr.. Holt calls
fugitive felOn" few days afterward, on the
10th day of May, the House of Representatives in
Congress, BY resolution of that date, called upon
HE Postmaster. General for information respecting
the astounding event. They asked him to commu-
nicate, as early as possible" all the facts and
circumstances of Fowlers defalcation, stating par
tcularly-I, the time it commenced; 3 its progress
from time to time; 3, when it was first known 70
the Department; A. its aggregate amount; o.
any and what legal proceedings had been instituted
against Fowler by the Government; 3, IN what
amount the Government was secured by bond or
otherwise.
Every consideration should have impeled
faithful public officer to make speedy report TO
Congress on these questions. The session was
drawing to a close, legislative action might be
needed, great pablo interest was excited, and In
formation was required in regard to transaction
90 m, st. rioas and extraordinary in ali its social,
political. and financial features. The facts asked
for acre few; the materials for information were
In the Department.; and, to furnish it, an ordinary
merchants clerk would not require many hours.
The footing Of few quarterly statements the
comparison of few accounts, and the copying OF
some letters coDpreheDded all that was asked for,
and the sum total of all the information furnished
with the report. Most Of the work must have been
done even before the date of the resolution. And
vet the Postmaster. General held back his report
twenty. FIVE days! Not until the day of adjourn
mat had been fixed, when there remained but
seven days Of the session, and every maute of that
time, as the Postmaster General well knew, was
demanded by Congress for the work in hand, did
he venture 10 lay before them any answer to the
resolution Of the House. On the 18th day of Juoe,
be sent in report on the Fowler dealcatioD,
which is not only the most surprising example Of
Official negligence and incompetence on his part,
but presents stronger aud palmer dem and for in
peachmeOt than was ever exhibited against any
public officer. Conscious culpabhty mani
Tested by holding back his report but some idea of
its measure and extent may be seen by glance at
his answers TO the several inquiries of the House.
l. The AMOUNT OF DEFALCATIoN.--Mr.
Holt says:
"The defscation up to March 81 1900 amounted TO S55
The cashier Of Fowler however alleges the actual
accounts current quarter have been audited and the
distracted from ito has not in consequence
not eiesed the stated by the cashier"
One hundred and seventy thousand dollars of
public money are gone. FOwler's cashier confesscs
that much But the Postmaster General, unwilling
to acknowledge the full truth at first states the
defalcatiOn at $l55,554 81, or fifteen thousand
dollars less than Fowler's cashier confesses Is
this not an effort to hide the enormous magnitude
Of the defalcation during Mr.. Hollis administra-
font He painfully confesses, however, that the
amount stated by Fowlers cashier may be true, and
feeby cOnectures rather than asserts, that it will
not exceed that sum. Many things in the report
suggest apprehension that it will 60 beyond that
sum. But is it not marvellous that the Postmaster
General should state the dealcaton at Sl55, 554 81
AID in the same breath admit that the cashiers
confession of $40, 600 may be true
Ill. THE TIME WHEN THIS DEFALCATIoN
BECAME KNOWN TO THE DEPARTsiENT.-Mr.
Holt says:
Yor vas communicated me- the time the 1on
Nay lie AID have no reason to believe that was known 10
thu Department at an earlier day"
Ill How THE DEFALCATIoN HAPPENED TO
BE DETECTED.-On this point Mr.. Holt makes the
following curious statement:
reaching Washington from the South In the last week Of
April inquiry learned through the Auditors Once that
ss Of the Postmaster at bad been audited
the quarter ending t March 1850 had not been adjusted for
want Of the account cuIent which bad not been received
requested be Auditor to write adssy that delay
this account couo not be submitted to- This Was dne
bot consequence OF the absence Of MI fo%e or om some
ether planned the account not placed the HAMS
Auditor until the 9Th Of May On the OF the nth
Of May the First Assistant Postmaster General handed me two
letters addressed 70 hr by MI Fowler IN whi,n bis
deoD confessed in terms and earnest appeal
s he eond have an opportunity to good the deficit
through the Of ends and the sale OF property which
current had been received by the Auditor on the pre-
yCs day and thst clerk actively engaged in srutHzng
chef clerk OF the Auditor the time mentioned TO
tat the account rendered howeds dedication Of upward Of
sO Deeming tins with the confession contained IN the
Stts quite sufficient to justify immediate sction the
without delay pesnied 70 the President eho the same day
signed order removing the Postmaster and directing that the
see should be placed temporarily in charge OF especial agent
Of the Department"
1t thus appears that the public owe the discoy-
cry of the robbery that had been going on under
the eyes of Mr.. Holt during The whole time he has
been in Office at the rate of $4,000 month, not
to any vigilance of the Department, but to f0nlers
confession! 1t might have gone on to the close of
Hollis administration and he been never the
wiser, if Fowler's nerves could have stood the
rack and tear of this continuing and accommodating
crime. But was there ever plaioer revelation of
utter incompetency by public officer than this
statement Of Mr.. Hollis disclOses in respect to him
self Look at If. In the last week of April, he,
the Postmaster General learns that Fowler's ac-
count current for the quarter ending March 81 had
not been received, and be directs some one TO write
that "ioRger delay would not be- submitted to"