The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-20

property under their charge. In the course of two
or three weeks the committee finished their labors
and presented their reports TO the heads OF their
respective bureaus who approved it and sent 1t to
the Secretary There 1t was enectualy buried, and
has not been seen by any other persons
than those who prepared IL From the
fact that one Of the committee who
CATION and who unanimously elected himself chair
man thereof manifested strong disposition to take
for granted the perfect regularity and uprighness Of
Mr.. Clarkes management II ia inferred that the re-
port gave the superintendent and his division
thorough whitewashing and the additional fact that
one or two members Of the committee who showed
signs Of dissenting nom the views Of the
sotdtsant chairman had not half o chance
Afforded them to express their views, tends to con-
firm that inference. The chairman OF the committee,
as soon as the investigation was over, and without
deeming it necessary to know what the Secretary
thought Of the report decided to surrender to Mr..
Clarke the keys Of his DIVISION but having received
an order nom Mr.. McCulloch he turned them over
to MI. McCartee. who had been appointed Acting
superintendent Of the Printing division during the
absence Of Mr.. Clarke. Then it was discovered
that leave OF absence had been granted to Clarke
for an indefinite period. A short time previous to
the granting Of the leave OF absence Clarke had
rendered his resignation to the Secretary but took
especial pains to let him know that he did not want
1t accepted. or course 1t was not accepted-at
least 1t remained on file for some time-and Clarke
heard no more Of 1t. About two months before
he received his unlimited leave Of absence
he withdrew his letter of resignation and went
away on his vacation still superintendent OF the
Printing Division. Clarke was gone but week or
two when ne returned and passed in and out OF the
OF the printing division at his pleasure. On
several occasions he gave directions about the work
then going on, and once he was summoned by
Mr.. McCulloch, who gave him instructions IN
regard to the printing Of some bonds. Seeing
these attempts to interfere with the manage
ment OF the division, the acting Superinten-
dent waited on the Secretary and inquired
whether Clarke was to be permitted access to the
rooms Of the printing division. The Secretary re-
piled that he should have perfect liberty to come and
60 as he pleased This the condition Of affairs
up to last week, when Senator Edmunds, chairman
OF the Retrenchment Committee, arrived to COM
mence the investigation Of the division. Learning
that Mr. Clarke still held the position of Superintend
ent he, as previously stated, addressed letter
to Secretary McCuoch informing him that
leave Of absence granted to Mr.. Clarke
did not answer the purpose in view; that while he
was permitted to have access to the division there
could be certainty Of ascertanng the real state
Of affairs, and demanding that he should be re-
moved entirely. This the Secretary did not seem
disposed to comply with. He sent message to Mr..
Clarke, however, stating that Clarke knew the Secre
tary was his friend, that he would do all in
his power to aid him. but that he, Clarke, must
stay away from the printing division during the
progress OF the investigation. Senator Edmunds
not satisfied with this arrangement, and still in
sisted that Clarke must be severed from the divs-
ion altogether. The Secretary was evidently
cornered. He had promised the Retrenchment Com
miltee long ago that Clarke should be removed and
he had failed TO fulfil that promise. The result was
that long letter was written by the Secretary
accepting Clarke's resignation, which 1t will be
remembered was withdrawn, and assuring Clarke Of
his continued regard for him and his sincere regret
that he compelled to take this steps that he had
no doubt whatever that when the Congressional
committee had completed their labors they would
cordially recommend his reinstatement. This letter
OF acceptance was prepared on Saturday last, but
few hours after the message sent by the Secretary to
Clarke requesting him to stay away from the
division pending the Investigation, and
was transmitted to Mr.. Clarke by one OF
the officers OF the Treasury. Clarke had gone to Bal
tmore however, and did not return to this city until
Monday last Then the Secretary's letter was placed
in his hands, He read 1t with great CONSERVATION,
and then asked, "Do you know the contents Of this
letterY' The gentleman acknowledged that he did.
"Why, this is my discharge Accept my resignation
My resignation "a not on fleI 1t Is dis
charged Sub sequently Mr.. Clarke visited the
Printing Division and called on Mr.. McCartee.
He seemed greatly exercised about the manner in
which the employees Of the division would receive
the intelligence and requested Mr. McCartee to CON-
municate 1t to them and he would leave without
seeing them. He afterwards changed his mind,
passed around to all the heads of rooms and IN
formed them Of his resignation having been
cepted Thus ends, 1t Is TO be supposed, forever
the reign Of Spencer M. Clarke over the
printing Of government bonds, certificates,
stamps and currency. Senator Edmunds
was engaged to-day in looking through the rooms
Of the division and making preliminary examination
OF books ana records. He expected Messrs Bucka-
lew and Halsey, Of the committee. to-day, but they
failed to arrive. Mr.. Edmunds Will prosecute the
Investigation alone until the other members join
him. The Retrenchment Committee intend to
investigate the facts In relation to the
duplicate $500 gold note which was re-
deemed by the Treasury after 1t had been
previously refused, and the conversion Of o
$1,000 seven-thirty bond into o fve-twenty In
August last, when the same bond had been rejected
before as counterfeit-an account Of which ap-
peared in the HERALD at the time.
Another point which 1t Is said win occupy the at
tention of the Retrenchment Committee in their
Investigations will be the alleged discoveries Of O
certain bank note director, who went to the re-
demption ofllce in disguise and thus obtained
a view OF some Of the notes pronounced
counterfeit While making his examination some
one attached to the Printing Bureau recognized the
Director and, in an undertone, said:-"see here do
Won know who that issn NO" was the answer
"why, that is bank note man. It will never do to
let him look over those notes. Accordingly the
Official thus informed went up to the bank note d.
rector and. saying, "You can't look over
those notes. sir,'' took the notes away and
refused to allow further inspection. The
director withdrew from the ofice and subseq uently
declared that the result OF his examinations was to
convince him that the notes pronounced counterfeit
we're perfectly genuine This is very serious point,
and II not merely an exaggeration-and 1 have no