The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-01-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondents Fremont Journal

! hShiNulONI ~ ~ D6C. ssOg AOOO.
A corrupt looking arrangement has Just
transpired 10 the Treasury Department
The clerks of the Bureau of the Register Of
the Treasury had their month s salaries. last
Wednesday, counted out 10 them m nus q
small sum each, deducted for tbe'purposs Of
helping to make up the sO.calied dsfI,cstion
-variOusly stated at from 81 900 to SI5, OOO
-ofthe laie pay clerk Spears of that Bureau
who left a few months ego. 10 the case oI
the lady clerks the amount Of deduction was
40 cents. Through delicscy, in the presence
of several gent'omen ~ in ths room where
they went to receive their pay. the msjority
of them submitted 20 the tax; but few re-
sisted tho imposition naafully. The men
clerks, it is said, all refused to submit to it.
The clerks bave been told that the defal-
cation occurred n this wise: When Spears
was called upon by clerk for eny money
in advance of pay day he used to o.obtain a
receipt in duplicate for the SANE; and some.
how managed TO get pay from the Disbursing
Agent Burch, on each of the two receipts:
and SO, of course obtained twice as much
money as he paid out, and twice as much ss
his account left behind him could justify
Major Burch in having paid hin. And this
iS called Government defalcatiOn.
Fhe clerks, however, are not satisfied that
it is Government defalcation; or, if it il,
that that constituted any occasion for assess-
ing them, to help make It up. Uncle Sam begs
his clerks (and especially bis lady clerks)
to make him whole from loss sustained bv
the knavishness of one of his servants Ab.
surd And ifit is au Indebtedness from
Spear to BurCs in their private cspscity-
although contracted by reason of advantage
taken Of their official position by both-theu
clearly there is no claim upan the clerks.
Even claim Of charity towards Mr.. Burcb,
will not lie in this case, Mr.. Burch being well
off, and getting sslary two or three times
as great as those requested TO contribute TO
him. True, they were asked to make up in
this way only two hundred and odd dollars;
but the principle involved is the same as if
the whole amount was to be thus liquidated.
The thousands Of dollars are TO be paid by
some other devices; one of them being the
retention Of Spears nsms upon the psy-rcle
for several months after he has left the de-
pzrtment and the turning ever every month
by Mr. B0rch Of what would have Teen
Spears due if he had behaved himself and
kept bis plsce, as so much on account Of his
indebtedness Yes, Spear is understood to
be in Kansss, snd nobody moves to bring
him to pes nal Dccount for his alleged
knavery. Why does not Mi. Burch seek to
recover the money for the Government in
that way, before resorting to what must be
called, in the mildest terms, the very irregu-
lar modes he hag adopted? ''''' i.9 y
1 will not undertake to explain the matter,
l do know, however that Spear rnsds bust
ness of letting money to other clerks Of his
bureau at 5 per cent. per month, taking ad.
vantage ofhis position as pay clerk to secure
repayment by deducting the amount borrow
ed from the borrowers salary on pay day.
TIE capital 10 lend in this way he obtained
from others, and divided with them the dis
count. That is one fact. Mr.. Burch is in
situation where he hasplenty Of Uncle Sam 5
cash at his fingers ends 10 run many such
mills SIS Spears. That is another fast. But
Mr. Burcb, as DisburSing Agent is prOhobit-
ed BY law from advancing money on clerks
receipt, in anticipation Of the salary due at
the end Of the month. 1t does not matter,
therefore, whsther Spear played him fair or
Oul-wheather tipgle or double receipts he
presented-the money WHICH, it seems to be
confessed, Mr.. Burch did let on clerks re-
ceiPts, must have been let ct his own private
risk and responsibility. A thiFd fact Mr..
Spear, therefore, ia these transactions with
Mr.. Pqrch, is not Government defalter,
whatever else he may be- but Mr.. Byrch is,
if he has devolved bis losses oD the Govern
ment. - -....-f1 =,
little attention Of the Secretary TO this
matter would not do any harm, whatever all
the faets may provefO be 10 the case. The
mere suspicion it lies under at present Is a
disgrace to the Department, which cannot be
too soon removed, if not deserved. But If
on the other hand, it is what it seems to be,
it is an infamous proceeding which should
be brought TO an end befme the Secretary
sleeps. sg4oR erii
Two Democrats intimate acquaintaneess
one member of Cos gress and ihs other q
chief clerk in the Treasury Department,
tOucned upon the woman question, the other
day in my presenre; t.-fs sss 3
G. C.-By the way, isn't that woman
question pretty much played ontH I'm get
ting tired of it. m nl neeae 81
M.C.-Playel ouil No, cir. Ii is gain
ing ground. am in favor of women voting.
When the --dnigger can vote, would you
deny as much 10 your wife7 ec "Ir'
0.C-But what would become Of peace
and harmony in tbs family, If the wife should
vote against the wishes Of the husbabd2 80
N. G.-Wby you wouldn't quarrel with
your wife if she should put in a vote against
yOurs, would yOuq 5o pH
@. o.-Yes, iudeedl If my wife should
neuiralizs my vote, / would h 81 ~
NJ. G.-NO you wouldn't. Wives Otter
differ from their husbands now on political
questioIs-aud go they have a right tO2and
it doesn't destroy the peace and harmony o.
the family. A woman has lust as much
right to vote as youhave. Your mother had
a betier right to vote than you had at 81
She was more eompetsnt; she had been youl
instructor. Allmothers haYe a right to vote
they have NEST to dojwith the INSTRUCTION
ofthe children who make the men and women
of the country. 5nA" 5it ."''e
O. C.-But you are not serious about
tbatP -1"si' .7i'-'
N. 0.-Ab, but I am, though. l have al
ways been in favor Of woman suffrage.
So the subject was dropped. The member
is rough and ready sort Of mar; and there
is where the surprise came in that be should
be 10 favor of female suffrage. But he is
also an eloquent and very effective speaker
aud therein lies the power to make converts;
aud as such, and as member Of Congress,
his esPOusal of the cause was rendered doubly
qOtable as an indication of the spirit Of The
times.
A gentleman in business in Washington
recently paid lady school teacher Of my &C.
quaintance more than the school bill amount
ed to, saying; :" I have long been in favor
Of woman receiving as good pay IS men for
services fequal value. Your services ere
cF esp Mt that.
T.asd;,, ,jo-,d -, r - D;s,.;ot -.