The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-06-21

the renort was made, that a Congress
could be found willing to pay Massa-
cbusetts a second time in full on the
same claim. :.
You will be astoundcd, iellow.citi-
zens when tell you that during the
second session of the 4lst Congress, a
third payment in full was made on the
claim already twice paid and the
amount this time taken was nearly
100000, on the pretence OF interest.
Mr.. Rice, an ex.member OF Congress
from Maine, appeared on the floor OF
the House as a lobbyist-a fact learn
ed too late to denounce and expose.
The first payment in full was
Is years after the war N3O, '4S
Second payment in full, ~
years after the war 2',l"
Third payment in full on said
claim So years afterth close o.
of the war o'o''o-
Total 1885, 2S6
Total amount aboriginal claim S>4',349
than oriainal claim 492,937
That is Massachusetts WAS paid over
four hundred thousand dollars more
than her original claim, and nine hun
dred thousand dollars more than was due
It's only Just that | should say, clti-
zens. that these fraudulent claims were
denounced in both branches OF Congress
bv Republicans as well a. by Demo.
Gratis. but the stubborn fact must also
be stated that there was a republican
majority of two.thiris in both branches
Of Congress.
pEFAICATloN OF TWENTY MlLLIcSS IN ONE
DEPARTMENT.
The defaulters and their allies seek to
divert the attention of the people from
the condition Of the Treasury bv crying
Ku Klux, but the cheat is too shallow
10 deceive any one, even were he bind.
The Secretary OF the Treasury con-
cealed from Congress and the people the
fact that balances amounting to many
millions stood charged against Collect
ors of Internal Revenue, who had 'been
removed from office. The House Of
Representatives alarmed at this conceal
ment called for the facts on the list
dav of March, 1870, and Executive doc
ument 267, second session Forty-.irst
Congress, which ! hold in my hand, was
the result. During the canvass OF last
year | called attention 10 this matter
and denounced the attempt TO cover any
deGalcation as grave otTense against
the people. TO avoid the Odium. Mr..
Senator Sherman and other distn-
guished persons leagued in defense Of
the abuses which every one knows eX-
list, declared that the defaulting Collect
ors were Democrats who had been ap'
pointed by President johnson. This
tlimsy defense, was confession OF guilt.
What greater absurdity could be uttered
than to say that a Republican Secretary
OF the Treasury concealed defalcatlons,
because the defaulters were Democrats;
and that for the same reason, the de-
faulters were not sued on their bonds?
To YOU, my fellow-citizens, what odds
does it make whether the thief who
steals our taxes is Republican or
Democrat? The fact that he be one or
the other is no defense for robbery, and
be he the one or the other, he should,
at least, be sued on his bond. The
learned Senator is remarkable for his
BE- skill, but in this case the dodge did not
do him Justice. To test the matter, on
the 18th Of December, 1870, the follow
ing resolution was offered and passed
the House
"Resolved, That the Secretary OF the
Treasury be, and is hereby directed to
furnish this House statement OF the
balances due from collectors Of internal
revenue who are not now in office, and
the total amount Of balances so due as
they appear on the books of the ac-
counting officers of this Department on
the 3Oth day of June, 1870 that he
further inform this House what amount
of said balances have been paid, and in
detail. by whom since the I'd day OF
May, 1870; the names OF the collectors
who have been sued on their bonds
since their removal from Office, with the
cause of removal in each case; by what
President said collectors were appointed,
and by what Presidents they were re.
moved.
Notice, taxpayers! This resolution
passed the House on the 18th of Deem
ber December passed and there
came no answer. January, 1871, came
and went and no answer. On the
last dav OF that month Mr.. Winchester,
of Kentucky, again offered the resolu-
ton OF December -, with the following
additional clause:
"Be ii Resolved, That the Secretary
OF the Treasury be directed to report to
this House the cause of the non-rom-
pliance with said resolution.
Mr.. judd object.
The Secretary OF the Treasury had
failed to comply with the House reSoiu-
ton, and when called upon for the
reason ofhis noncompliance. Mr.. Judd,
a leader OF the administration party In
the House, by his objection, prevented
the resolution from coming up for ac-
ton. The Secretary Of the Treasury
still refusing to reply, on the 18th OF
last February, l brought the matter to
the attention of the House, and after
referring to the question propounded by
the House, said:
"These sir, are vital queries. 1t is !
due to the country, as it is due to the
persons charged with large balances
against them on the books of the
Treasury, that the facts should be fully
and fairly made known.-Strange to
cav more than two months have elaps-
ed since the passage Of that resolution,
and the Secretary of the Treasury has
not vet deigned to reply. Why were
&c. ,hroo hundred collectors removed |