Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-27

the proofs are being produced. The
Senate Judiciary Committee, W itch is
investigating the case of Grant, nomi.
nee for Chief Justice, has been put IN
possession of the fact that the family of
Attorney General Williams are indulg-
inc in the use of fine. landaulet fur
nished with money appropriated from
the Contingent Fund of the Depart
ment of Justice. It has also leaked
out that this elegant equipageis MANN
ed by driver and footman in livery
who figure on the payroll Of
the same department as messen-
gers. 1t is also fact, as your dis
patches have shown, that several
other Cabinet officers, their chief assist
ants and favorite clerks are provided
In like liberal manner. The family
of Postmaster General Creswell are ac-
cused of driving behind 81, 200 span
of horses recently purchased with the
money taken from the contingent fund
of the Postofice Department; and,
not being selfish man, Mr.. Creswell
is credited with providing teams and
carriages for five of his chief assistants.
Six carriages, with horses to match, are
credited to the Treasury Department.
Secretary Delano gets along only with
three, it is said. The War Department
with the same number; but as the head
of the latter Bureau has recently gone
to housekeeping again, it is expected
handsome span of Kentucky thorough
breds viii have to be paid for out of the
contingent fun.
Not only are our Ministers and their
families thus handsomely provided for
in the way of horses and vehicles, and
drivers and footmen, but the Govern
ment is called upon to furnish food and
shelter for the animals and for the con-
venience of those who use the same.
Stables have been leased, one being To-
Gated on d street, near Fourteeth, and
the other on Pennsylvania avenue at
the foot Of Capitol Hill OF course the
Government would not be so mean as to
cease its beneficial work at this point.
Horses cannot live without hay, and
oats. Cabinet officers and their families
are not the kind of people who ride in
untidy vehicles. Therefore, fodder and
grooms for the animals, and stable-men
to look after the vehicles are carried on
the Government pay-rolls and paid out
Of the Contingent Funds.
This abuse, which has grown to the
enormous extent limited at above, is
said to have had its origin within two
years, and to be an invention of the
POstoffice Department. About two
years age Postmaster Creswell allowed
the purchase ont of the Contingent
Fund of a horse and wagon to convey
the mails OF Congressman between the
Capitol to the Postofice. Very soon
it was found necessary to buy horse
and buggy for the man who delivers
notices of the non-payment Of postage.
This WAS followed by other purchases
OF horses and carriages, and finally a
stable was leased for the shelter of
this property, and a man hired
to take care of it. This man
convinced the Postmaster that it would
greatly facilitate the business of the
stable If he were allowed the use of a
trotter and light road wagon. His
wish was gratifed. Being far-sighted
man, he suggested to his superior that
the interests of the Department de-
manded other purchases of horses and
buggies, until, finally, the Postmaster
General found himself riding to his De-
partmeHt each morning in a Govern
ment vehicle behind good horses. Some
how the other bureaus discovered the
trick. and the result is the establish
ment of an extensive livery stable, run
by the Government out Of the contin-
gent funds of the Departments. 1t is.
also stated that several Of the Judges
of the Supreme Court have, as body
servants, persons drawing pay from
the Government and caTriedon the rolls
as messengers.