Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-27
senator Morton's Back Pay.
HOW AND WHEN 1T WAS "KrvERBp IN"
Sometimes the Injunction eff sacresv leads

| HOW AND WHEN 1T WAS "KIvERBp IN"
Sometimes the injunction of secresy leads TO
serious complications. Illustrative Of this
| Is found in the matter of Senator
Morton's back pay. About two weeks
| ago Secretary Gorham, of the United States
| Spinner, and with his finger on his mouth indi-
cative f"hush - turned over to the Treasury
| of the United States Senator Morton's share
| of the
"UNcLRAN THING"
General Spinner was cautioned not to say a
word about it, as those naughty newspaper men
might attach to it a notoriety not sought by the
distinguished war Governor of Indiana.
or course, after the speech was made in Ohio,
had
"KIvERED IT IN"
those naughty and prying newspaper men were
anxious, just out of pure curiosity, you know to
ascertain if Uncle Sans vaults had been en-
riched to the extent OF his share. They
sought General Spinner, very naturally, and
che didn't know any thing about it," Mr.. Wy
man, the cashier, was also importuned, but "he
hadn't seen it," Even the silver tongued
Graves, the chief clerk of the Treasurer's office,
in the presence of the bevy of handsome bellies
who assist him to solve financial complication ms,
declared she was in blissful ignorance of any
such transaction"
The natural inference under such circum-
stances, was that the money had
NOT BEEN REFUNDED.
Acting under such conclusions, newspaper men
so stated.
A new phase, however, was presented with
the publication of an Associated Press dispatch
this morning, to the effect that the pay had been
transferred on the 1ith of August last. This
seemed to be equivocal, TO say the least, in view
Of the evasiye replies heretofore given by those
who ought to have known. To get at the
reporter called on General Spinner and found
him aft king that demonstrative signature pecu-
nary Rsno Grs own, to drafts checks, etc;
turned In his back pay?
General, without looking up.)-Don't know
anything about it.
lished, to the effect that he turned it in on the
14th of August?
General, with surprise.)-No. Where is it
published?
Reporter.-It is an Associated Press dispatch
and appears in the Baltimore papers.
General, ITO female emplOye arranging a
bouquet. )-Who takes Baltimore paper?
The female employe, (timidly.)-I don't
know.
Wishing to bring the substance in the shape
OF the publication, our reporter, after a little
persuasion, prevailed on the door keeper of the
main por tai to loan him a Baltimore paper
and, earned with proof" again invaded the
Treasurer's office. The general read it, and
looked bewildered, and finally muttered some
thing which sounded verv much like "Why
On it; he wanted it kept quiet. GOrham asked
me to say nothing about it. Well, ipasmuch as
longer.
YES he HAS
turned in the amount"
The TimId Female Employe.-General, have
Senator Scott and Senator Cameron turned in
their back pay?
General.-Senator Scott has; he told me he
did, not because he thought it wrong to keep it,
but because the law was retroactive.
The Timid Female Employe lin surprised
Why, Senator Cameron is rich; he ought to turn
il in.
General.-Those rich fellows can afford to
turn 1t in, but the poor ones, you know, can't
To the Reporter do think if anything will
break up this country 1t will be the ID
SMALL SALARIES
they pay their officials. They actually invite
men to steal. If We want to preserve our insti-
buttons, we should pay our public servants more
literally.
Having said this, the general resumed his
work of planting upon paper that bold, notable
signature that is known wherever Uncle Sam is
known.
So Senator Morton has turned in his back paw.
Chalk him down.