New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-03
II. II. BUTLER AID HIS DISREPUT1
BILE CLAIM.

BILE CLAIM.
HOW THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBER FROM TENNEs-
SEE ENGINEERED FRAUDULENT CIAIM-BEATEN
IN THE HOUSE BUT VICTORIOUS IN THE TREAS
URY-MANEUvERs BY WHICH SUCCESS WAS AT
TAINED-AN INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY SEC
RETARY BRIsTOw.
fFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Oct. Sion the 10th of De-
cember, 1879 the Hon. H. II. Harrison OF the Nashville
Teun district introduced In the House OF Representa-
tves bill for the relief Of Sugg Fort OF Robertson
County, Tennessee. The BILL which appropriated the
sum s2s in full payment for 279 barrels OF Hour
alleged to have taken from his mill at Forts Sta
ton Ia December 1862 and afterward by United States
military authorities and converted to the use OF the
United States. referred TO the Committee on War
Claims, and in that Committee was referred TO the
Hon. Isaac W. Scudder OF NewJersey as sub-commit
tee. On the 2sh of May the Committee unanimously
agreed to report the bill adversely to the House.
But this the end Of the matter. Mr.. Harrison
being satisfied that his constituents claim was OF
rather shadowy character declined to render him any
further assistance Discouraged, but not disheartened
claimant brings into the that friend OF sunr-
ing claimants and impecunous lobbyists the Hon.
Roderck Randum Butler Of the LIST Tennessee District
who will be remembered in connection with the CADET
ship scandal In the XLIst Congress. That gentleman
proceeded to business at once.
On the 9Th Of he appeared before the Committee
on War Claims and made argument In behalf OF bis
cent-I mean friend-and his claim. Mr.. Butler only
asked the claim might be referred to the Commits
sary. General for examination. The Committee re-
minded MI Butler that Congress had taken away the
jurisdiction of the to examine and
settle cases Of this character, and had established
tribunal called the Commissioners Of Claims by the act
OF March g. 1871 especially to consider such
cases. Mr. Butler retired after this with the
firm conviction that the chances OF Sugg Forts
claim passing that Committee were In inverse proper
ton to the amount of the claim. He was right The
door OF the Committee had hardly closed behind
him ere the Committee again unanimously decided that
the adverse report should be made to the House. But
undsmayed MIR. Butler eleven days thereafter, moved
in the House that the rules be suspended and joint
resolution be passed providing that tho Commissary
General should have and jurisdiction over the
claim OF Sugg Fort 1t objected by Mr.. Beck and
Others that this not the report of Committee and
| the motion was lost
The rejection of this resolution by the House would
have settled the case with the average member. But
Mr.. Butler is not member. Apparently salts
fed with this result he obtained leave Of the House 20
have copies Of the papers in the made for sona
ton at the Department This leave was obtained two
days before final adjournment, and the claim having
adversely reported to the House the last day of
the session, the papers In the went to the flies OF
| the House. Thereupon Mr. Butler selected from the
papers that had been filed before and obtained by the
| Committee GU War Claims only such papers were
favorable to the case had copies OF the same made
which were, the 25th Of June. certified correct
copies by the Clerk Of the House. 1t would hardly be
supposed that Mr. Butler would again present the
to Commssary General. who had but year before
declined to entertain 1t for of Jurisdiction Bur
that precisely what he did, the being presented
to that officer the Goth Of July, And here the mis-
| chief done.
The Acting Commssary General, instead of promptly
tn i'm
mediately took cognzance Of It, and four days after
ward forwarded the claim to the Third Auditor Of the
Treasury, recommending the payment OF the whole
amount claimed. Singulary enough, this favorable
action was secured the very lssG day OF the fiscal
year. after which there fund out Of which to pay
such CLAIMS Congress having, dnring the last session.
put provision in the Legislative Appropriation bill
covering IN all balances unexpended from former ap
preparations that purpose The Commissary General
forwarded the claim to the Third Auditor shortly after
O'Clock on Tuesday. June 80 with favorable recon.
mendation and thithcr it followed by Mr.. Butler
and 1.-The claimant" The Third Auditor at first
unwilling touch the claim, urging that as the claimant
had gone Congress for relief he should await it's de-
cision and asked If 1t had taken any action on the
claim The reply prompt and positive that II had
not that under the rules 1t was impossible to get
action such cases; that the claimant was bankrupt
and ruined in consequence Of the conversion Of his
property to Government use and, In fine, the pitt
full story which Of ten Of this class Of claimants
invariably tell. Finally the Auditor the
case should be made special which DONE and about
an hour afterward the forwarded the Second
Controller with the verbal message that the had
not from of time, received that careful examine
ton usually given such claims and that II the claim
was allowed it must be the strength Of the recon-
incubation of the Commissary General Of Subsistence,
who was presumed to have gone to the bottom Of the
claim OF course the persistent Butler aud
the claimant followed hard after. and the Second
Controller was subjected to the same pressure.
They we're successful the forms necessary were gone
through with the Secretary Of War followed to his
house and called from the dDDerabe TO sign the neo-
essary requisitioD. All these details completed
about O'clock. three hours after the usual business
hours Of the Department. and TO complete the story the
money was drawn in the most prompt manner the next
morning the Department opened, after which
Mr. Butler and the claimant stole away TO their respect
i've homes in Tennessee
An examination OF the evidence relied on to substan-
whatever what is somewhat peculiar, portion OF
evidence really the most important Is that of officers
of the OuarteTmaster aid COmmssary Department u,
relating TO claim for $1,000 bushels Of wheat which
claim was presented In the summer OF 1868 and allowed
and paid for In November OF the same year This eyt
relating entirely to wheat taken at Paris Tenn,
40 May 1862. seems 10 have been satisfactory TO the
Commssary General and the accounting officers of the
Treasury, although appearing In claim for flour taken
in December 1862, and January February and March,
1863 another country. Then, too, the evidence
the Iae manner and circumstances OF taking The -four
of the improbable character; and although Col
Irwin. the Chief Quar,ermaster. who was on duty at
Nashville stated two years ago In confidential letter
Treasury Department, that the claimant had the
flour for which lie claims pay and that IL was not taken
alleged by the Claimant no attention seems to have
been paid 10 his communications
The claim was, to sum up put through BY the persist
ner and under circumstances which show TO say the
least want OF consideration OF the public and
with tae theory OF prudent and economical admins
traton Of public affairs The Secretary of the Treasury
investigation and two special agents have been
Tennessee TO examine into the thoroughly.
facftnp m he tai Ten "a xpha Tho