Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-20

! IegeG To have teen Illegally paid sad
/ contractors.
/ FULL STATEMENT OF TIE CASE.
| New York Times.l
! WASHINGTON, August 16.-The SC
| counting officers of the treasury admit
| that gross irregularities in the quarter
masters department OF the marine corps
| have occupied their attention recently,
| and that the charges made in the ChTOn-
| icIe OF to-day are substantially correct so
| far as they relate to the purchase of ma
| tcIial E0d the making Of uniforms. They
will not state the amount Of the defai-
cation, but intimate that it is even larger
than the figures named in the Times dis
patch of yesterday. The second comp
trOller thinks there will be no loss to
the government, as the bondsmen Of
! the offenders are abundantly able to
make good the deficit. No criminal
ity attaches to Major Slack in the
clothing transactions. The materials
were purchased at Philadelphia from
Barnum & Brother, who also made up
the uniforms. Captain Maddox is the
inspecting officer at Philadelphia.
His duty is to examine and certify that
the bills forwarded for material ana
work are proper. In this case Cap
sonslly inspected the material, and
found them in quantity and quality as
stated in the bills forwarded to Major
Slack, who, thereupon, paid them upon
the approval of General Zeilin. 1t has
been ascertained that the statements
from Maddox were fraudulent, and that
large sums were thus obtained for goods
not furnished. 1t IS possible the state
ments were made by Maddox without
knowledge of their real character. When
the question Of responsibili-
ty is determined, legal pro-
ceedings will be instituted by
the government. Upon discovery OF
the frauds steps were taken 10 proceed
against Barnum & Brother, and Of this
they were apprised. A short time ago
the senior Barnum took passage at New
York for Fall River. On the trip he
disappeared mysteriouslV, and has not
since been heard of. His watch and
some clothing were found in his state.
room. A few days after the disappear
ance, the other Barnum, who was sui
ject to heart disease, suddenly died. The
pondsmeu of the BaTnums are now
being looked after, and Captain Maddox
is undergoing an investigation. Mad
dox's connection with the affair has an
ugly aspect, as his signature Is appended
to forms which state that he personally
inspected the materials charged in de-
tail, found them to be correct as stated,
and fully up to the samples filed and
then in mis- possession. 1t is possible he
may be the victim OF collusiOB on the
part of his clerk and the contractors;
but this will not relieve him of respOn-
sibillty as disbursiDg officer of the
government. Major Slack will publish
a card tomorrow, in which he says: "I
will content myself for the present with
the simple declaration that there has
never been anything wrong in the quar-
termaster's office with my knowledge,
and feel entirely satisfied that with
those who know me best, officially or
otherwise, that declaration will be be-
lieyed."
HOW A FRAUDULENT BILL FOR so, 900
WAS APPROVED AND PAID.
Washington Evening Star.I
From facts derived from the second
comptroller 8nd fourth auditor Of the
treasury the following statement fully
explains the Irregularities charged and
to whom the blame should attach. First
of all, in order to explain the clothing
transactions, it is necessary to set forth
the mode in which articles for the ma
rine corps are purchased. When cloth
ing is required, Rn estimate of the
amount is first received from the several
company commanders. With this as 8
basis al estimate is made out and the
material necessary to make the seVecsl
garments, for which acquisitions have
been previously made, is purchased by
the quartermaster, Major Slack. After
the materials are purchased, the firm of
G. G. Bsrnum & Brothers, of New York,
are given the same to make up into
clothing. The bills Of Barnum q Broth
eIs for this service are paid by Major
Slack; but before he makes any pay
ment the following course is necessary
to he pursued by the firm: First,
the clothing is inspected TO sscer-
tain that the garments charged |
for have been actually made. This duty
has heretofore deyOlved upon Captain
Maddox, stationed at Philadelphia.
After he makes the inspection and gives
a certificate Ofthe same to the firm, they,
in turn, present the bill TO Captain Mad
dox, accompanied by his inspection cer-
tificate. Then Captain Maddox approves
the bill, leaving the amount to be paid
blank. The papers are then forwarded |
to General Zeilin, cOmmandant OF the |
corps, who also approves the bills and |
sends them to Major Slack, who COM
putes the cost at the contract price, fills |
up the blank amount and makes the |
necessary payments. By some means
Barnum & Brother ascertained that the |
amount OF the bills which they had |
made out in blank were not filed up by |
Captain Maddox, the inspecting officer |
in Philadelphia. Some time ago they |
resolved on bold move. They made q |
bill cut which would cover twenty-three |
thousand dollars for clothing which they |
had not manufactured. 1t was sent to |
Captain Maddox at Philadelphia, who |
approved Of it. 1t is said that this ap- |
provsl was secured through the cOllusi0n |
of one of his clerks. ct all events he |
gave certificate Of inspection covering |
enough garments to meet the aggregate |
of the list, also approved it and sent it
on to Washington to General Zeilin, who |
likewise approved it, and Major Slack
paid the bill.