Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-01-30
THE COTTON BUREAU.
Congressman Whitthorne Going for a
Big Swindle in the Treasury De-
partment-Over $2O,000,000
Involved.

In the House, last Wednesday, Hon.
w. G. Whitthorne offered the follow
ing important preamble aud resolution,
which were referred to the Committee
on Appropriations:
Whereas, Under the act of Congress
approved March II, 1863, entitled AN
act to provide for the collection of
abandoned property, aud for the pre-
vention of frauds iu the Instruction
airy districts within the United States,p
the proceeds of large amount of cap
tured and abandoned property was
covered into the Treasury of the
United States, large proportion of
which was seized by the agents of the
Treasury Department after the Both
day of June, 1865, the total amount
received from these sources being over
S2O, OO0,O GOO, and that which was seized
after the Both day of June, 1865, was,
by the fifth section of the act May,
1872, directed to be paid by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to the lawful
owners thereof; and whereas it appears
by the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, made to the present session
of Congress, that since the passage of
said last mentioned act there has been
paid to claimants under said act but
the small sum of S133,01S27; and
whereas it further appears that under
various acts and resolutions of Con-
gress, the amount of S260,000 has been
appropriated TO defend certain cotton
suit" against the United States, and
it does not appear how or in what man.
ner the sum of 100000 has been used;
and whereas it appears that division,
called or termed cotton division"
has been organized in the Treasury
Department, with chiefs, clerks, and
employees, at high salaries, amounting
to over $4,000 per annum; and where.
as, the management and distribution
of said fund, from its large amount
and other considerations, requires that
it should be under the supervision OF
men of unquestioned character and in
telligence: therefore,
Be it resolved, that the Secretary Of
the Treasury be, and he is hereby
directed to inform this House
First. BY what authority of law said
division of the Treasury Department
known as the cotton division was
formed, and clerks and their pay as
signed, and what amount of salaries Is
paid on this account per annum.
Second. By what authority of law
J. s. Frazer is employed to adjudicate
cotton claims at an annual salary OF
$4,000 per annum; and also what time
the said Frazer has been so employed
! and under what appropriations he re-
ceived his compensations.
Third. To whom and for what SER
vices, and when and where rendered,
has the appropriation of $500, 600, OF
any part thereof, been paid.
Fourth. Whether the chief clerk OF
said cotton division is not NJ. l.. Noerr,
who, previous to his appointment in
said division, was in the employment
of the detective, Pinkerton; and
whether the second clerk in position
in said division is not William Fessen-
den, and the same individual who held
position in the Army of the United
States as paymaster, as was dismissed
therefrom for embezzlement of a large
sum of money; and do not these parties
have charge of all records of the
United States pertaining to cotton
claims.