The Morning herald., 1876-05-06
A FIRST.CLA8S CLERK-THE COT.
TON BUREAU.

s. II. Kaufman, now owner Of third
interest in the Washington Evening Star,
was frst-claas clerk in the Cotton Bu-
reau, at at a salary Of $1,000 year. He
was q clerk who disbursed large amount
of money in this way The money was
given to him sometimes on ~the verbal
order of Secretary Mccullough, and some
times on written order, in amounts vary
ing from 81, 900 to $4,000. He rendered
no account Of his disbursements until long
afterwards, and then simply made a state
meut of his expenditures. After three
years service in the Cotton Bureau his
salary was increased to $4,000 year and
the order ante-dated so as to cover the
time during which be had been paid
$1,000. Through some crookedness that
was little too apparent, Kaufman was
forced to resign, but soon after blossomed
out as a capitalist, and is now worth $780,
600. The history Of this First Class
Clerk was gathered through the Sub-Com-
mittee Of Expenditures in the Treasury
Department which is investigating the
Cotton Bureau, and has just com pleted its
examination Of the Parkman- Brooks cot
ton claim.
The committee has been inquiring gen.
orally into the administration Of the Cot
ton Bureau from its establishment up to
the present time. This bureau has been
without any warrant Of law, part of the
customs divisions. Secretary Bristow, it
seems, inves.igated the matter, and find
ing there was no authority for the bureau,
ordered the whole thing to be turned over
to the First Comptroller, where it pro-
perly belonged. Practically a few clerks
have had, ever since the seizure Of cotton
in the rebellious States, entire control of
the important interests involved in the
adjudication of cotton cases, one OF whish
clerks was the aforementioned Kaufman,
now one Of the proprietors of the Wa-h-
ingtoa Evening Star.
The loose manner in which the business
of this Cotton Bureau has been conducted,
astonishes even the Republican members
Of the Committee. For example, it was
the habit to allow some one clerk in this
bureau to have the disbursement Of large
sums of money without there being any
check upon him. If counsel were EN-.
ployed to defend the interests Of the Gov
eminent in any of the cotton cases, or il
any other expenses, Of whatsoever kind
were incurred, the money was paid through
clerk, and he simply rendered an account
Of such disbursements, and frequently
without any vouchers to substantiate 1t.
Many cotton claims were paid that were
covered with fraud The investigation
leaves no doubt as to the influences which
were brought to bear to have the money
paid over to Brook & Co. The Solicitors
Office reported squarely against the claim
ants, and then the case was taken out o
that office and passed upon by anothe
n division having no authority in law what
ever to adjudicate it. The inquiry ha
been thorough one and leaves no doub
on the mind Of any member of the com
mittee as to the character Of the claim. |
is adorned with fraud from the beginning
to the end, and the parties had no it'll
whatever to the money paid in this ont
case, seventy odd thousand dollars.
The parties to whom this money wa
paid; were indebted to the Government
that time more than the amount pa
them, and their notes to secure the 81
were in the possession Of the Trey
officials. Ifthe award had even b
honest one, the amount should hsI
pnt 70 the credit Of the GovernH
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