The Portland daily press., 1876-05-01
ANOTHER RAID.
Senator Morton Charged woth Some Irreg-
uiarities i'm Connection with War Ex-

Senator Morton Charged woth Some Irreg
uiarities i'm Connection with War Ex-
penditures.
WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator Morton is
being informally investigated by correspondents
and Congressman in connection with the pay
ment 10 MIN In 1862 of quarter of million
of dollars from fund appropriated in 1861 to
pay the expenses of transporting and deliver
ing arms and munitions of war, to the loyal
citizens of states eff which the Inhabitants were
or might be in rebellion against the government
of the United States, and to provide for the
expense of organizing them into companies,
batallions, regiments, or otherwise, Tor tneir
own protection against violence, lnsurrectlon,
invasion or rebellion. Two million dollars were
appropriated under this act.
Among the list of war expenditures in con-
necton with the above is this item: For sup
plying transportation and the delivery of arms
and munitions of war in states in rebellion
against the government of the United States,
o. p. Morton, Governor OF Indiana, $3.50, 900.
Indi ina was never in rebellion, and it was a
query why Morton should have had $3.50, 900
when there was no purpose under the statute
for making an appropriation for which money
could have been legally expended The CORES =.
pendent recalls the fact that quorum of the
Indiana legislature was broken by Republicans
boiling to prevent some party legislation, and
no appropriation bills were passed. Morton
was then Governor He did not call the leg
islature together again, but made trip to
Washington. On his return the paymaster's
office was reopened and the expenses of the
state government promptly met, no one but
Morton's intimates knowing Where the money
came from.
The friends of the Senator express conf
dence that he is fully able to meet the charge
against his integrity in connection with the
$40 900 he received from the government in
the spring of 1868. Of this amount he ex-
pended as Governor, in behalf of the state,
$133, OBJ for military purposes, for which the
state settled with him, and this amount was
paid back to the government by settling Off a
like amount from the payment OF the entire
sum due to Indiana for advances made to the
government at the beginning of the war. The
balance of the SS250,000, namely, $116, 697 90, he
did not use, but returned to the government.
The settlement was entirely closed with the
government Nov. Is, 1865, and Senator Morton
has now the original paper which shows the
fact.
1t appears that few days ago Representa-
tive Springer called at the Treasury to examine
the war accounts of Senator Morton while he
was Governor of Indiana, The Secretary de-
clined to permit such examination unless Mr..
Morton or some friend of his should be present
and informed Mr.. Morton of these facts. Mr.
Morton called on Mr.. Springer, and said he had
no objectiontto an examination of his entire
was expenditure, shut desired to be represented
on such an occasion by friend. Mr. Morton
was chief of ordinance, and to Gen. Terrell,
who was his military secretary, to come to
Washington, and both of these gentlemen are
now here. Mr.. Morton will take early occasion
in the Senate to fully explain the transaction,
regarding it lawful, and will afford all the nee
essary facilities for complete examination of
the subject.