The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-24
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL MONDAY JANUARY a. 1876
A BIG LEAK.

A BIG LEAK.
ThE EXPENSE OF DIPLOMACY.
INVESTIGATIONS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN AFFAIRs-MAKING PRESENTS TO
COURTS ABRoAD-PARsoN NEwMAN's BIO
BILL.
The Washington correspondence of the
Chicago Times is responsible for the follow
ing: A piquant promise OF the richness to
come was brought out to-day by the sab
committee of foreign affairs, OF which Mr..
Springer is chairman. The stealings were
small but persistent. The investigation
took place in the treasury department., the
points in the question being the vouchers OF
officials doing duty in minor offices aorosd.
The first culprit coming TO the front Is b. Z.
Stevens, dispatch agent in London. The
vouchers and accounts of this gentleman
show some curiosities in the way OF the
postage be paid in July, 1874. Some OF
them are here given: Bills for freight and
transportation OF mails of the state depart
ment, $3.50; postage, $50; for news
papers, magazines, stationery, and things
of that sort, about 800. This,
it will be understood, was for mail
matter, which the government pays for by
European steamers. These small items
were continued beyond number, the
vouchers for many OF them being genuine.
lH0 NCIc Tres 10 64DIts5 COnslQ-
cradle doubt as to the economy, to say
nothing of the honesty, of these extraOrd-
/ mary Outlays. For the month of August,
| 1872, this lavish office paid out for postage
| $3.50, the vouchers tor freight and transpor
Iation being again absent, and the expenses
OF the month running up TO about 81 600
For the month of September the postage
was $3.50; freight and transportation, $500;
carriage expenses to and from Queenstown,
sol. Again, the voucher was missing Tor
the freight and transportation. 1t was ex
planned, however, that the voucher was in
the hands of Secretary Fish. During the
month it was found that two bags, weigh
not given, were ssnt from London on board
steamer to Queenstown for about SIS.
/ This, IL was explained, was owing to the
fact that an agent accompanied them. IL
was aiterward found, however, that one bag
| had been cent for halt that amount, which
THECoMMITTEE FRowNED
upon suspiciously. 1t was generally con-
coded that the charge was exhorbltant. In
November the postage was 5000; freight and
transportation, 1920; carriage to and from
Queenstown about $500. In December an
item OF 500 FOR Christmas presents is found
This excited considerable comment, Messrs.
Springer and Leavenworth expressing dis
| approval OF sucn expenditure of the public
money. The mysteries OF the Rev. New
mans crusade were also laid bare. The ac-
counts recognize him as a special agent OF
the United States, and the statements pur-
port to be actual and necessary expenses in
CURED while under Instructions from the
secretary OF the treasury, his commission
being dated April 10, 1873 IL Is signed by
the president, and reads as follows: "As
recommended by the secretary
, of the treasury, under the p1o-
visions of The second section of the act
OF congress approved July IL, 1872, making
L. - IL
diplomatic expenses of the government,
, you are hereby appointed to examine into
the accounts OF tae consular officers of the
, United States and into all matters con-
nected winh the business of their offices
Your compensation will be at the rate o
, IS ,00e per annum and actual necessary ex
r penses, this appointment to continue in force
9 only to June 30 1873, when the law creating
D the Office expires by the limit" The very
2 day be arrived at Yokohama his commits
/ sion expired, but there was officIa
cheruit that sat up aloft aud watched ovel
the fate OF the parson. His purse was re
r filled and his commission renewed, and
= with staff and script he continued on his
7 way inspecting curiositieS and things. Tbui
:. far the accounts OF the Mrs. Parson have
4 not been reached. That richness is yet to
/. come. An abstract of
!, THE PARSONS EXPENSES
, during his tour contain these sugges tiv
: items: Railroad fare from Washington t,
: Sad Francisco, STAT so; sleeping car to Coun
Gil Bluffs, So; hotel bill, Council Bluffs, 81
hotel fare at San Francisco while waiting
3 for the steamer, six days, S2l; steamer far
from San Francisco to Shanghai via Japan
halt rate, $780, hotel bill at Yokohama iron
8 June II to June 80, S57. This was the end o
? the commission. His salary from April
! to Jupe 80, one quarter, was 81 $50, maxim:
- Ia r. IL. Or
His first commission having expired he wa
: appointed special agent by the secretary
9 OF the treasury, and was continued at sal
Q airy OF s6 day from July l, 1878, to Angus
81, 1874, his entire expense and salary fo
Q this time amounting to 81 $50 "a. The tota
5 Sc, 448 81. The committee, curious Il
i know the visible result of al
this expenditure, asked for the pioul
9 mans report. The officials smiled, winked
q guffawed uproarously, and responded with
J, mild facetiousness that the document nigh
. be found In the parsons sermons, as no evi
q dence of any report had ever made its ap
u pearance in any department.. The presenc
;. OF poet at Constantinople was also calcu
y lated to lessen the chances OF George Wash
!. ington Childs, M. A.. for foreign Office. Be
II side the documents of his Office Mr.. Poe
q Minister Baker Is represented on the files a
q making presents to the value of IS, OLA 80 t,
the Turks. These presents include articles {
bilouteria and virtu from diamond pin t,
Is msrshaps baton, which our Yankee poe
! lavsshed with the msguificence of the sultal
himself. Among these objects of American
regard were a rich set of table service, dona
= ted to the Turkish minister of foreign affairs
L costing about 81, 600; to the pscha's son,
!, secretary to the minister of foreign affairs
! diamond cravst pin and baton; 1000 francs
. or about 1000. sr
al THE EFFENDI FAMILY
# seemed to be especially favored. Baltazz
z Effendi received table set worth 400
: francs; Alexander Effendi similar present
9 worth 1000 francs, and another member
$ gold watch worth 1900 francs. A numbe
J of other presents Of less value were given t,
!, various other Turkish dignitaries, which