The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-14
GheGntelEigenet
The Hon. Henry G. Davis DiscoS'
erS n Huge Mares Ncst'


which he has been dangerously and ex-
plosivcly charged for some time back
ever since he, give solemn notice OF his
intention to call for an investigation ut
nm carly day ofthc books Of the Treasury
Department. 1t seems that the Senator
has been incubating for quite while on
the reports Of that department. In look
ing over these reports in the quiet and
coolncss 1--WE presume) Of Deer Park, our
financial Senator thought he saw the big
gest kind Of a mares nest in them. Like
Chicken-Little in the fable, he was sure
the heavens were about TO fall. III see it
with my eyes, l hear it with my ears, and
here's piece Of il already" Not so much
Of a piece, however, after all. 1t turned
out to he a piece good deal like that
S3S,OO0 deficit in the West Virginia
Treasury-thut remarkable mares nest
that Bennett and Bill discovered all to
themselves, but that they cannot discover
to tho public.
Mr.. Davis rose in the Senate yesterday
"big with the fate OF Rome" but We think
he sat down feeling somewhat thinner
lie undertook to show that there was
something very rotten in the way ac-
counts are kept in the Treasury Depart
ment, He announced that in the course
Of his examinations OF the various re-
ports OF the Treasury he was "astonished
to find changes and alterations OF figures
involving large amounts, causing them to
differ widely from each other us to the
transactions Of the Department in the
same years." He quoted extensively
from the annual reports Of the Navy,
War, Pension and Indian Departments,
making comparisons as to receipts and ex-
penditures for several years, and claimed
that the figures in some years showed an
increase in expenses and in the public
debt amounting, in the aggregate, to many
millions oil dollars. lie also claimed
that the amounts OIL 'he revenue coi'ee'
tions were increased or decreased "S oe'
casion might require by additions or sub
fractions from loans anu ireu'"Fy no'es'
and that IL there were errors OF iF""'S
I'LL oPPoF'""it' "" e''' " "''
cover mem up. lie G"O'V" if'tl ."V
public debt statement lor se'eFa' years
and Claimed that there were gross dis
crsn,rcics be,ween tho figures of the Sec.
>s, e.s ~. D..;,,ou ., ,ho Troosrr,
fe'aFy "n" 'iie i'eS's''' " ' 49, IN!
and that figures had been changeu' NO
matter" he. said, "if il should be claim
oil thai the hooks ef the Secretary and
-. ,:r,- ..1 40 m,,,or. .;r ,hoso
hegls'er u'l'er. "''u ''O ","''o' = f '.s'
officers have different systems ol oooA'
keeping. There can be no satisfac-
,orv wov in which 10 explain or
wy W." ',..,..,n :G;o;,l .ornr,o modo
answer WI! 'oie"t" o'I'' w i'''''>
to Congress and published TO the country
and reported year after year, should,
roor, oi,srw,rd be changed in the man.
's"'9 "'''' "" -.
"or Sno""' H'1't HA'."S I'.S = .,o p;o,,s
extracts from 'he fep0r'' VI 'uo 'SI . 'ous
departments oi '"eIU'e-no. .,Lso " 80
'ne secretary Oh Tue ifeN'uf!' ..'s .O'e, ~,
aOie senator soicmniS fe'n"N'" 10 iO'
lows: , r,t.
al oG nsT;os se;.I Io ronor," o sro 40 yerv largo
and tho amounts so enormous that / can
hardly @ bsI;eve them myself but after care.
fnI md earnest examination Of the facts
in reference thereto and such information
"a | could obtain alter consultation with
different oificers Of The Treasury Depart
ment. / am forced TO declare that can
6nd M satisfactory explanation OF them.
II there il one / should be glad to have
IL II there ia n Senator upon this floor,
or an officer Of the Government, who can
make plain and satisfactory explanation
Of these changes and discrepancies, l
hon he will lose no time in making him.
self heard: for, in my Judgment, il it is
incapable Of explanation, it is moro
dangerous than any default, no matter
what the amount"
Tbcre hapnened to be n Senator pres
o,, rho could and did accent the invita-
'"' "IO 'O. r.Saaso...n - ,La
tlon thus gi'en' NiA-EA-oeeFe'"'y VI '"e
Treasury Boutwell,, who In answer to the
invitation arose and proceeded to give
,hoSor,,or fror; Wcst Virginia some in.
'le ''' " -
formation as follows:
"He commenced by saying that there
was nothing new in the Senator's state
ments. He would venture the opinion
that an accurate knowledge oil the busi.
ness oflhe Treasury Department would
dissipate all difficulties under which he
was laboring. 1t occurred to him
that the Senator from West Vir-
ginia in dealing with great pub
lie question might have called on
the present Secretary Of the Treasury
and unfolded to him his difficulties, and
asked him whether or not they were
capable Of explanation. He (Boutwell)
was quite sure that it was in the power
Of the head Of that department to explain
them, and equally sure that it would have
been his disposition 10 have accorded
sucL oxnIona,;.n % ,ba Sanatnr from