Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-24
The Treasury Department.

TIE St. Louis Tunes publishes the follow
ing Growing stone to the pyramid OF fraud
lately discovered by the Democratic lnycsti-
eating Committees The statement was made by
Sergeant George Prrnder 10 charge OF the
Signal Service station. 10 St. Louis, before he
left for Washington, where he will testify be-
fore the Committee on Expenditures Of the
Treasury Department:
PrcDder asserts that he was public debt state
ment clerk in the Treasury Department under
Secretary McCulloch, aud his statements are
| to the effect that while 80 engaged be discov-
cred that great frauds were being practiced
upon the Government; that each public debt
statement reported money 10 the Treasury that
was not on hand, while the Government was
! paying three per cent for money to meet tenn
| porary necessities. He also says he disc vered
| that hundreds of thousands of dollars OF Gov
erpment money were placed in the hands Of
confrdera,es outside, who loaned it back to
the G lvcrnmeut as individual funds aud drew
interest 90 it. While pur-uing these inves'i-
cations Prcnder was Informed by clerk in The
Redemption Bureau banned Richardson that
immense frauds were being rerperated ip that
bureau, and that fortunes were being made by
reporting money destroyed which was preserV
ed; that only one-half of the money turned 10
for destru ton was actually destroyed, the
other hall being divided among the Derpetra
tors of the frauds. Pcnder reported these facts
to Gen. Spinner, who was Treasurer, but the
latter declined making an Investigation, saying
he did not believe frauds were being practlced.
Ia March, 1869, Congressional Retrench-
ment Committee was examining alleged frauds
in the Treasury Printing Department, and Prem
der went to Mr.. Edmunds, OF Vermont, who
was chairman oil the committee, laid all the
facts before him, and asked an investigation.
Mr.. Edmunds replied the time OF the commit
tee was too short to warrant an extended ex-
animation, and nothing was done After Mr.
B,u' we'll became Secretary of the Treasury
Prender, who. at that time had retired from
the Treasury Department, Informed him OF the
discoveries be had made while a clerk 10 the
Department, and the Secretary promised to in-
vestigate the matter. Shortly after this man
named Fox, who had also been clerk 10 the
Redemption Bureau, called 90 Prendcr and
stated that he had been appointed detective by
Secretary Bout we'll to work up these frauds,
and wanted all the papers ADD evidence he had
10 his possession. Prcnder declined TO give
Fox left, bus rcturoed in little while with
letter from the Secretary asking for the docu-
meDts, and Preuder gave them to Fox in the
presence of witness who knew their citarac-
ter, and who now is in Washington. No lG-
vestigation Of the frauds was ever made.
Preudcr will probably testify before the
committee al Washington to-day, when it is
expected this matter will be brought to light
Mexico.
Mexico dates to the 18th inst. are received.
The revolution 10 JaIisco has made little pro.
gress. The Government troops have been
generally successful. R.sendo MarQuiz has
been taken prisoner and was being tried by
court martial. The pronunciadoes occurred
the entire State Of Moareos. The revolution 10
Sonora and SiaaIoa coutiuues La the interior
States the revolutionary movements were OF
10 consequence General Eseobedo was raising
troops in San Luis Potusi He was pressing
men into the service, which caused much i'll.
feeling The seat Of war was in the States of
Oaxaca and PucbIa. Generals Alatorre and
Corca had retired to Tehuacin.
Gen. Alatorre was unsuccessful 10 his efforts |
to take the city OF Oaxaca, baylDg net with a
reverse. He abandoned his wounded on his |
retreat. Ii was supposed he was awaiting re
Inducements Gen. Loebza, at the head Of
500 troops, had occupied ChalchicormuIa. 10 |
The State of PuebIa. The rebels are flying. |
The revou'ioniss had reoccupied Jalapa. The |
rebels had agaio cut the railway between Vera
Cruz and the City of Mexico, aud trains were
only running tc Pueba. Gen. Figured, at the |
head of body Of revoiutioDlsts, had destroyed |
the railway at Orizaba and Pasodel Macfo, de.
handing S25,OOO from the directors. The
State Of Chlapas was 10 state OF siege. |