The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-28
POCKETlNG PUBLIC MONEY.
GOTERNNENT EMPLOYEE WHOSE
DEEDS MERIT INTESTIGIIION
Making n Fortune Out of Construction Work
In Buffalo and Erie un"b"rs- suspicious
of More Extended Frauds EIseNhere.

WASHINGTON, Sept. FIT Ia reported to-
day in official circles that partial examination
conducted by the Treasury a1d War Depart
ments into tho disbursements OF appropra-
uons for harbor improvements at Buffalo and
Erie has resulted in the discovery of fraudu-
lent transactions 30 serious that further action
is suspended. awaiting the action Of the Grand
Jurics charged with tho examination OF the
matter. Tho officer in charge OF the improve
ments at these harbors Is Lieut. Col. Blount OF
the Engineer Corps. an officer OF long service
and heretofore unblcmished character. The
first official knowledge OF the Irregularities
charged. but 1t must be remembered not fully
investigated. reached the Treasury Department
through the communication OF private citizen
in Erie. whose charges were moro than sub.
stantiated by tho examination OF a special
agent. Tho largo appropriations, nearly "A
quarter OF million by the last Congress.
offered wide neld for practices Of this
charge OF tho improvements upon Lake
Erie since 1873 and has been called upon in
four years past TO suprrniend the disburse-
meht oi very large appropriations. IL ls also
charged that among the vouchers submitted by
him. and now on HE in the Treasury Depart
m.nt. are two bills for spikes. bolts. and irons,
used in dock building at Buffalo, drawn and
recciptcd by Pratt 4 Co, of that city, in which
three items for iron furnished nre wholly fraud-
ulent. and the members Of the firm in question
making oath that they never sold. or furnished
or delivered the iron and that their receipts 10
the items in question are fOrgerics. These bills
contained also among the dock supplies charges
for table plate, cutlery. and small dishes. Five
hundred weight Of brass, delivered TO and paid
for by the Government, has been traced To an
orgnn factory. in which Col. Blounta chief
clerk. 1t IS snid. holds lnrge interest. Besides
these sperlnc instances OF spoilntlon, contracts
in violation OF law have been let II IL charged,
To- firm of con,rac,ors-Dunlap Brothers-
whose overchargcs are alleged TO DO most fla-
grant
| its market price being 80 and siO at Buffalo. a
lot OF brush used in docking ana valued uf tlgD
was marked up to $1,000. drcdgc belonging
to politician was hired Mt tSj a day, which.
| since the investigation. has been used 10y the
| Government at si5 day. A long series Of over
| charges are also said TO l!c found In the pay
rolls, whore men reilly employed at 81 and tl25
day signed in blank, and the amounts OF,
| post" their names were n'tcrwari raised To- 81
| and 81 30. while ON The pay rolls OF the work at
| Buffalo a number OF II tiiipus names figure: In
| fa I ar oly any form Of fraud Il absent from
| the specification made agninst the conduct and
disnursement oi the appropriations Tor these
| II said IN his hohali that these rregulari-
tbs are the work Of subordinaies in whom he
! placed implicit confidence and whose vouchers
he received and turned over without due eN-
animation. II does not appear that any depart
,itom Of this mnusf. The Treasury Depart;
| ment made partial rNnminntion, hut declined
20 prosecute il for la'l Of force To do moro than
ihSt 7Iar daparmcnt me- T''" Ths War pspSrment de, 20
tailed fnspe.tor-Grnerol Davis. and he re-
| turned with the recommendation that the courts
be allowed TO dispose Of the matter before any
military action was taken. There is not
therefore. clear and explicit information
| come ting Col. Blount with the fraudulen,
| practices charged. There appears, however. tc
b. no doubt Of the existence ~ false vouchers
| and fraudulent charges. for which. as in charge
| he would be held Responsible ia the first in
| stance. No suspicion has hitherto attached tc
OF the accounts for work carried on under hi:
supervision at Dunkirk, Ashtahula. Ncrmilior
river. Grand river. Cleveland. and Toledo vii
| disclose delinqunncies as serious rs the partia
| Investigation At Buffalo AMI Erie.