The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-23
Treasury Department Investiga tiOn-In-
terestinK COrrespNndenee.

!! =
Treasury Department Investigation-In-
terestinw Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-The following corre-
spondence has taken place:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Committee on Expenditures !
In the Treasury Department
washington, ID. o.. January 81. 1873. J
Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes. President Of the
United States.
Sh-It Ia painful yet true that for years the
executive departments OF the Federal govern
pressive and that the rights and liberties Of the
citizens have been tramped on without redress
In these departments OF the administration.
ment have rioted in professions based on plum
der, and have sported with and preyed upon the
freedom, the fortunes and The happiness OF over
40,000,000 Of people, who, while the profuse ex-
penditure OF their hard earnings and this
habituaf violation of their rights have occurred.
have grown poorer and poorer until this mis-;
rule has wrought widespread misfortune and
distress.
No one man. nor one set of men, is responsi-
BILE for this mass OF evils. The vast extension
oI the powers q the goyernment during the
last period OF civil war and disorder. has thrown
On the Executive hands such great and multi
farious responsibilities that 1t Ia impracticable
for The head Of any department to know much
OF what his subordinates do, and the heads of
s ad 9 Il IN very rsa many
ture and effect OF he acts OF their subordnates
mOpportunities for irresponsible wrong doing
are sU iHTke hHu 80 IIlHb uUORb WHO Sebk tO
misuse them haye for years continued to get
possession OF such opportunities. and have long
banded together with the advantages Of official
affairs to secure to themselves secrecy and Inn
munity
Among the methods resorted to for this pur-
pose are the mutilation. alteration conceal
ment. withholding or destruction ofbooks, pa
pers and documents Of record. and the intimi-
81 or aea
practices has become habitual. and goes to an
unspeakably cruel and infamous extreme,
while Its ingenuity Is remarkable.
ington to- day. whose families and selves arc In
danger OF hunger and homelessness. through
telling the, truth. while many others have In
their minds the knowledge of wrong whereof
they are innocent. bnt which. seeing the fate Of
errS AHa a.f oa Rheh ns
sity for Congressional Investigation OF facts be.
fore remedies can be applied. l would call your
attention to the resolutions introduced by me
inst. directing the needful investigations
WHICH were provided for under the presidency
81 ae ee sny en byeeyns so bs m
are desirous to stop these evils. and as far as
practicable redress the ontrages whereby hon
the truth about misdeeds by persons connected
with the government.
transmit herewith resolution adopted by
ury Department, and respectfully ask that you
will, at the earliest possible moment. take the
steps needful to aid not only my committee
but all committees of the House in their efforts
to ascertain the facts concerning the alleged
abuses. and that you will give assurances that
Witnesses will be protected.
Should you take this course. yor will do
much to enable the Investigation OF the House
to conform to the highest standard of patriot
they should attain, and well earn the esteem
and gratitude Of your countrymen.
Respectfully. :.
The followipgis the resolution referred to:
Resotped. That the President be and is hereby
requested to cooperate with this committee In
its Investigations of alleged abuses In the
aasury department. and to issue the orders
necessary for that purpose.
The following is the Presidents reply:
EXECUTIVE MANSION I
Washington, January 81. 1873
#Sr-I am In receipt Of a resolution adopted
by o committee of the House on Expenditures
in the Treasury Department. requesting my CO.
operation with the committee in It's investiga-
tton OF alleged abuses In said department
shall be glad to co operate heartily with the
committee In the proposed investigation and
TO that end will issue such proper directions to
may be required to secure prompt and effective
in the conduct Of the investigation.
Touching the suggestion contained In your
letter that witnesses who may testify before
the committee may be apprehensive of losing
their places. If they testify truly and fully you
are at liberty to assure all subordinate officers
that the fact Of their testifyfng before the COM
mittee shall not be used to their prejudice
Very respectfully, X. B. HAYES.