Daily globe., 1879-08-23
BARE-FACED ROBBERY,

HoW the Treasury Ring Manages to Pmr-
totn the Money of tie Peopte.
Washington Special, Aug. col
The main dependence of Secretary Sher-
man in his displacement of useful officers in
the treasury department is Assistant Secre-
tary French, of Massachusetts. The treas
ury ring soon found him an useful instru-
ment in their protection, and at once ap-
piled their methods to enlist him. 10 illus
trate: The supervising architect of the treas
ury, from the first existence of that office,
reported to and received instructions from
the first assistant secretary up to an early
date III 1877, when Supervising Architect
Hill found it desirous to get rid of Mr..
Thomas Boyd, assistant United States archi-
tect, stationed at Pittsburgh, Pa, at which
time it is alleged Hill sent out parties to obtain
charges against Boyd. On the charges Hill
demanded of Assistant Secretary Mccormick
summary action against Boyd; but the assist
ant-secretary not being in the habit OF star
chamber proceedings, directed that Boyd be
furnished with copy of the charges, and be
permitted to defend himself. Whereupon
Boyd made the malice Of the proceedings so
palpable, and proved the charges so ground
less, that Governor Mccormick caused the
supervising architect to prepare letter to
Boyd, exh -nerating him in the most fiatter-
ing terms. Very soon after this, to Hill,
humiliating incident an order emanated
from the appointment division of the treas
ury, directing the supervising architect to re-
port in future to the second assistant, French.
The reason for this action might be account
cd for on the same ground, that letter was
written in February, 1877, in the same Of
fee, that resulted in abolshing force of
the treasury, of which w. H. II. Simmons
was serving, who has just reported that AS
sistant Secretary Conant was in collusion
with FL. NJ. Williams, then engaged in swim
ding the treasury by means of perjury. In
order to "tix' Assistant Secretary French.
Mr.. Hill investigated the family connec ction
of the former, and finding thero was son
who had given little attention to
stone cutting, young French was put
on the rolls of the supervising arch
itect at $15 per diem about May /,
1877, since when he has been engaged in
modelling figure to be placed over the
main dormer window of the new st. Louis
post-oftice. Young French has been little
more than two years engaged on this work,
making his compensation something like
$4,000. he has used as models the COL
ored keeper of house of ill-fame in Wash
ington and one of her gi1ls. The former sat
for the arm and the latter for the bust.
They were paid $3 per day when
occupied, or probably $1,000 more,
including incidenta! expenses. When
the model was sent to tho stone
cutter it was found to be only life size and
had to be enlarged to colossal size. The cell
ebrated sculptor Baly charged the govern
ment $3.50 each for the models used of the
main dormer windows in the New York post
office, aud Powers was paid $4,000 for the
Greek slave. Rogers got $4,000 for the
models of the bronze doors of the capitol.
Contrasting these prices with the sum paid
Mr.. French, what an artist he must have
been! Hill, it is said, still employs his
sculptor, and Assistant Secretary French
continues friendly. So does Secretary Sher-
man.