Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-08-13
NEW SERIES--V0L. 90, NO. 81
he did it to benefit the Collector, who
was in some way related to him.
DisMIssALs TO COVER UP FRAUD.

he did il TO benefit the Collector, who
was in some way related to him.
DisMIssALs TO COVER UP FRAUD.
Jasper W. Johnson of Oregon, Sec
retary Of the Liberal Republican Ma.
tional Committee, was appointed in
1876 an Inspector Of Customs and
and kept on the pay rolls several
months, receiving several hundred
dollars, without rendering auy service
TO the Government He was sent by
Assistant Secretary Conant TO Bluiord
Wilson, at Cincinnati, to help capture
the Convention for Bristow.
A system Of theft, which had gone
on for years, was detected at Norfolk
in 1877 by Maj. Moore, special agent.
Instead of turning into the Treasury
duties collected from merchants on
goods, the Collector of Customs and
other officials stole the money and
omitted to enter it on the books While
Moore was engaged in exposing these
frauds he was suddenly dismissed from
the service, and tho matter was put
into the hands Of Aver and Chamber
lain, the special agents whose neglect
to examine the books had made these
frauds easy.
A habit of smuggling wines, etc, by
the officers OF naval vessels returning
TO thiscountry has long existed.
In 1876, while the Sixth Auditor
was confined TO his bed by illness, a
wholesale removal was made of the
moro experienced clerks, and raw
hands were substituted. The Appoint
ment Clerk of the Treasury explained
il by saying the Secretary had prom
ised appointments for political pur.
poses, and must have vacancies TO fill.
L. Il. Cannon of the Supervising
Architects Office was detected in
criminal dealings with contractors,
whose accounts he examined and pass
ed on. He admitted his guilt, but was
neither punished nor dismissed. After
some time he resigned and was given
two months leave OF absence with
pay. He has since been allowed TO
practice before the Architects office
where he committed these wrongs, as
claim agent and representative of con-
tractors.
THE HOT SPRINGS APPROPRIATION.
When the page of the Sundry Civil
Appropriation. bill containing Hot
Springs appropriation disappeared
from the bill last year, Chief James J.
Brooks of the Secret Service employed
Thomas A. Britt to obtain proof that
the missing sheet was stolen by Sena-
tor Conover of Florida, out of spite to
ex-Gov. Stearns, one ofthe Hot Springs
Commissioners, whose pay depended
on the appropriation. Assistant Chief
Simon b. Benson soon took direction
of the inquiry, and purpose was re-
vealed to make up a case against Con-
over that would either force him To
seat ID. Il. Corbin in place of Senator
Butler Of South Carolina, or remove
him from the Senate by prosecution
and conviction in time to prevent his
voting. Britt picked up in a drinking
saloon two fellows, named William G.
Coleman and t. II. s. Boyd, to whom
he proposed they make affidavits i'm
plicating Conover. They hesitated,
whereon Benson gave Britt note to
be shown TO them, promising reward.
To this note he attached the initials
of his superior officer, Hon. Kenneth
Rayner, Solicitor Of the Treasury,
without Mr.. Rayner's knowledge or
authority. The note is as follows;
I understand you to say that reliable gentle
man has some knowledge Of the Transaction be-
tween certain parties the last night Of Congress
tending to show that certain parties In some
mysterious manner had some knowledge, or were
in some way cognirsnt Of the loss Of certain
items in the Sundry Civil bill which had been
agreed to by the Committee Of Conference Of
both houses. 1t is fact and truth that such
legislation has disappeared, and its loss cannot
be accounted for. 1t certainly was not negligence
that caused the loss, but 1t is believed TO be the
work Of Designing parties. To detect and bring
to the front the guilty parties is object greatly
to be desired aud proved to fasten the guilt oi
this great outrage upon the public greatly TO be
desired, and the person or persons who would aid
the effort, Of Congress and the sovernmeuI
would Be rewarded in proportion 70 the result
@ mspSs,isn IaD Of ali IL xoos iS Si,i,,s, IL ~ K K.R' T
To WIN. O. Berrett, Washington, D. c., July
IS, 1878.
,ra n. M me ~ rr,ins Srt Sus sr"g y, nv
and / will then arrange for : mee,ing With him
| r.
"William G. Berrett was the alias
of Britt in obtaining witnesses. When
they saw this note the reluctant wit
nesses consented to make the desired
affidavits, which they took TO Benson
who caused them to be altered so as tC
mako the atlantis say that they made
these affidavits "without any induce
ment or promise OF reward Benson
in conversation told Coleman that b,
wanted hun to swear to, and that h'
and Britt "would be taken care Of.
Benson took no steps to inform bimscl
Of the method Of enrolling bills, So al
to test the probability of the truth o
Coleman, Holt and Boyd's statements
(Walter Holt had been taken to Alex
andria by Britt and there induced Il
make a like affidavit.) Benson, befor'
the Glover Committee, admitted tina
he did not know whether the stolen pro
viso originatedin the Senate or House
or to which House the manuscript
bill was sent from the Conference Com
mittee. He took no steps TO learn tn
character OF Britt or Of the witncsse
used by him. The afiidayits them
selves were iounu py tne commute
70 ahoro convincing PROOF oi Tue ut'e
improoaon'.l VI '"e,i o'a',,'on''
ST. ST. NJ Waushai as ,he Nos,h.rn S' nj.
n.a.'' s;a, ., Flor;d. ,hss ' no had : snm
! ,. n.s - III, aud ~, 'rss Al, ha aan,aI
Rensop oa ~ ,r;ad I 80 ~ ;,droa @ 81 olsrt la IL ~
Troasurv 70 get Senator Conove