The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-02

wrere. he IL informed, that coupons have
been twice used, aid that gross irregularities
exist The fraud business seems 70 De 10
some measu,s dropped. its true that IN re-
ceiyInr 90 ~ Mons from collectors few OF the
neeler g, =. .nnn n nave escaped the scrutiny
Of tie clerk. and very naturally. Inc TWO
classes NJ coupops are precisely aiike IN
color and In ali respects, except on tue one
e. nrinied dImly on the margin Receivable
for taxes.v &C., and the wonder Is that
tbere were not more of such " irregulari-
tiesr. hut the state does not lose cent by
II. az they are as much part OF the puohc
debt as the others.
And Mr.. Cross finds "from the books OF
the Treasurer's Office proof OF gross lrfeg-
ularities in one case out OF many IN
stances - which be parades as conclusive,
and that "the transaction Is signed by Asa
Rogers, attorney
Well, the transaction seems TO have been
this:
Mrs. starke. widow lady. OF Westmore-
land county. who had funded her stock I'M
der the act OF March, 1871, into censor re-
eistered bonds, desired, 1t appears, 10 cnange
them into consol bonds with coupons re-
ceiy.ble for taxes, and sent them 10 the
office for that purpose. 1t seems that some
interest was 10 her credit, and in lieu OF
that interest bonds were issued with the
coupons representing such interest, and
thus Mrs. Starke got coupons instead OF
money. III so, IL was certainly Irregular.
have no recollection whatever OF the case,
but Mr.. Cross says the transaction was
signed by me, and was "irregular and
opens the door to frdud!" There may
have been other like cases in the pressure
on the office, but | submit that it Is not evil
dence of fraud. The State is not damaged
one cent.
Mr.. Cross "intends TO make no charge
upon General Rogers or any gentleman con-
nected with the office" What, then, does
it all mean!
Many thanks to Mr.. Cross for his kind
invitation "to visit him at my old office Tor
ocular proofs" &C., but | respectfully de-
cline: for he has shown by his course such
bitter partisan spirit since the appearance
of his most unwarrantable attack oil June
18th that possibly, without intending 1t
originally, he has, / regret to say, shown
himself, in my Judgment, unit to occupy
the responsible position he now MIS-, ana
nv own self-respect forbids that, under the
circumstances, our relations can be such as
it is my habit and my pleasure generally to
cultivate. a,
propose to deal with the committee Off
ciaIly, and not Mr.. Cross. They have been
appealed to, to report fairly and lmpartialiv
such delnquencies as may appear In their
examination, with the evidence, rather than
e1-pdrte statements for newspapers. That
is all that or my late associates ask Mt their
hands. And take leave to conclude by
repeating that whatever OF coupons recely,
La fnnnH
and not punched or endorsed or stamped,
| feel warranted in affirming that:
No coupon has been twice received for
taxes: that no fraud has been perpetrated
in the office; and that not dollar has been
lost to the Commonwealth by the miscon-
duct Of any one employed in that depart
ment OF the Government under my admins
tration. Very respectfully,
ASA ROGERS.