New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-24
A DEMOCRAT AND HIS DOCUMENT.

AN oUTRAGEoUs ATTACK BY THE PREPosrRRoUs
Mr. DAVIS ON THE OFFICERS OF THE TREAS
URY-A LITTLE sECrET HISTORY ABOUT Mr..
DAVIS HrMsELF-A wouLD-BE TREASURY ROD
BGR.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON Sept. 23-The Democratic CAM
paign Committee Is now circulating document IN
the preparation OF which many thousand dollars
were expended, and for single copies OF winch
although it forms only four-page pamphlet with
ont eovers-the committee has refused 81 each
within the last few days.
The money expended in getting the material for
this work was not taken from the Democratic cam
paign fund, but chiefly from the contingent fund
Of the United States Senate appropriated by Con-
gress originally for the legitimate expenses OF the
Senate The refusal OF the committee TO sell copies
of the document was not because OF ITS value, III
trinsc or otherwise but simply because its contents
were not such as the committee would wish to nave
circulated in the more enlightened communities, it
having been prepared for use in the wilds OF west
Virginia and the back parts of Indiana, wherever,
in fact the newspapers find little favor and people
are not qualified to know the difference between
fasehood and the truth even in respect to the CON-
monest facts of public affairs.
This remarkable document bears internal evidence
that it emauated from the gifted pen of Senator
Henry G. Davis who now fills the responsible po-
sition of chairman of the Senate Committee on Ap-
propriations. When the honorable Senator first
conceived the brilliant idea, some two years ago.
that party capital could be made for tie Democ-
racy by raid upon the Treasury system Of accounts
and that his own limited capacity of comprehension
might be made available in tins direction, it was
plainly intimated in the open Senate that the end
sought by the honorable Senator was not a reform
in the Treasury accounts but scandal If possible,
which should be of advantage to the Democracy a
Republican Senate, with characteristic lberallty,
voted to raise a committee to give the Senator
chance TO go into the search, willing II there was
anything wrong that it should be exposed, but
confident that none existed. Throughout the sue
ceeding two years Davis and his investigation fur
pished amusement for Treasury experts and for
Senator's of both parties. When at last 1T came to
close and the Senator made his report he was told
emphaticay by several Senators, among whom
were two members of his investigating committee,
that he had discovered single fact that was not
known before. but that every fact which he as
sumed had been fully explained to the salts
faction OF every one who had the wit to
comprehend the explanations. 1t was asserted in
opep Senate that not one particle of evidence had
been ndduced to warrant suspicion even OF dis
honesty or fraud and to these assertions the honor
able Senator ventured no denial.
These facts make the preparation and publication
of the document in question: and especially inc
secret manner of its circulation, contemptiDie.
more stupid or more easily refuted set Of lies was
never before presented within the same space. The
title and head lines are as follows;
TREASURY BOOKKEEPING"
81, DrscREPANCY OF OVER THREE HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS IN THE TREASURY ACCOUNTS AND THE GREAT
LEDGERs MUTILATED 10 COVER 1T
After this one naturally expects to see an array
of figures showing by some method OF compilation
who such a startling discovery was made by the
Committee Nothing Of the kind appears DIS
connected assertions, that discrepancies involving
a million or TWO here and few thousand there are
made but these do not reach third or the sum
named in the headlines The conclusion, in BREWER
small caps and italics. is as follows;
So il is that the people in utter darkness as to the
nnancal condition OF their country IL VIII continue TO
be so until of men can examine the books and
learn the truth
The Republican Committee should sec ure copy
of this document and reprint it for circulation
among intelligent people, to show the KIND oil men
the Democracy elevate to positions of influence and
the kind of argument upon which that party de-
perds for the promotion of Its interests.
TuK FACTS ABOUT Mr.. DAvIs's CLAIMS.
Senator Davis's outrageous assault upon the nteg-
rty of the Treasury officials has naturally provoked
their Indignation 1t is also matter OF surprise to
them that he should not have had the wit to select
some other for the object OF his attack than
the men before whom his own questionable at
tempts to raid the Treasury for his own private
good were exposed. and who have been keeping
their knowledge to themselves from charitable mo-
tves alone.
At the beginning of the war Henry G. Davis and
brother were In business at New-Creek, Vir-
g,nia This was a station on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad of small consequence sal
emulQVed there.
man who served as agent was one Armstrong, who
owned some property near bv, and hO charged
commission to the patrons Of the road for his SER
vices He also owned a small warehouse in which
he stored freight. charging the cODsgnees for stor
age Armstrong was notoriously disloyal He fled
20 the Confederacy at the outbreak OF the war, re-
manning there until its close.
New.Creek became an important army supply de-
not early in the war. The Government seized the
storehouse and used it for nine mouths when more
commodous buildings Of its own were COM
pleted and put 10 use The railroad company sent
special agent there named Lyons, who remained
during the war in charge OF the company's affairs,
while the Government had its quartermasters all
the time on the ground attending to its own inter
ests. Laborers paid by the Government did all the
work of loading and unloading the stores.
wear or two after the close Of the war, bills
were presented to the Government by A. e. Davis
L. Co., of which firm the present Senator was
a member for @I5,107. as commissions for IN
loading loading and forwarding" 10, 107 cars. The
claim was too indefinite TO be made the subject of
official action. 1t was returned to the claimants
for specific statement OF the details Of the
claim. 1t soon reappeared. but in On entirely
different form. Its first charge was for rent of
warehouse. 81 600. Ii contained charges for the
services of laborers and clerks aud for those of T.
B. Davis. agent and superintendent, the latter
charge being $4,000. The total OF the new bill was
", 757 less than the original bill for commissions.
The accounting officers set about investigating