The Portland daily press., 1880-07-19
The Grab Once More.

All OF the evidence, drawn from Re-
publican sources, which by the way
tains the statement of the Argus and
Herald that he [Gen. Garfield only returned
the money to save his seat in Congress, and
proves that the statement of the Press, that
ne never took the money at all, is a base mis-
representation and malicious lie-Argus.
Thus neatly and courteously does the
Argus speak. We call its attention once
more to the official statement from the
Treasury Department. made in reply to an
inquiry by one of General Garfield's con-
stituents:
Treasury DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,
June 3, 1Sl3.-DEAR SIR: Your letter, writ
ten early in May, was forwarded to me at
Youngstown, where it could not be answered
for want of accurate data. When about to re-
turn to Washington, / searched for that letter
but could not find it. My recollection of it's
contents is that you inquired as to the payment
ditional compensation due him as member of
Congress under the provisions of the General
Appropriation act of March g. 1873.
The additional compensation due Gen. Gar
field was drawn by Mr. Ordway, Sergeant-at-
Arms of the House of Representatives, and by
him paid into the Treasury as a miscellaneous
revenue receipt. The money was drawn by
Mr. Ordway on the order of General Garfield
The practice of the Sergeant-at-Arms is to take
receipts from members in anticipation of the
dates at which they are to become due and to
pay their check on him by drawing the money
from the Treasury on those receipts In this
way he is in measure the banker of the mem,
bers. Gen. Garfield has signed such receipts
month after month, one of which was filled up
by Mr. Ordway and presented to the Treasury
AT that time believe Gen Garfield was out of
the city, but happened to know that as soon
as the 22d day of March this written order was
delivered to Mr.. Or1way-if he had not drawn
any money from the Treasury on his account
to close the account without drawing it and if
he had drawn 1t to return it. Mr. Ordway then
informed him that 1t was necessary for him to
sign special order to the Treasurer if he
wished it drawn out and covered in, otherwise
MIR. Garfield could draw it cut any time with
III two years. whereupon Mr.. Garfield drew an
order for $4,54S, payable to the order of Mr..
O1dway, to be by him covered into the Treas
urey.. This was presented to the Treasurer
and the money turned over from the appro-
priation account to the general account so that
no portion of it ever left the Treasury at all
1t was simply a transfer from the appropriation
account to the general funds of the Treasury
Very respectfully,
ROBERT N. TAYLOR"
That is the official evidence and it is suffi-
cient
The Argus, which is more acquisitive than
industrious, follows the Maine Standard in
quoting from the PRESS files of 1873 ex-
pressions condemnatory of the salary grab,
and censuring General Garfield for report
ing the appropriation bill containing the
back-pay clause. The PRESS condemned
the grab then. 1t condemns the grab now.
1t thought then that General Garfield ought
to have sacrificed the appropriation bill.
That comment was made before his speech
OF explanation, which we have recently re-
published, was read. But in all that time
OF excited and sometimes unjust condemna-
ton we never accused General Garfield of
taking the back pay-because he never did
take it, We questioned his judgment, not his
honesty But the Argus, in face of the
official record, persists in the false state
ment that he received the "swag''. We have
given the facts as officially stated. Doubt
less it will continue to repeat the falsehoods.
After the thorough and repeated reviews we
have made of the case it is hardly worth
while to so over the ground every time the
Argus prints its unfounded assertions. Up
on the official document printed above, we
rest the controversy, and willingly submit
the case to the judgment of candid men.