Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-10
HAYES CASH.
How the President has Drawn
His Salary I'm Advance in Spite

h1S Salary III AuNauSC IN SPt~
of the Law.
Washington letter to Philadelphia Time
Naturally towards the close oil AL adj
ministrstion, when those who are asa'e
of its weaknesses feel free TO speak, l:s
real history begins to be known. The
indications are that the pretence, the
sham and the hypocrisy OF Mr. Hayes
inside management will rapidly come be-
fore the public. These will astonlsh
few who have been close to him here
and will surely disgust everyone. Take
as an illustration the case OF his con-
slant violation of law in compelling the
officers Of the Treasury TO pay him his
salary in advance. The facts are these:
A few days after his Inauguration he
sent to the Treasury for his salary for
March-S4, l66, SO. The Treasury, thinking
he had been under some extraordinary
expense and that he might really need II
in starting properly at the White House,
allowed the advance to be made, though
not without great reluctance. Although
the request Of the President was in one
sense equivalent TO an order, stu 10
comply with it was to violate the plain
est provision Of law. But with the ex-
pectations that ii would be the last
instance, the money was sent over.
When April came, however, what was
the surprise OF the Treasurer to re-
ceiye a demand for advance pay for
that month.
This, like the first, was allowed to
pass, with the fervent hope that 1t
would be the last order from the reform
President requiring a violation OF law.
But 10 the surprise and thorough dis
turbance OF all concerned in these illegal
advances with May came a third de-
mand. The Treasurer saw IL was time
TO act and il the President was ignorant
OF the law to see he was informed OF Its
plain provisions, so that those VINO
were violating law by this order might
be relieved from their embarrassment.
The matter was therefore brought to
the attention OF the Secretary's office
and after consultation it was decided
that a high official should 90 to the
White House and explain To the Presi-
dent that these advances OF his salary
were a violation OF law on the part OF
the officers of the Treasury, and, II dis
covered, would place them in a very I'M
plessent situation. The result OF this
was that the President withdrew his
demand for his third Jour thousand
dollars in advance, and the officers OF
the Treasury were congratulating them
selves over the final arrangement OF the
embarrassing matter. But this salts
faction was short.lyed. What was
their horror to receive, on the 10th oil
the month, a demand from President
HAYES for the entire months salary.
Protests were not accepted. The
money was wanted-for investment, as
was northumberland must be forthcom-
ing. This, in spite Of the fact that par
ayraph S,64s Of the revised statutes had
been called to the attention OF Mr..
HAYES. II reads thus, plainly:
Section 3,64S. No advance OF public
money shall be made in any case what
ever.
From that early day Of this reform
administration to the present Mr..
HAYES has compelled the officers OF the
Treasury to violate the law and advance
that portion of the public money which
constitutes his salary on the 10Th OF
each month. He has thus saved one
months interest on 3, 900 for the first
two months of his term, and two weeks
interest on 5000 for each succeeding
month to the present time. This is
very small dealing, besides being a will
full violation of law and an improbable
otfense, but is ii not out OF proportion
to the other dealings Of Mr.. Hayes. AT
per cent. interest the savings from
this petty stealing which will for the
entire term, reach $500, which will pay
for the rum punch at the last state din
ner and still leave balance Si06 got
The historians will be obliged to study
the character Of Mr.. Hayes with micro
scope Of high power.