The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-10-25
WASHINGTON,

WASHINGTON, Oct 24.-In the treasury
report the attention of the secretary is
called to various sections of the revised
statutes prescribing powers and duties OF
certain officers of the department in rela-
ton to the accounts under examination, all
of which are-quoted in-ietail. There has
been in the department quasi officer call
ed custodian, who has under the direc-
ton of the chief clerk conducted most of
the business connected with the contingent
expenses of the treasury department and
the custody and disposition of the appro-
prictions for the contingent expenses. The
present custodian, O. e. Pitney, was ap-
pointed by the Secretary, of the treasury,
June, 1876, with compensation of $2,-
400 per annum The compensation was
increased to So 500 from July, 1877, and
is paid out of the appropriation for the
pay of custodians and janitors for all pub
lie buildings under the control of the treas
ury department. Your committee are of
the opinion that there is no authority of
law for either the appointment or for the
payment of the custodian. The require
ments of section 3,709, revised statutes,
said to have been observed only in the pur-
chase of fuel, ice and carpets, in making
purchases. and that the mourning expenses
be paid out of the appropriations for other
The ordinary precaution adopted by bust
ness men generally has been neglected,
and in many cases exhorbitant prices paid.
Continuing, the report says: Your
committee find that in March, April, May
and June, bills were presented to this de-
partment by j. Bradley Adams, of this
city, for fifty-two dozen Woodruff file hold
ers, which bills, amounting to $500, were
paid out of the appropriations for ice. ETC.,
but that the file holders have never been
delivered. The attention of the custodian
has been called to this matter, and he has
refused to furnish any explanation, stating
''a personal explanation will be made to
you" We also find that in August and
October, 1880, two bills amounting to $132
were presented by Breeds Sons, OF this
city, for twenty-five boxes OF candles,
which bills were paid out OF the approprl-
ations for gas ETC., in 1881, but the cam
dies were not furnished. We have been
informed by the custodian that these bills
cover lemons and sugar used for lemonade
for the secretary, assistant secretary and
chief clerk, and also a certain lunch fur
nished in this building last summer about
the time of the Chicago convention. Both
Upton, assistant secretary, and PoWers,
chief clerk stated under oath that they had
no knowledge that lunch was paid for
out of public funds. They contributed
out of their own means toward the expense
of the lunch, as reported to them, and be-
lieved it was all paid by private contribu-
tions. Upton also stated that he at one
| time gave the custodian $40 to pay for
| lemonade furnished his room.
Various other details of a less important
character are cited in the report, ana ID
conclusion the committee said; We are
not at present prepared to submit any re
| concentrations relative TO the changes:
We think it necessary In the system OF
making purchases, and in disposlng OF the
same. Wewin say, however, we tnlnR
the system in vogue is very lesse and il
| able to great abuse, and IN our OPINION
should be materially changed.
| The letter of Secretary Window says
'sSoon after assuming the duties of Secre'
tary of the Treasury, nay attention was
called to the alleged abuses of sdisburse
ments of the contingent fund OF the de
partment, which was under the immediate
charge of the custodian, and under the
4 general supervision of the chief clerk o1
the department, and appointed 0 com
mittee to look into the matter, as had beer
the custom of the department in such case
| I became convinced that certain Irregular
ties existed in that branch of the service
4 ana as 0au SDUlc uoobto aS " bAO tCShf
/ ity of the appointment of custodian, abol
ished the office, June 18, 1881, and by tin
i General Order, July 1, reorganized the of
fee. 1t was my intention, as soon as
more pressing public duties would permit
to have pursued this general policy in othe
branches of the Treasury by the appoint
ment of competent commissioners to col
lect the necessary data on which to bas
1 proper action to secure economy and pro
mote the best interests of the public ser
vice. but the assassination of the Presi
dent suspended further action in that di
| rectiop