Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-28
AT THE CAPITAL.
An Attempt to Smirch Sergeant-at-Arms
Thompson Promptly Denied and Re-
tracted-The Treasury Custodian's Inves-
tigation-Rigid Enforcement of Steam
Boat Inspection Rules.
John g. Thompson, in Trouble.

cORn U. thompson IN 1rONOtc.
WASHINGTON, May 27-H appears that
John g. Thompson, who has been sergeant
| alarms Of the House of Representatives since
| 1874, Is behind in his money accounts with
United States Congressman. The regular way
| for Congressman to get their money, is from
the United States treasurer, on certificates
signed by the speaker Of the House. For con-
venience, the custom has grown up for the
sergeantat-arms to draw the money from the
treasurer on these certificates, and then the
Congressman draw on the sergeant-at-arms
as they need the money. The office of SER
geantat-arms is conducted on the principle of
as did his predecessors, would draw
large sums of money, keep 1t on hand,
and cash the checks of members
of Congress when presented to him. It seems
that he kept his own pay and accounts along
with all others and in using money he had on
hand he went beyond his own funds and is
unable to meet the checks of Congressmen
who did not dlaw their pay up to time. 1t
sometimes happens that members leave money
months. Under the new rule of the House,
Thompson's bond is fifty thousand dollars, but
as it is under the law his duty to pay Con-
gressmen it is claimed his bondsmen can't be
held for this deficit. It is claimed in behalf of
Thompson that handling such enormous
sums of money as he mas, some members have
been accommodated beyond what was due
make everything good and square up to every
dollar.
JoUGEE DENIES.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 27.-Dispatches from
Washington to-day contain statement rela-
tive to j. G. Thompson, sergeant-atarms of
the National House of Representatives, which
friends of that gentleman claim do him injus-
tice. In an interview regarding this subject
statement: The press. dispatch you refer to is
ridiculous and false, SO far as it concerns me.
No draft drawn by any member of Congress
for his salary was ever presented to
the sergeant-at,arms, during my term of office,
which was not paid. Mr.. Winship, of Circle
vile, o., is my cashier. He is one of the most
thoroughly correct and reliable men know of
in the whole country. Had there been inability
on his part to pay any draft to any member
for his salary would have been notified by
Mr.. Winship of that fact, and as I have re-
ceived no notice from him assume no draft
or check has been presented to the sergeant-at-
arms that has not been paid. Therefore the
report in question is without truth or founda-
ton.
THE CHARGE RETRACTED.
WASHINGTON, May 27-Rumors generally
circulated and talked of to-day to the effect
that the sergeantat-arms of the House was
short in his accounts with members, are evil
IDENTIFY incorrect. Thompson is absent, but his
chief clerk this forenoon went over the books
with the Western Associated Press reporter to
show that the accounts with the last Congress
had all been settled and every check drawn
been cashed. The reports started from COM
plants of parties to government official,
who also repeated them.