Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-24
WASHINGTON.'
AN INQUIRY COMPLETE AND SWEEP.
ING TO BE MADE
Into the Affairs Of the Custodian Of the
Treasury, and Where Any Wrong is
Found tits to be exposed-Pitney,
thePesent Official, in a Bad Fix.
eX-CABlNtT OFFICERS IMPLICATED.
PlTNEY's PLlGHT

Some Ugly Facts Being Developed in the
Examination Of the Treasury Accounts.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 23.-An in
vestigatiou OF the accounts and conduct
OF o. X. Pitney, custodian OF the Treas
ury Department, which was ordered by
Secretary Window, is developing some
ugly facts, and involving persons who
have held high places.
Pitney's business is to buy everything
needed in the Treasury. including fur
niture, carpets, soap, etc. 1t is sscer-
tanned that he has for six years violated
the law requiring them to he purchased
by contract from the lowest bidders.
He has bought from friends and favor
ties without making any contracts, pay
ing them whatever they charged. No sys.
tenn OF books or vouchers has been kept
Everything has been run loosely and
without any sort OF business rules.
Outrageously exorbitant prices have
been paid, ranging from thirty to fifty
per cent. higher than the ruling market
prices and the difference between
the market prices and those
paid have been allowed TO Pitney
by parties he purchased from
in the way of goods for his own use.
One cabinetmaker, named Frazer, who
is regularly employed under Pltney,
testities that nearly all OF his time, for
several years past, has been consumed
~, IAsn I'll iNR
instead Of working for the government;
that he spent one month in working in
new house OF one of the highest Gov
ernment officials; that he frequently
went from his house to another OF the
persons in the Government employ,
some holding important places, doing
whatever they wanted, and the money
paid for his services was charged round
to the different Government bureaus.
He swears that he made fifteen fac
similes of the desk used by Jefferson
when he wrote the Declaration OF indie.
pendence, and which was presented to
the Government a year or so ago;
that each OF these imitation desks
cost $50, the materials for which were
paid out OF the government rnoney and
charged among materials needed Tor
government uses. These ii teen desks
were given out as presents by the au'
thorites in the treasury to friends. The
furniture belonging to the treasury has
been loaned out on occasions of rectp-
tions at certain residences. The facts
90 TO show that regular ring, con-
sisting Of the subordidates OF the treas
ury, some of them holding responsible
positions, existed, and got benefits from
the loose and reckless management OF
the custodians Office OF cap
tain OF the treasury watch.
The appointment OF a clerk besides
Ptney and his book, keeper, and the
storekeeper and Hessler, who has charge
of the Cabinet making department. In
a few instances contracts have been
made but moi in the most important and
extensive purchases. PItney has built
him new residence. The result OF the
investigation will probablyb number
OF removals. Ex.CAbinet officers are
mentioned in the testimony as having
had the benefit OF the Government cab
met makers work at their private resi-.
denCSs