The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-24
ANOTHER RING
ON TIE PUBLIC FUNDS.
The Custodian Of the Treasury Detected
In Systematic CFOokSdneus, and 9th
er subordinate OmsIaIa or the
Government InV0IVed.

WASHINGTON, May 2S,-The invesiga'
tion Of the accounts and conduct oil o. l.
Pitney, Custodian Of the Treasury De-
psrtment, ordered by Secretary Window
is developing ugly facts and involving per-
sons who have held high places
Pitney's business Is to buy everything
needed in the Treasury, including turni'
ture, carpets, soap, &c, 1tis Rscertatned
that he has for six years violated the law
requiring him to purchase BY contract
from the lowest bidders. He has bought
from friends and fGvorltes, without
making any contracts, paying them what
ever they Chalged, No system OF books
or vouchers has bseu kept, Everything
has been run loosely and withonhRny sort
OF business rules. 0utrRgeousIy exorbl.
tant prices have been paid, varying from
thirty to ftY per cent higher than the
ruling market prices, and the difference
between the market prices and those paid
has been allowed 10 Pltney by the parties
he purchased from in many of the goods
for his own use.
One cabinet maker named Frazier, who
is regularly employed under PitneY, testi.
hes that nearly all his time Tor several
years past had beens consumed In, dOiug
work for outside parties instead OF working
Ior the Government; that he spent one
month In working In the new house OF one
Of the highest Government officials; that
he frequently went from one house to an.
other OF persons in Government employ,
some holding important places, doing
whatever they wanted aud that tho
money paid for his services was charged
around 10 different Government bureaus;
he swsars that he made fac SMILES OF the
desk used by Jsferaon when he wrote tho
Declaration OF Independence, and which
was presented to the Government o year or
80 ago; that each OF these imitation dsska
cost 800, the material for which was paid
for out OF the Government money and
charged among the material needed for
Government uses. These fifteen decks
were given out Rs presents by the authorl,
ties In the Treasury to friends. Furniture
belonging 10 the Treasury has been loaned
out on occasions OF receptions Of certain
residences. The facts go to show that q
regular ring, ConsistlDg oi subordinate
officials OF the Treasury, some OF them
holding responsible positions, existed and
got the benefits from the loose and reckless
management OF the Custodians OF the Office.
The Captain OF tho Treasury Watch, the Ap.
pointment Clerk, besides Pitney and his
book keeper, and the storekeeper,a and Hess.
Hessler, who has charge Of cabinet making
department, one Assistant Secretary aud
others have derived more or leBs advRn.
tage from Pitney's method OF doing the
Government business. In few instances
contracts have been made, but not In the
most important and extensive purchases.
Pitney has built himself q new residence.
The result OF the investigation will prob.
ably bs o number Of removals. Ex cabi,
net officers are mentioned In the testimony
as having had the benefit Of the Govern
ment cabinet makers work at their private
residences. ........... i
The developments Of the investigation
Of the Treasury custodian's affairs attract
general attention. Alter Secretary Win.
dom took charge oil the Treasury he was
advised OF the ring now being exposed.
Az soon as the Secretary got time from the
pressure OF applicants for Office aud other
pressing matters, O committee OF invesii'
cation was appointed, with strict instruct.
ions 10 make inquiry, complete and
sweeping, and 10 spare mona. Congress-
made The appropriations for the custodian
Of the Treasury, or rather for the Gontin'
gent expenses OF the Treasury, iu bulk,
Last winter .an effort was made In the
House Committee ON Appropriations to
change this plan and make specific ap.
propriations Of 0 certain sum Tor carpets,
fixed sum for furniture, = and
90 on. But this change was pre-.
vented by the protests that such
made appropriations would cripple that
division OF the department. The investl.
CATION will, II 10 said. make more impor.
tant developments. The ring has been In
operation for years. Now that exposure
has begun the profits can be traced to
many persons. Two years ago Assistant
Secretary Upton wSs informed of the ring
aud misapplleation ot public money by
custodian Pltney, but NO steps were taken
towards correction. II is asserted to-
night that Upton will soon be removed ]
and that the strong fight made 10 keep
him Ia his position was for the purpose of
preventing an exposure, which is now
come. This investigation and that OF the
Star route service are not the only ones 70
be made. The administration intends TO
search through all the departments Of the
public service, learn how PUBLIC business
is being CONDUCTED and whether any reck'
less, WAsteful; or wrong practices exist
anyyhefe. Wherever any wrong exists 1t
Ia IN ha aHhaaad and whArAvbf pUbllo