The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-25
THE CUsroDIANs COURSE.


The Investigation of United states Treasury
| Department Ohicials Reveal Very Ugly
Facts.
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-The investigation
of the accounts and conduct of o. l.. Pit
ney, Custodian of the Treasury Department,
ordered by Secretary Window, is developing
ugly facts and involving persons who have
held high places. Pitney's business is to
buy everything needed in the Treasury, IN
Guiding furniture, carpets, soap etc, etc.
1t is ascertained that he has for six yea rs
violated the law requiring them to purchase
by contract from the lowest bidder. He has
bought from friends and favorites without
making any contracts, paying them
whatever they charged. No sys-
TEN of books or vouchers have been
kept Everything has been run loosely and
without any sort of business rules. Out
rageously exhorbitant prices have been paid,
ranging from 80 to 90 per cent. higher than
the ruling market prices, and the difference
between the market prices and those paid
had been allowed to Pitney by the parties he
purchased from in the way of goods for his
own use. One cabinet maker named Frazier,
who is regularly employed under Pitnev-
testifies that nearly all of his time for sew
eral years has been consumed in doing work
for outside parties instead of working for the
Government; that he spent one month in
working on a new house of one of the high
Government officials; that he frequently
went from one house to another of persons
in the Government employ, some holding
important places, doing whatever they
wanted, aud the money paid for
his services was charged around
to the different Government Bureaus.
He swears that he made fifteen fac SMILES
of the desk used by Jefferson when he
wrote the Declaration of Independence and
which was presented TO the Government a
year or SO ago; that each of these imitation
desks cost $50 The material for which was
paid for out of Government money and
charged among the materials needed for
Government uses. These fifteen desks were
given out as presents by the authorities in
the Treasury to friends. The furniture be
longing to the Treasury has been loaned out
on occasions of receptions at certain resi-
dences. Facts go to show that
regular ring consisting OF sub
ordinate officials of the Treasury, some
of them holding responsible positions,
existed and got the benefits from loose and
reckless management of the custodian's
office. The Captain of the Treasury Watch
has the appointment of a clerk beside
Pitney, and his bookkeeper and the store
keeper and hoStler who has charge of the
cabinet making department one Assistant
Secretary and others having derived more
or less advantage from Pitney's method OF
doing Government business. In a Few
instances contracts have been made, but not
the mostimportant and extensive purchases.
Pltney has built him new residence. The
result of the investigation will probably be
number of removals. Ex. Cabinet officers
are mentioned in the testimony rs having
had the benefit OF the Government cabinet
makers work at their private residences.
The developments of the investigation of
the Treasury CustOdian's affairs are attract
ing general attention. After Secretary Win
don took charge of the Treasury he was adj
vised of the ring now being exposed. As
soon as the Secretary got time from the press
ure of applicants for office and other press
ing matters, Committee of Investigation
was appointed. with strict instructions to
make the inquiry complete and sweeping
and spare nobody. Congress makes an APP
preparation for the Custodian of the Treas
ury, or rather for the contingent expenses
of the Treasury in bulk Last winter an
effort was made in the House Committee
on Appropriation TO change the plan and
make specific appropriations. A certain
sum for carpets, a fixed sum for furniture
and so on, but this change was prevented
by protests that such mode of appropriation
would cripple that division of the Depart
ment. The investigation will, il is stated
make more important developments. The
ring has been in operation for years, and
now that the exposure has begun
the profits can be traced to many
persons. Two years ago Assistant
Secretary Upton was informed of the wrong
doing and missapplication of public money
byCustodian Pitney, but no steps were taken
toward a correction. It's asserted tonight
thot Upton will soon be removed, and that
the strong fight made to keep him in his po-
sition was for the purpose of preventing the
exposure which is now come.
This investigation and that of the Star
Route Service are not the only ones to be
made. The present Administration intends
to search through all Departments of the
public service to learn how public business
is being conducted, and whether any reck=
less, waSteful or wrong practices exist any
where. Wherever any wrong exists il is to
be exposed. and wherever public money is
wasted, it is to be stopped