The Rock Island Argus., 1881-10-29

conspicuous in any way as a financier.
Secondly, because he was identified with
the political machine which sought to con-
troll the custom house in New York city.
Third, because the west and south objected
strongly to the appointment of anybody
who might be considered representative
of Wall street and the importing interests
of New York city. Fourth, because the
Judge had an enormous claim then pend
ing before the supreme court of the United
States for extra compensation on account
of alleged services in the sale of revenue
stamps while he was sub-treasurer at New
York, and receiving a salery for doing
that work
OF these reasons, the first three are plain
enough in their application, but the last
one is not generally known. The facts of
the case may be stated about thus.
Folger was Assistant Treasurer at New
York from Nov. 16, 1859, to July 1, 1870,
or seven months and fourteen days. Dur
ing that perion his clerks received from the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue and dis
posed by sale of So, 469, AIT worth of COM
mon revenue stamps and $2S, 914 of pro-
prietary stamps. The Government allowed
a commission of per cent in cash on sales
of the former and 10 per cent on sales of
the latter. This commission was allowed
by the Internal Revenue Office at Washing
ton to purchasers of stamps at wholesale,
who bought to sell again. A supply of
stamps was put in the custody of the Sub
Treasury at New York, to be handed out
by clerks, SO that purchasers in that city
might enjoy the same advantages as those
who bought directly from the Commission
er of Internal Revenue Folger did, in
fact, allow full commissions to purchasers
at the Sub Treasury, and paid out in this
manner $173, 277 to those who bought in
ternal revenue stamps, and $2,o75 to those
who bought proprietary stamps. When
the accounts had all been settled he claim
ed that he was personally entitled to the
commissions which he had already allowed
to purchasers of stamps, and set up this
preposterous claim against the United
States for the full amount. with interest,
or $1S5. .296-the work having been done
by clerks paid by the Government.
The cool cheek of such a claim can be
easily recognized. 1t is utterly and wholly
without any foundation of justice or right,
and yet our present secretary of the treas
ury on it bases his demand for the large
sum. To be sure he is only keeping the
seat warm for Conkling, but still it is well
to see what manner of man he is. This
claim came up before the court of Claims
and Judge Bancroft Davis concluded his
opinion on it in these words:
''The claimants right to compensation
is controlled by the statutes forbidding him
to charge or receive any commission, pay,
or perquist for any official service of any
character or description whatsoever, or to
receive any additional pay, extra allow
ance, or compensation for any service
whatsoever. This conclusion makes it un-
necessary to consider the other points dis
cussed at the bar The claimants petition
must therefore be dismissed.
Judge Folger appealed from this decis
ion of the court of Claims to the Supreme
Court of the United States There the de
cision was as in the lower court, unani-
mously against him. That claim is now
settled, but the fact that it even was push.
ed, is evidence as to the character of the
men.