Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-25

| The Weir mansion presentsa q horrlDie
| sight. Filth and dirt and desolateness
and every evidence OF squalor and
wretchedness abound everywhere.
THE CUsTODIAN'S OFFICE.
A Report on Various Questiona-
BILE Transactions.
WASHINGTON, October 4.-On May
9Th last, J. F. MelIne, John Walker and
w. H. Hills were appointed commit.
| tee to examine the disbursement and
contingent expenses account OF the
| Treasury Department. On June l4th
the Secretary called for a report cover
ing the investigation up TO and includ-
| ing that date. This report was called
for by a resolution offered in the Senate
by Senator Sherman, which was adopted
on the 2lst inst. The report was to-day
submitted to the Senate. The commit
tee say that sowing TO statements made
| to us by the Chief Clerk, we have not
made examination into the accounts for
stationery, but have confined our en-
quiries to accounts and expenditures
under appropriations for other contin-
gent expenses.
"The first step in making the ex-
| animation was to take an inven-
tory of all property in the store
room belonging to the United States.
We called for books showing amount OF
| stock on hand, and were also informed
that no such books were kept. We
were also informed that no inventory OF
his property had ever been made. The
committee find THAT during the fiscal
year 1880 1lS4 yards Of wilton carpet
and border and the cost OF making and
laying the same were twice paid for,
once out of the appropriation for con.
tingent expenses OF the Treasury De.
partment, and once out Of the approprl'
alton Tor public buildings. Hove
Brothers and Company repaid the
amount OF the duplicate payment. A
| shortage OF l59 yards OF carpet was
| found in the storeroom which the store.
keeper claimed was in the hands eli w.
B. Moses, OF this city. 1t was discovered
that Moses had been paid for 6S74 yards
OF carpet, which already belonged to the
United States, and he, being notified OF
| the fact, sent the department 6373 yards
| of carpet, of inferior quality to make the
amount good.
The committee denounce as illegal
payment of cabinet makers OF the de-
partment out of the appropriation for
fuel, light and water, for public build
ings," Continuing, the report says,
"Your committee find that in February,
March, April, May and June, 1880, bills
were presented this department by j.
Bradley Adams of this city for fifty.two
dozen Woodruff file holders, hich bills,
S502, were paid out OF the appropriation
|. for ice, etc, but that the file holders
never have been delivered. The atten-
ton of the custodian has been called to
this matter and he has refused to fur
nish any explanation, stating that per-
sonal explanation will be made you. We
also find that in August and October,
| 1880, two bills, amounting to 1882, were
presented by B. w. Reeds Sons, this
city, for twenty-five boxes OF candles.
which bills were paid out OF
the appropriation for gas, ETC., for 1881,
but the candles were not furnished.
We have been informed by the custo-
dian that these bills cover lemons and
sugar used for lemonade for the Secre.
tary, assistant secretaries and chief
clerk, and also certain lunch furnished
in this building last summer about the
time OF the Chicago convention" "
| Both Upton, Assistant Secretary, and
| Power, Chief Clerk, stated under oath,
that they had no knowledge that the
lunch was paid for out OF public funds.
| They contributed out OF their own
| means towards the cost of the lunch as
| reported to them and believed it was all
| paid by private contribution. Upton
also stated that he at one time gave the
custodian $50 to pay for lemonade fur
nished his room.
Your committee further find that in
November, 1880, and January, 1881,
three bills, aggregating $l4S so for over
coats furnished drivers OF the depart
ment in blank and by direction of the
| Custodian, were made up as for bill md
cloth Tor GOV .ring desks aud pal out
Cf the ap prob ria ion for furniture, &c. for
| 1881. Also that some time in February
the custodian ordered of n. W. Bur
cheli for the treasury department one
barrel containg 53f gallons OF bay rum
at s. 80 per gallon, which was billed as
deoCo lied alcohol. Burchell, who ap-
peared before the committee, stated that
the matter, so far as he was con.
cerned, was an ordinary business
transaction, and that the bay rum was
sold at the lowest possible figure. We
found in stock 81 gallons OF this rum,
and as it was used only for toilet purpo-
ses, we believe the purchase to have
been ill.advised and unnecessary. Your
committee inquired why this course was
pursued, and were informed by the
Custodian that it was done 80 that the
accounting officers would not question
the bills.
We further find that from July ],
1873, to May 4, 1881, the waste paper
sni s>.a hp,ri mf the Department was
sid tJ tne amount of $509, ,266; that
during said period no deposit was made
in the Treasury on account of said Gales,
but the money received therefrom was
paid to the Custodian, who states that
he paid the cost of asserting out OF the
proceeds and kept the balance
in mis- safe, awaiting instruc-
tions as TO what disposition
should be made OF it. Very soonsa!tsr
this fact was discovered by the commit
tee the attention oil the ChieI Cierk was
called 10 the matter, and it was suggest
ed that the money in the hands OF the
custodian ought to be deposited in the
treasury without further delay. This
was not done, however, until after the
assorters were paid for their their ser
vices during the month OF May, 1881,
when S2l7 677. the balance stated as on
hand, was deposited with the Treasurer
OF the United States.
Various other details OF less import.
ant character are cited in the report,
and in conclusion the committee says:
"we are not at present prepared to sub
NIT any Recommendation relative to the
changes We think necessary in the sys-
tenn of making purchases and disposing
OF the same. We will say, however,
that We think the system at present IN
vogue very loose and liable to great
abuse"
An agreeable dressing for the hair,
that will stop its falling, has been long
| aouyht for Parker's Hair Balsam dis