Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-12

How the President has Drawn
His Salary in Advance In
Spite OF the Law.


Washington Letter to Philadelphia Times
Naturally toward the close OF an
administration, when those who are
ware of its weaknesses feel free to
speak, its real history begins to be
known. The indications are that the
pretense, the sham and hypocrisy OF
Mr.. Hayes inside management will
rapidly come before the public. These
will astonish few who have been close
to him here, and will surely disgust
everyone. Take as an illustration the
case of his constant violation OF law in
compelling officers of the treasury to
pay him hissalaryin advance. The facts
are these A few DAYS after his inau-
puration he sent to the treasury Tor
his salary for March-S4 1866. The
treasurer, thinking he had been under
some extraordinary expense and that
he might really need il in starting
properly at the White House, allowed
the advance to be made, though not
without great reluctance. Although
the request Of the president was equiv
alent to an order, still to comply with
it was to violate the plainest provision
of law. But with the expectations
that this would be the last instance
the money was sent over, When
April came, however, what was the
surprise OF the treasurer to receive a
demand for advance pay for that
month.
This, like the first, was allowed to
pass, with the fervent hope that it
would be the last order from the re-
form president requiring a violation
of law. But to the surprise and
thorough disturbance of all concerned
in these legal advances with May came
a third demand. The treasurer saw
it was time to act and if the president
was ignorant of the law to see that be
was informed of its plain provisions,
so that those who we're violating law
by his order might be relieved from
their embarrassment. The matter was
therefore brought to the attention of
the secretary's Office and after consul
tation it was decided that a high Off
cial should go to the White Hcuseand
explain to the president that these
advances Of his salary were a violation
of law on the part OF the officers of the
treasury, aud, if discovered, would
place them in a very unpleasant situa-
ton. The result of this was hat the
president withdrew his demand for his
third four thousand dollars in advance
and the officers of the treasury were
congratulating themselves over tho
final arrangement of the embarrassing
matter. But their satisfaction was
short-lived. What was their horror
to receive, on the 18th of the month,
a demand from President Hayes of his
entire months salary. Protests were
not accepted. The moneywa wanted
for investment, as was explained
and must be Forthcoming. This, in
spite Of the fact that paragraph 3648 Of
the revised statutes had been called to
the attention of MIR. Hayes. 1t reads
thus, plainly;
Section 3648. No advance of public
money shall be made in any case what
ever.
From that early day in this reform
administration to the present Mr..
Hayes has compelled the officers of
the treasury TO violate the law and
advance that portion of the public
money which constitutes his salary on
the 10Th of each month. He has thus
saved one months salary on $1,000 for
the first two months of his term, and
two weeks interest on $4,000 for each
succeeding month to the present time.
This is a very small dealing, besides
being a willful violation Of law and an
improbable offense, but it is not out
Of proportion to the other dealings of
Mr., Hayes. At six per cent interest
the savings from this petty stealing,
which will for the entire term reach
about $500, will pay for the rum
punch at the last state dinner and still
leave a balance Of S406. 563.
The historians will be obliged to
study the character of Mr.. Hayes with
a microscope of high power.