Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-25
tual cost was much less the difference be-
tween the amount paid, and the actual cost

tual cost was much less the difference be-
tween the amount paid, and the actual cost
being paid the engineer, because his compen-
sation is inadequate for his services.
During May, June and August,
1881, It's copies were bought of Geo.
N. Lamphere at So each, when, as we are In
formed by bookseller Of the city, they could
have been bought for $3.50 each, with 20 per
cent. discount.
Communications from Assistant Secretary
Upton covering the period during which he
was chief clerk of the department, and Major
Power, present chief clerk, accompany each
report. These communications refer in
detail to the various statements.
EXPLANATION OF THE ACCUSED
The accused maintains there was no neglect
during their respective terms relative to max
Ing purchases after proper advertisements
had been made and proposals received and
that the records of the department bear them
out In this statement. In connection with the
charges that exhorbitant rates have been paid,
Upton says: 'It should be remembered de-.
tailed statement of all expenditures made from
the contingency funds of the department are
annually presented to congress and published
No complaints of improper or excessive
expenditure of these accounts has
been made by that body, or by any of its CON-
mittees charged with the supervision of the
appropriations therefor or by any of the deal
ers competing for this trade, land lam confident
that for many years this department has, on
the whole, obtained carpets, furniture and
supplies at much lower rates than private
parties have been able to obtain for like ar.
ticles.
The office of custodian, which the commit
tee refer to as being Illegal, is mentioned by
Upton as an office which has been recognized
through the administration of four secretarys
as being in lawful existence. The inner irreg-
ularities to which the report devotes consid-
cradle space, it is held, have been signed by
the respective chief clerks in the regular
course of business without suspicion the
custodian or his subordnates, who were
trusted employees, had violated the faith
which the officers of the department had in
them.
The letter of the secretary of the treasury
transmitting the report, says: Soon after as
suming the duties of secretary of the treasury,
my attention was called to alleged abuses of
disbursements In the contingent fund of the
department, which was under the immediate
charge of the custodian, and under super
vision ofthe chief clerk of the department, and
Iappointed committee to look into the mat
ter. as had been the custom of the department
in such cases. 1t became convinced certain ir-
regularties and abuses existed in that branch
of the service, and, as I had some doubts as to
the legality of the appointment of a custodian
I abolishrd the office June II, and, by general
order July l., 1881, reorganized the office. 1t
was my intention as soon as my more pressing
public duties would permit to have pursued
this general policy in other branches of the
treasury, the appointment of competent COM
mittees to collect the necessary data on which
to base proper action to secure and promote
the best interests of the public service, but the
assassination of President Garfield suspended
further action in that direction.