The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-07-24
DEPARTMENT CLERKS.
How They are Said TO be Used by
Certain OniciaIs-A Denial.

Tho New York Tribune to-day has tho follow
ing In Its Washington correspondence:
at seems to be probable that Secretary Fol-
ger VIII soon ind II eXpedient TO cause nm
other Investigation In his Department. This
time II is said TO bo tho office OF tho First
Comptroller, the AFFAIRS OF which require spe.
cial scrutiny for several reasons. When tho
present Comptroller was appointed, no pos.
sessed n large and lucrative practice rs u law.
yer, and 1t is understood that since thon he
aes i o INT ~ sFend ma hss nrya
practice, and also TO ind time to engage
In the composition and compilation
q twG ii Rssa read pSb
cation. There has been no complaint that tho
Comptroller has neglected his official duties
and his opinions on questions OF law and regu.
lations have not only been more frequent, but
also more voluminous than those of his prede.
cessors But II appears that he has been I'M
able to carry forward oil his work himself
ana has been compelled to use much clerical
assistance in his private affairs.
For some time clerk belonging to his ofIlco
has been absent on leave without pay, In the
West, on legal business In which It Is under
stood that tho Comptroller and Judge Jerc-
miah Black are Jointly Interested.
AS additional clerks are asked for the Comp
troller's ONCE and are provided for in the Leg.
islative bill, 1t is presumed that these services
are actually required; yet tho fact that one
clerk already authorized can be spared TO
attend to the Comptroller's private busl.
ness Is not strong proof OF tho fact. 1t is
asserted, too, that large ohare OF the time OF
tnfce IOur CLERKS IN inc OICo OF inc COMP
troller is devoted 10 his private business cor
respondenco and TO clerical work upon the
books which no is preparing for the press.
Among the persons who are said to have been
so employed for some time past is Mrs. Mary
Field, who, 1t is asserted, has been en-
gagged In copying the manuscript Of the
Comptroller's new work on Equity Plead
ings.' Two other clerks who have been to n
large extent employed In tho Comptroller's
private business are Messrs. Arthur and Bran.
nigan, who, Il is understood, have been heard
to complain bitterly because they had re-
ceivod no extra pay for the additional work
thus imposed upon them.
1t ID said that an effort was made to secure
some extra compensation for them from Con.
gress, but that It failed in the new appropria
tion bill. Two additional 81 800 clerkships
are provided for the Comptroller's of1ice, and
1t is generally believed that the two clerks
named will be promoted to these original va
cancies. The foregoing statements are not
made upon the strength OF mere rumor, and
there is reason to believe that II Secretary
Folger shall begin IN investigation, he Will
find little difficulty In getting at the truth.
A Denial.
Comptroller Lawrence was seon this after
noon In reference to tho above charges He
denied them in toto, and said he had written
law book, and will write as many moro rs he
pleases, provided the compilation OF Their
does not interfere with Government business
He further said Government employees are no
and have not been used by him, except in on
or two instances after ONCE hours.
He does not deny, other, that ho has Law
practice, but states that such practice Is
mainly cases which he feels obliged 10 finish
up, having assumed them previous to his ap.
pointment as Comptroller, he having made n
statement to that effect at tho timo OF his APP
pointment, and there being no objection urged.
He says the Government clerks named In
the I'riGuneS article are all employed entirely
upon Government work, and adds In addition
"Any man who is not lawyer enough TO attend
to his business Is not lawyer enough TO occupy
the position OF Comptroller"