New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-16
TREASURY INVESTIGATION.

| WASHINGTON, March ia report was sub
mitted to the Senate this afternoon by Mr. Allison, ir
behalf OF the Committee Appropriations stating the
results Of the investigation OF contingent fund
penditures Of the executive departments II signed
| by all the members Of the committee, although the
| Testimony taken only by Mcssrs. Allison, Logan,
Hale Davis, (of W. ya) aud Cockrel, a sub-commit
tee.
The report which is very voluminous begins by recit
Ing the Senate resolution of last October directing
investigation and proceeds; The committee first be-
gan the investigation OF the accounts in the Treasury
| Department, and when this was completed IL
| found impossible to enter upon invesga
| ton Of the accounts OF the other executive
departments without entirely abandoning oil other du-
tee and no charges of abuse fraud any other de-
partment having been presented to the committee,
oral testimony taken touching any other depart
| ment"
The testimony taken by the incline Committee was
considered and all witnesses before that committee and
all supposed to know anything Of any irregI-
arty abuse or fraud In the disbursement Of the apprO
prtations for contingent other expenses Of the
Treasury Department sworn and examined.
Records and vouchers in the Treasury Department
examined and compared with the items charged the
books city dealers who had furnished supplies TO the
department.
Ex-senator sherman at the head Of the Treasury
parment during the greater part the time covered
the vestgation, he from time to time furnished the
printed testimony and also called and testified
witness Senator Window, who was at the head of the
Department during part OF the time by the in
vestigatiOn, was also called as q witness.
The committee not having time to analyze in detail in
all Its bearings the great of testimony taken only
refer briefly to the most important clearly esab
hshed by IT, and from this portion OF the report the fol-
lowing extracts taken At the instance of o. L.
Pi;ney Custodian in the Treasury Department Brad
ley Adams in the winter and spring of $780, furnished
stationery, etc. to the "Sherman Campaign Commit
tee" political committee for the advance
ment Of the candidacy Of the Hon John Sherman for
Presidential nomination in 1880. whose headquarters
I'm the Corcoran Building For this stationery etc.
sundry vouchers against the Treasury De-
partment aggregating 1902, were made out calling
upon their face for file holders as the articles actually
purchased and paid out OF the Treasury. The file
holders 80 named in such vouchers were pur-
chased received Treasury Department nor was
any oner article furnished the Treasury Department
under such vouchers About June II, 1881, after the
paid back into the treasury the sum of s5o5. MI A""'
In the spring and summer Of 1850, at the instance of
lemons etc., purchased Of b. W. Reeds sons aud
used in the r asqry Department and wyre paid for out
upon Their fice for candies" The candles named III
the vouchers delivered to the Treasury but
covered the value Of the sugar. lemons, etc. go re
In January or February. 1880, at the instance
OF said Ptney MessrS. Robert Leitch furnished
TO the rooms in the Corcoran Building, used ny the
AMI the work ia putting them in place for USE aud
paid Tor t1e same ont OF the Treasury on vouchers
nfer the {" MeIne" Committee Investigation brgon'
Robert Lrtch paid back into The Treasury 10
a tue amount 81 paid TO them out o the Treasury for
these fixtures work.
In tue summer of 1850 Il. d. Gilman druggist sold
and delivered Ia the Treasury Department at the III
stance of said Pitney his subordinate three dozen
Smounjms to $50 and was paid therefor dat Of the
Treasury on voucher calling upon lis face for friction
Matches" to the amount Of $50
Another instance "a ri Ell waeTe S24 75 was paid TO
chlrgru w, as being EXPENDED Tor lee. etc" Inc
gerhnium plants we're never delivered The articles
hrylye yards Of eycrlrcens, six evergreen wreaths
ana baskets OF cut flowers" Numerous like
fase charges for iowers, etc received from Mr. Small
men toned in detail with regard 10 these charges
the committee say: This account had been presented
not ben paid when Mr. Small testified. In answer to
rhr question Why that disputed Mr.. Small
swered: waited upon VI yer over and ne could not
Understand who would be responsible FOR It, and it is
@ pen Mr. M @S S @hG S eT
all ordered. either by messenger I'm way,
4-basket bouquet-the urged me up at a great
rate and ne wanted to take them 10 of the secre
the wers went; reception was going on, aud had
to delay some other Wolk to make that
CHARGED TO Mr. SHERMAN INDIVIDUALLY.
On May 9, 1873, voucher for 81 IS found, in
regard to which the report says: "The work specified
in the voucher was performed by John McDermott & |
Brothers, for Senator John Sherman in repairing his
private carriage-a yIctOra-and charged to him in |
divdualy on their books The items on the face !
Of the voucher written by s. L. Norton. accountant
under Custodian At Instance In.
McDemOtt made ont the account aga nst Mr.. sherman
individually Just charged on their books, ana sent
hands OF Custodian Ptney who directed his accountant
Norton TO charge the account TO the Treas
which was done aud the money paid thereon"
Since the testimony closed. Messr|. McDermott Il
ihs yoncher namely 81 5 Md Mr. Sherman has paid
the amount of the same to Messrs. McDermott
The report shows that James A. Rodbird employe
in the csbinetshOp of the Treasury Department worked
hp
during office business hours at the Department, put
ting wea her strips to the washb0ards tue old house.
He also rehung Of the sash and did work IN
the stable. made horse troughs and managers for
a division between the carriage-house and the
stable and made two cases OF shelving Tor books for
pine and walnut boards from the Treasury cabinet shop
probably about one mouth, aud the ONLY pay Mr. Rod
bird received was his regular wages as an emplOye
Ds He he ever signed Was the payroll
In regard to the payroll Mr.. Rodbrd said: ave all
four times to get one payment: signed different
when we were working at his house" Witness did not
know whether the time lie thus worked was deducted
aud he paid for 1t indvldI ly signed the
,eipt in black and did not know what was afterward
Paul Brown employe in the cabinet shop, under
did work. dnrng Office hours about the stables
md premises OF Secretary Sherman and was paid from
ehneT aborer under HessGr, assisted Brown for
,art Of day in repairing the fence at +
Treasury. Hen Meksl laborer, worked about two
lays with whitewa5h brush and bucket rom the Treas
Try Department at the stables of Secretary sherman.
nd was paid out of the Treasury John Nernese,
au.htsman employed In the Office of the I
supervising Architect Of the Treasury, worked some
en- days during office hours in making the plans and the
eacd general drawings for the house OF Secretary
herman Kst. and was paid out OF the Treasury He
'Orkcd upon them from December, 1879. till the fall OF
$50. At time, when lot OF drawings required
hurry A. suggested Nienese that II he would
the work at he could get two weeks leave he g
onsented and the leave given. During these two
iecks leave with eSular pay he made the drawings
TESTIMONY OF SENATOR SHERMAN. :,
The report quotes extensively the testimony given
Senator Sherman touching the employment of Mr.. 81
itney I'm his individual business. Senator Sherman Il