The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-26
GARFIELD'S EXPENSES.
The Majority and Minority Reports on the
Claims Presented for Services During The
Presidents Illness.

The Majority and Minority Reports the
Claims Presented for Services During the
Presidents Illness.
WAsHISeioN, April IA majority re-
port on the bill reported from the special
Committee to audit the expenses OF the late
President sets forth that after giving such
atteAtiOn to the subject as its importance
demands, your Committee are Of the opln-
ion that Congress may properly and legally
assume the expenses attendant upon the
illness ana funeral OF the late President.
upon the ground that ne was stricken down
while he was. and because he was, in the
discharge of his duties as the chief executive
officer OF the Nation and Commanderin
Chief of the Army and Navy. Many claims
haye been rejected, not ali of which were
without merit. Others have been allowed
IN part only, and all have been rigIdly scfu-
tinized 50 much so that your Committ Gee
feel authorized 10 state that those claims
presented for payment are correct and jdst.
The report refers to ~the grave response lii
ties, the assidUous care and maturing dsro-
ton and long continued services of the sur
geons and attendants" and makes hOnofa-
be mention of the services of DR.. Smith
Townsend. DR.. Charles B. Purvis, and
Surgeon General Wales of the Navy, and OF
DIR. Nathan s. Lincoln. who were called
immediately after the shooting occurred,
and says: ''They did all science and skill
could accomplish toward the patients
relief and to produce a reaction from fhe
shock" Commendable mention is also
made OF General Swain, Colonel Rockwell,
]. Stanley Brown and G. o. Rockwell, who,
the report says. devoted their whole time
during the Presidents illness to his con, tort
and service The Committee concludes: by
urging the passage of the bill agreed upon
by the majority.
Among the claims passed and allowances
made are the following: To Mrs. Garfield,
$50, coo, less the amount paid the late Pest
dent on account of his salary; DIR. Bliss,
S25. .000; DR.. Agnew, $4,000; DIR. Hamilton,
SIS. 600; DIR. Reyburn. $4,000; DIR. Boynton,
O,OOO; DR.. Susan Edison, $4,000; William
J. Crump (steward) $1,000; r. S. Jennings
for cooling apparatusl 81, 900; Navy Depart
ment, expenses of fitting cooling apparatus
and expenses of Marine Band, 81, 7S2; VIM.
r. Spear (undertakerl. l,S35; e. A. Bene-
dict (coffin, etc., $3.50; independent Ice
Company, $1.5l6; II. l.. Crawford (street
sprinklingl go; c. ]. Jones. board, carriages,
etc, Elberon, 81 .092; c.. +. Schmidt, fifty
cents, and III. w. Atwood. seventy five cents.
The employees of the Executive Mansion
during the illness of President Garfield,
thirty in number. are allowed addi-
tional pay ranging from 1915 TO $120 each.
MINORITY REPORT.
The report of the minority says:
We do not object to the payment by the GEN
eral Government Of the funeral expenses Of the
late President, who was stricken down in. the
performance of his duues, and because of his oc-
cupying public station. Our objection % the
report grows out OF the recommendation for the
payment of physicians and surgeons who at
tended the late President We are perfectly
willing to concede that liberal Compensation
should be allowed physicians and surgeons, 4
compensation in excess even of what ii was pUs-
t. r-off har-a
earned in ordinary practice during the time but
| the sums recommended 10 be paid by the ma
| jorty of the Committee are excessive. We are Of
| the opinion that there wGs extraordinary
medical treatment shown in the treatment OF the
case and nothing calling Tor an extraordinary al
lowance for professional services. but while
| sent to the manner of payment
recommended nor to the extravaganza and
spectfully protest against that part of the report
OF the majority which recommends the promo
ton of Surgeon General Barnes 10 Major Generals
rank and retirement hereunder, and To the
| recommendation for the promotion of DR.. Wood
| ward from Major to Lieutenant Colonel with the
rank and pay of the latter ofIce. This Com
mit.ee has no jurisdiction 10 make any recon-
mendations with regard 10 the military establish
ment We were willing that the Government
should assume to pay such sums for profess onal
services as might lawfully have been rec0fEed
| from the estate of the President and were de
| tirous of treating such claims claims against
the estate of the deceased rather than as property
/ c Jgnizant by Congress We were willing. here
ore, TO appropriate TO the estate such portion OF
| the unearned salary of the late President as
would cover all such claims. but can not lagree
that excessive sums shall be appropriated fer
| professional services.
We recommend the adoption of the following
resolution:
| Resolved, That the report of the majority Com
mittee. together with the bill mpany yi1g said
report, be reeommitted with instructions 20 the
Committee TO require all persons having claims
equitable by said Committee ~ present the ac-
counts thereof. and to require the claimants In
all cases to furnish proof to the value Of ser
vices rendered materials furnished, and N case
of allowances for professional services, physi-
| clans or surgeons, 10 make such allowance only
I as would be properly chargeabie TO and rroyeable
against the estate of the late President, and TO
| provide in the bill, when again reported, such
/ further appropriation of unearned salary as
| would cover the amounts audited tor such pro
| fessional services.
| (Signed) JOSEPH S. BLACKBrRN,
| WILLIAM NJ. SPRISGER,
BENJAMIN LEFEvRE