The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 6. 1882.

While rambling through the treas
ury department, your correspondent
went into the office of Judge Law
renee, the first controller. AS usual,
the judge was at his post of duty, but
not being very busy the opportunity
was developed to ask the dignified Of
fetal a few questions on matters of
Said the scribe Judge, 1 suppose
your recent decision concerning the
South Carolina claim against the gen.
eral government practically settles the
claim of all the other southern states?
1T does most emphatically. My de-
cision, young man, especially among
Democrats, and in your part
of the country, is strongly
denounced as being actuated by base
and unreaSOning partiZanShlp and I'M
born hostility to the south; but such
is anything but the truth.
THE WAR CLAIMS
of the southern states against the
government had every appearance of
Justice to look at them in one light,
and the opinion widely prevailed, even
at the north, that they would have to
be settled with money from the treas
ury. But l happened to be in con-
gress, you see, during reconstruction
times. Here the judges face showed
unsurpassed pleasure.) And he
went on to say that none of the
states having claims against the gov
eminent complied with the require
ment of the law governing such
cases, and taking in this and other
considerations was compelled to de-
eide as l did. 1t was wrong, sir;
wrong TO suppose that l was in the
least actuated by pathsauSaph. l have
the most profound admiration for the
southern people and confidence that
that section will one day become
wealthy and powerful and second to
no other part of the Union"
But, judge" said the scribe, Eat the
time you allude to many of the south
ern states were under military rule
and the rest under carpet bag negro
governments. How could they avoid
the legal technicality you allude to in
your conversation ~
"Ahl that may be; but the law
makes no allowance for such excuses.
Carpet bag government or what
ever you see fit to call it was the gov
eminent of those states then no mat
ter how it came into power and was
responsible for the diplomacy and
financial standing of those states.
Perhaps congress may pass an act Civ
ing the states in rebellion what they
claimed, but my action in the case of
South Carolina has most
EFFECTUALLY SETTLED
= al ~, =, 10, 4,
evident satisfaction of the Radical
controller in his decision the reporter
left him disguised. A Tumor is wide
ly circulated in Washington, and
doubtless based on good authority,
that previous to the presentation of
the South Carolina claim involving
100000, a Republican meeting was
held secretly, and at this meeting
it was resolved that Lawrence
should make the arbitrary decision
he did. The grand old party was
afraid that Democrats in South Caro-
lima would use the money to assist in
the surplus negro popula-
ton in the state and therefore lessen
the chances for Republican success.
1t was noticeable that Judge Law
renee made his decision with but little
delay. Investigation on the part of
Solicitor RaynOr of the treasury de-
partment shows that William Umb-
denstock, Republican internal rev.
enue collector for the
FOURTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS,
is defaulter on his predecessors
bond to the extent of $4,000. When
his predecessor was an applicant for
office. UmbdenStock, with others, went
on his bond. Some time afterwards the
official defaulted and committed some
other crime and the bondsmen were
called upon to pay by the government.
Umbdenstock was at that time
thought to be extremely wealthy, but
he hurried to Washington, plead
and insolvency, and on the
of a small sum was relieved
of responsibility by the treasury
officials. About three years ago
UmbdenStock, who is a bright light
in Republican circles, became him.
self an aspirant for the same office
He is a very persuasive. glib tongue
style of man, and accompanied by
several other Radical politicians from
Texas, came to Washington and
laid his claim and standing
in the party before Solicit
tor Raynor. The genial solicitor
was struck with Umbdenstock's
attractive manner, he knew nothing
of his past history and supposing him
to be a gentleman of unblemished
character Just as he was represented
to be he had him appointed. 1t was
not long, however, before he discoV-
cred his mistake and found that the
gentle Umbdenstock was wealthy as
formerly reported and could easily
have paid his bondsman dues to the
besides that he found
that the new official was anything but
a gentleman. Anyway UmbdenstOck
was continued in Office but soon cries
Of dissatisfaction came pouring to the
treasury department from the fourth
district at the appointment of such a
and known dishonest man
like Umbdenstock. Mr.. Raynor found
that his character was thoroughly
known and ventilated in Texas.
Business men wrote letters here de-
claring that he was detrimental to
their business, and Republican politi-
clans claimed that he would ruin that
party if he was not promptly dis
RAPIDLY MORE SERIOUS,
and last winter special agent of the
treasury was sent to Texas to inyesti-
gate the matter. Numerous promi-
nent men in the district were ques-
toned by Special Agent Wagner, and
all of them testified that Umbdenstock
was of bad character, and wholly unfit
for the duties of his Office. They
charge him with being fire.
quenter of prostitute dens and that
he knowingly allowed lewd women
in the towns under his jurisdiction to
sell beer and cigars without licenses.
The members of the Grant and Logan
clubs, and other Republican clubs in
Texas, signed their names to a p IL
tiOn to have him removed, saying that
he was killing the party by his con-
duct. All of these politicians state
that he was sent to the Chicago
convention pledged to vote for Grant,
but unknown to his constituents he
voted for John Sherman each and
every time.
The deputy marshal of Fort Worth
declares that great dissatisfaction pre-
walls in that city among the wholesale
liquor dealers. He says that Umbden-
stock treated them with contempt and
greatly Inconvenience business by not
having postage stamps on hand the
having to send elsewhere to
procure them. He also claims that
the collector was ignorant and ineffi-
Gent and an associate of fast females.
The report of the special agent sent to
Texas contains the names of dozens
of prominent citizens who declare