Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-12
CUTTING CROwLEY's BILL.
Attorney General Brewster Reduces Ex
Orbitant Charges.


Washington Special TO Phi1ade1DAia Press.
1t is said that ex-Representative Crow
ley, of New York, whose employment soon
after the adjournment of Congress to as
sist District Attorney Melton, of South
Carolina, and Assistant Special Attorney
Sanders, of Pennsylvania, in the prosecu-
ton of the South Carolina election fraud
cases was announced, has resigned. EX-
Representative ButterwOrth, of Ohio, has
been invited to I'LL Mr.. CrOwley's place.
The Attorney General, when asked if the
statement was true, refused to say any
thing about 1t.
In the early part of the year 1882 Mr..
Crowley, then member of the House of
Representatives, was employed as Special
United States Attorney, to prosecute the
cases of the government against Reuben
Porter Lee, Herman j. Hall and
Lee and Hall jointly, in the United
States Circuit Court for the Northern Dis
trict of New York. According to the
vouchers presented the Department of
Justice his services in this case continued
from May ,, with frequent and long inter
missions, until November ., 1882. For
this. service Mr.. Crowley charged the
government $4,000 for counsel fees and
1892 So for expenses. The main item of
expense was $3.50 for stenOgraphic work,
the money being paid, according to the
voucher, to ThortOn, Briggs, Close ~ Co.,
of Buffalo, stenOgraphers. Mr.. Crowley
also charged $2l4 ID for railroad fares
while engaged on government work.
Mr., Brewster cut down the bill allow
81, 900 for services and $3.50 20 for eX-
penses, in all SO, 4S0 20. The First Auditor
of the Treasury, to whom the bill was re-
ferred for approval, asked the opinion of
First Comptroller Lawrence as to whether
the inhibition provided by section 1,765 of
h. Il
against Crowley's appointment. This
section provides that no officer in any
branch of the public service, cor any
other person whose salary, pay or emolu~
ments are fixed by law or regulations
shall receive any extra pay, extra allow
apce or compensation, in any form what
eVer.n etc, unless the same is authorized
by law, and the appropriation therefor
explicitly states that it is for such addition
al pay, extra allowance or compensation.
Mr.. Lawrence decided that the inhibi-
ton of the preceding section does not APP
ply to members of Congress. Mr..
Reynolds, the Auditor, pointedly observed
that, while member of Congress might
not be considered an officer under the
statute, the language, cor any ether per-
son whose salary, pay or emoluments are
fixed by law," would seem to require an
express appropriation for Mr.. CrOwley's
benefit. Under Mr.. LaWrence's decision
the money was paid.
For services in the Supreme Court as
special assistant attorney in the case of
the New York Central and Hudson River
Railroad Company against John M i,
Bailey, Collector of Customs, Mr., Crow
ley was paid, while a member of Congress,
1864 20, Mr., Crowley was in actual at
tendance on court in this case ten days.
1t is reported that alter the employment
of Mr.. Crowley TO assist the government
in the South Carolina election cases he
had a controversy with the Attorney
General relative to the action of the latter
in cutting down his bills in the Lee and
tall oases, and that, as result of this
controversy, he refused to perform the
last mission to which he was assigned.