Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-16
Col. Tom Ochiltree's salary.

One of the most remarkable results of
the voting in November was the election
of Col. Thomas p. Ochiltree to Congress
from the Seventh district of Texas. AL
though this eminent citizen once held of
flee under the Republican administration
of his friend General Grant, he will go
into the FOrty-eighth Congress as an Inde-
pendent. In all accurately compiled lists
of the members of the next House, Col.
Tom Ochiltree's name stands large and
bold in capital letters, as BELTS his ma
tiOnal reputation. He will be untram-
meled by party obligations: he will be
able to serve country first of all; and his
vigorous and interesting oratOry, his great
practical experience and his weird imag-
inatiOn will be under the control of no
caucus.
1t is unfortunate that cloud should
Overhang the otherwise bright future of
Colonel Tom 0chiltree in his new career
as legislator. Yet such is the case.
Colonel Tom Ochiltree was United
States Marshal for the Eastern District OF
Texas under Grant, and, we regret to add,
was short in his accounts with the
government to the extent of about $1,000
The government has never been able to
recover this sum from Colonel Tom Ochil-
tree. 1t sued him, however, and obtained
judgment against him, two or three years
ago, for the full amount, with interest. The
chronic state of Colonel Tom Ochiltree's
finances has up to the present time rem
dered the Judgment worthless. He still
owes the United States about $4,000.
Now, Col. Tom Ochiltree's salary OF
S., 900 a year will begin on March 4. His
annual allowance for mileage will amount
to a considerable sum, in view of the dis
tance between Washington and his nomi-
nal home in Texas. Besides salary and
mileage, Col. Ochiltree will be entitled to
1925 year for stationery and newspa-
pers. In the two years of his term Col.
Ochiltree will draw from the United States
Treasury, through the ergeant-at-Arms
of the House, about $4,000 in all, pro-
vided he is allowed to draw it.
There is a section of the Revised Stat
utes which says:
"No money shall be paid to any person
for his compensation who is in arrears to
the United States until he has accounted
for and paid into the Treasury all sums
for which he may be LIABLE"
And an act approved March 8, 1875, ex-
| plieitly provides that
"When any claim, duly allowed by legal
| authority, shall be presented to the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury for payment, and the
| plaintiff or claimant be indebted to the
| United States in any manner, it shall be
the duty OF the secFetary 70 withhold pay
ment,"
Here, it will be perceived, is ample rea-
son for anxiety, and even for excitement,
on the part of a nature so impressionable
as Colonel Tom Ochiltree's. We are not
surprised to learn that he has already
gone to the Solicitor of the Treasury and
offered to compromise with the govern
ment by the payment of $500 in cash.
| Will the United States Government sell
its Judgment against Colonel Tom Ochil-
tree for $500? That is less than four cents
on the dollar. Or will it attach his salary
and allowances as Representative as fast
as they become due? In the two years
during which Colonel Tom 0chiltree will
adOrn the south wing of the capitol his
salary and allowances would pay nearly
the whole OF his debt
The question is one Of great Importance
to the eloquent gentleman from Texas,
and Of considerable interest to the public
generally,