The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-12-11
NUMBER A.
SERIOUS CHARGES.

A Confidential Clerk IN the Onice Of this
First Comptroller Of the Treasury Makes
Some Damaging Allegations Of IrrcgulaI
Disbursements Of Public Moneys-WorB
for the Springer Committee.
WAsntNGroS, u. C., December &,
There were lively proceedings before the
Springer Committee to-day. j. j. Barker,
confidential law elerl, III the office of the
First Comptroller Of the Treasury, ws5
heard III response to the following letter;
WASHINGTON, y, G., Docember2.
Hon, llm. ~ Springer, Chairman:
SIR:-O October II, 1884, wrote an
open letter to the President, citing in
stances Of wrongful extraction Of public
funds from the Treasury, | have no copy
Of that letter here, but inclosed is an edi-
torial from the Cincinnati Enquirer of
October 2Sth, TO give an idea Of its main
points. | am especially familiar with the
manner IN which accounts are adjusted
inthe judiciary division Of the First Comp
trolers Office. In this division the ac-
counts of commissioners, clerks, attor-
neys, marshalS, etc, of the Federal Courts
are finally passed upon. Vouchers on file
in the Registers Office will furnish evil
dence of the fact that for years II has been
these officials through the Comptroller's
office, by design, or ineXcnsablc ignoT-
ance of the provisions of the law.
insist that more than half Of the nc
counts presented BY the court officials
contain illegal or improper charges; many
Of these items are allowed. These inl-
proper allowances will aggregate ain
enormous sum.
Convincing proof Of this statement win
be found iii the file rooms of the Regis
ter's Office, but tile evidence can only be
produced by some one well-informed con-
ceming the contents Of the books and To-
cation Of vouchers. When Investigations
Of those matters nave been attempted,
only those papers asked for by resolution
have been exhibited.
Persons being investigated do not usu-
ally volunteer evidence tending toward
their own condemnation.
OF course in the limits of this letter, l
can only briefly indicate the things COM
planned of, but | should be very glad to
furnish your committee with details
Very respectfully,
j. j. BARKER.
Barker consumed considerable time
citing instances where alleged fraudulent
vouchers were presented by United States
OlAlNlsil9 dlAAA ailohIh w OiNNi VI
troller Lawrence in the face of protest by
himself (BarkeD. He said that United
States Commissioner Shields, Of New
York, presented an account of fourteen
hundred dollars for swearing SUPER
yisors Of election of 1880, TO their ac-
counts, when the statute provided other
means Of payment of the service He had
protested against the allowance of this
voucher, yet the allowance was made.
United Estates District Attorney Stone,
of Western Pennsylvania, had filed a
voucher for $50 per diem in term of
court, where there were but four cases
Tor trial, one Of which was disposed of
| by demurrer another nolled and the
other two continued. The account was
allowed without inquiry.
| In the election of 1882 in New York, a
voucher for S23,000 was allowed for SUI
| pcryisors of election, when il was shown
that the supervisors were paid from So TO
| $40 for two days service, but one day
| each was all the service required, and no
evidence was produced to show that more
service than one day was necessary. The
examination proceeded at considerable
length, and is still progressing.