Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-12
Mr. Barker Again Before the Springer
Committee To-day.

Mr.. J. J. Barker continued his testimony before
the Springer committee to-day concerning alleged
irregularities In the first controllers Office He
took up the vouchers Of J. NJ. Kearns, u. S. mar
shall OF the eastern district OF Pennsylvania.
amounting to sS4,9 $50. His objection 70 the ac-
counts was that they contained no items, and that
the accounting officers OF the Treasury should con-
slider the accounts upon their merits and not rely
upon the courts Witness passed these accounts,
although he thought they were irregular. because
he was directed TO do so. al passed them under
protest" said the witnes, and added. "Judge LAW
renee coincided with me that the accounts were
not in proper form, but still ordered me TO pass
them"
"But you testified yesterday said Mr. Mirikeu.
that Judge Lawrence was an honest man. How
do You reconcile his ordering you 10 do q thing
that is Illegal with that statement?n
HE Is an honest man personally, but not an
honest oflcial.I
THE WITNESS THINKS CONTROLLER LAWRENCE rNNo-
CENT, BUT INEFFICIENT.
1t was finally brought out after a great deal of
questioning that what the witness meant was that
Judge Lawrence was an inefficient officer, and did
not know what was done in his Office.
Witness then took up the accounts OF supervisors
OF elections, and complained that there was no
statement in the voucher as to what was done by
the officers.
THE WITNESS AS A LAWYER.
Witness next took up the account OF John /.
Davenport and made some trivial objection TO II
was then asked TO read the law on the subject and
found that IL authorized just what he objected TO.
He then complained that il was not In FORM but he
was asked To read, and found IL was.
Mr.. Mllliken then asked: "Mr. Witness. who is the
best lawyer, you or Judge Lawrence?"
IL decline to answer that question:" replied the
witness; II did not come here to be Insulted. MIR.
Mfllfken, and hope you viii confine your Ques-
uons TO such az are gentlemanly."
MI. Milliken.-"Wen, We are running this CON-
mittee But, however, you need not answer the
question"
Witness.-''I am running this end Of It."
MIR. Milllken.-"1 see you are. IL seems to be the
outt end OF It."
Witness then took up the accounts OF L. A. New
comp, as detective In the star route cases, which
he SAID should have been approved 10y the courts
and paid by the marshal This account was ap-
proved py the acting Attorney General
witness was asked TO give the law on the subject.
but could not do So He referred TO the accounts OF
the experts In the Gulteau trial irregular because
they should have been included In the accounts OF
court fees, but again he could give no law on the
subject Ali these accounts were approved by the
Attorney General. but witness says that MIR.
that they were approved simply In formal man.
ner. MI. Bowman told him the same thing. This
TURNED TUE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ATTORNEY
GENERALS OFFICE.
The chairman said that il this was the case Mr.
Hodges ought to be examined, and IL things were
as stated they ought to be corrected, though the
committee could scarcely believe il to be a fact.
Witness referred to one account which had been
approved by the Attorney General and was ordered
TO be approved py the deputy first controller but
the witness refused TO pass it. and, taking IL back
rgGted and part of IL Was disalowed; or would or
might be dsallowed.
Judge Lawrence will give his testimony TO the
committee Monday next