The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-14

WASHINGTON, July 13.-Secretary Chandler
has written the following letter to Thos. A.
Hendricks, with regard to the frauds in the
Navy Department, referred to by the latter in
his speech at indianapolis Saturday night:
~, WASHINGTON. July IS.
Sir:-A candidate for Vice President should speak
with decent fairness. In your speech at Indianapo.
LIS last Saturday night, you made statement from
Whicn you meant that the public should believe that
it appeared by my testimony that frauds in the bu-
reau OF medicine and surgery of this department
amounted during the past year to $63 900; that L
was informed OF some of these outrages year ago;
that after was informed of these frauds dlsbe-
heved, because members of Congress had recon-
mended the continuance of the chief of the bureau
and that took no adequate action concerning
them. WLereupon you demanded the election of
PRESIDENT who would appoint chief Of the bu-
Teau who would investigate the condition of the
books and bring all the guilty parties to trial.
To the contrary of all this, L testified that the
suspected vouchers commenced as far back as June
as late as Jan. 20, 1884; that while an
anonymous letter of about a wear ago
Philip 5. Wales, reported to me was not trusJ l
had no information leading to frauds until Decem-
Der or Januury last, that L determined simultan-
eously with the beginning of the inyestieation to
nave new chief of the bureau in place of Dr.,
wales, whose term was to expire January 26th,
and also new chief clerk; the great opposition to
the change was made by members of Congress but
persisted and DR.. Wales went out on,that dale and
SaIIigd was put OUT FEBRUARY 4th and that the in
vestigation Of the frauds and arrest of the guilty
parties have since proceeded with due diligence 1t
is true that stated that the recommendations for
reappolntment OF DR.. Wales, whom / found in of
nee when went in April IL, 1882 were of such q
character as to freely justify in believing that
attalrsE OF his bureau had Ebeen well administered
senator McPherson WI ote q letter dated December
10, 1883 requesting Wales reappointment. pc
ton for reappointment written by Carrigan was
sent to the President headed by j. G. Carlisle fol
lowed by Philip b. Thompson, Jr, Leopold Morse,
Rev. ID. M Davidson, d. Wyatt Aiken, VIM, Nc
Adoo, Geo. D. Wise, John u Nichols, p. A. Col
inns, d. r Lowering, Robert b. Vance, d.
W. Connolly, Charles B. Lore, George
a. Post, Albert S. Willis, Carleton Hunt.
sentatiyes in Congress saying of Or. Wales The
has administered the affairs of that bureau during
the last four years with signal ability and success
United States Senators, MCPHERSON Butler
Brown, Colquitt, Beck, Williams, c. M. Jones.
Ransom and 80 other Senators, also using Carrigan
as their writer, petltioned for Dr. Wales reap
polntment, stating that "his administrative capa-
city has been fully demonstrated by the successful
management of the bureau of which he now has
charge" Senator Mcpherson and Speaker Carlisle
ana others most prominent of these gentlemen who
demanded DR.. Wales reappointment were with you
IN the convention at Chicago, and could have in
formed you that he had borne good reputation;
Should be naval surgeon, and placed the medical
expenditures in his hands, that his in no sense
political ONCE, but that if he had any politics he
was Democrat, and that any attempt to make
pontlcal capital out of the frauds for which this
nava surgeon, who is their intimate friend is sole
~ responsible, would be dis-ingenous and unfair;
that they did not succeed in keeping Dr. Wales and
MS chef clerk Carrigan in office is very fortunate.
Very respectfully,
W. e. CHANDrER