The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-16
A DISPATCHES.
LETTER.

HENDRICKS LETTER.
In Which Chandler Is Nailed to the
Cross.
INDIANAPOLIS, July I4.-Ex-GOv-
ernOr Hendricks has written The fol-
lowing in response to the letter OF
Secretary Chandler, published in the
associated press dispatches this morn
ing:
INDIANAPOLIS, July II, 1884,
Hon. W. E. CHANDLER-Sir: l find
IN the newspaper this morning a let
ter to me from yourself, written yes
terday. and circulated through the
associated press. You complain that
L did you injustice i'll ar address to
the people OF this city made the even
ing before. In that address l said:
I'VE need to have the books in the
government offices opened for exami-
nation:" and as an illustration l
cited tue fraudulent vouchers in one
of the bureaus Of your
department, and that upon
your own testimony before a SUBJ
committee of the senate it appeared
that the frauds amounted to $4,000.
Is not every word OF that true? You
were brought before the committee
and testified us l stated. You admit
ted under oath that the sum OF money
lost amounted to $780,; but your
defense was that the enlightenment
did not wholly occur under your.ad-
minlstratiOD, but part Of it was under
your predecessor. 1t seems to have
covered a period from June Fl, 1880.
down to January %. 1884. Does that
help your case? You were at the
head OF the department one year and
nine months OF that period; your pre-
decessOr about a year and ten months.
He was in the office at the payment
of the first false voucher of June q.
1880. and up to April II, 1882, when
you came in; and you continued
thence until the last false vonch-
er was paid, January 25th,
1884. This period was almost
equally divided between yourself and
your predecessor. How much of
the $4,000 was paid out under your
self. and how much under your pre.
dece>sor, your letter does not show.
But, sir, upon the question that /
was discussing, does it make any diff
who was secretary when the
false vouchers were PAID? I urge that |
IN cases like this, when frauds are
concealed in the vaults or books of
The department, the only remedy of
The people is by a change of control.
that the books and vouchers shall
come under examination of new and
1lsinterested men.
do you think | am answered when
you say l am mistaken in surprising
IN this Case the frauds were
under your administration.
when. In fact, part of them extended
)ack into that OF your predecessors?
Why, Sir. that makes your case the
worse. The bureau Of medicine and
'urgery d~efalcation is large, but a
more serious fact is that it could. and
I'D. extend through two administra-
0 OF the department., a period of
learly four years, without detection
And 1t becomes more serious, so far
S you are individually concerned
hen the TACT IS considered that vou
'ad notice n yet took no sufficient ,
elton. The information on which
Was from Washington, the s6th
t last month, by the associated nres.
he same that brings me your letter
he as ISOLATED press obtained it's in
0rmatlon either in your department, J
r from the investigating committee, b
y were correctly reported. =
That was the time for q
1mplaint and correction. You e
'stlhed that the total of i.
suspicious vouchers discovered, Il
} far, Was about $4,000, and that c.
lie money frdudulenty obtained was c
some instances divided between a
le .watchman in the department. 6
AFRICAN, the chief clerk, and Kirk Il
ood. III Charge of accounts. Now,
hat notice had You? According to
'e associated press report of your
stlmony. you received a letter last
ar charging Carrigan, one of the 81
rites, with drunkenness, and after )
at a man came to you and told Won ii
at Kirkwood and Carrigan were a
gagged in frauds. Did not that mi &
u upon notice and INVESTIGATION > e.
testified that some inquiry u
rs made and the conclusion was ci
at while there were some suspicious
rc4mstances they did not warrant a c.
Inclusion OF guilt. After due notice.
rDa! and In writing, you left the r.
IN of1lce, you did not bring the OF
tuds TO light, nor the guilty parties re
punishment. 1t Was Government n.
Wood vino discovered tho ~
aud, and the associated press rennrt ~
Us Wood declared he world haue -
further dealings with your denart- -.
but would press the inyestiaa- b
n before congress. ~ n
!" nat is your next excuse9 Worse -"
possible. than ali before Yon Gov ue
arge number of congressmen ; icy q
ding some gentlemen of ora.t IN 80
- '0 az" posltion, recommended
- t - e OF the bu-
a., Dr; Wales. should be
lppoln.ed. Members of congress
NV : nothing of these frauds: fhev liz
! no opportunity to know. II wy tic
u your reach and duty. .chev pa
20 PROBABLY his personal friends trc
were nls official supervisor R"t B,
tact, ana you reappoint him 5'u W
not Perhaps the detoc- &c,
: : discovered the frauds too soen an
Dr. Wales was not one Of t IHo rul
NY parties. lie neither fo ,nles his
voucher e. nor embezzeled fba
9 IS gust the same as yonr own III me ,
ues su 40 v uoncial superior of three piI
TII were OF himself as well Pc
ed ed" the Nelthsr he nor yourself ex. Gle
ties. punished the Civ
have not tho,c. enc
red. this sc NSue OF, or con. ere