Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-11
INVESTIGATING TREASURY vOUCH
ERS.
Mr. J. J. Barker again before che
Springer Committee.

MT. j. J. Barker was examined before the
Springer committee this morning concerning the
Treasury vouchers Controller Lawrence was
present
The frst accounts taken up were those OF J. r.
Moore, jury commissioner OF Maryland, the allow
ance OF which Mr. Barker held was Illegal as there
was no provision in the statute creating the ONCE
oi Jury commissioner for his payment
MI Munken asked witness alleged that the
Charges were exorbitant.
Witness replied that he did not, but he presumed
That The debates In Congress would show that it
was not their intention to offer salary or fees 10
the position.
"should not the assumption be rather the re-
verse?" asked Mr.. Milliken.
Il am not here TO assume replied the witness
You nave already assumed" Mr. Milliken re-
torted. ~ take it that you are an expert here.
That's what you are paid for eh?"
Too MANY DAYS SERVICE.
Witness then took up the account OF A. W. stone.
q. s. district attorney for the western district OF
Pennsylvania, which he said was improper In
charging for too many days service. but had been
allowed by the controller against the protest OF the
deputy controller and witness. In one OF Mr..
stones vouchers before the court services were
charged for on the 4th OF July. In this account
Inere W. were aeout % Cases presented IN ~ days
witness said he was ordered by the chief OF the
division TO be governed by former adju tments OF
the accounts I'm deciding the cases before him.
This he refused to do.
THE NEXT ACCOUNT
taken up was that OF John A. Shields, United
states commissioner for the southern district OF
New York for administering oaths TO special
deputy marShals during the election OF 1880,
amounting TO $l4.9S. at 20 cents a piece. This
account witness was directed TO examine and re-
FUSED TO pass he took it. he said, the controller
who said IL was improper and could not be allowed.
but after that did allow It. and II was paid. The
complaint Witness made was that the govern
ment should not pay the BILL as IL was que from
the benef1ciaries, who were the deputy marshals
PRACTICE OF z. COMMISSIONER
Witness then took up the account OF H. L Hallet,
commissioner M Mos nd ra1 IaA tla
tention OF the committee TO the fact that he had
discovered that it was practice OF the United
states commissioners TO Continue cases from day
TO day without even examining witnesses and
charging fees for each day. Mr. Lawrence had In
formed him that allowances IN such cases were i'm
proper and against an opinion published by him;
MI. Mfniken asked IL any other clerks had called
attention to the matter
Witness said they had not, he believed; for the
reason, as they said, they did TO get into
controversy with the chief OF the division. Wit
ness could not give the names OF any clerks who
had told him this reason for not also making CON-
plaint.
"The committee may want some testimony be-
sides yours" !" inierposed Mr.. Milliken
~ hope you WILL" replied the witness
MARSHAL M'DUGAL's ACCOUNT
for the northern district OF New York amount.
ing to over $4,000, was next referred to- The ac-
count was for the employment OF deputy mar
shais Witness charged in this case extravagance
OF expenditure through the employment OF depu-
ltS IOT dnOre QayS Jnan necessary. Witness Old not
know that there had been any extravaganza OF ex-
penditure, but thought that the vouchers should
show that there had not been. He did not know,
he said on being questioned, how that could have
been shown. Witness acknowledged that the days
charged for were the days the deputies naturally
ought TO have been employed, but they did not
show that they had actually been doing anything.
.'Have you evidence that the government was
r0bbed?" Mr.. Milliken asked.
II have not" was the reply.
Judge Lawrence asked the committee to expe-
dite the investigation far possible to relieve
the first controllers Office. the marShals and the
courts from the suspicion cast upon them. He ex-
pected To show that all accounts approved were
correctly examined and certified to-
The witness (Barker) then testified 20 his belief
In Judge Lawrence's honesty, and stated that the
only issue was question OF judgment as 10 the
law.
At 12:a5 the committee adjourned until l2 O'Clock
tomorrow.
NO CONNECTION WITH THE BARKER CHARGES
The statement that j. s. Stilson and c. H. Hill,
clerks of the q. S. court CT Boston, are being pros
ecuted on account OF Barkers statement before the
committee is not true. The suit against them Is
brought by the solicitor or the Treasury for not
making full returns In their emolument accounts.
The discovery was made months ago by examiners
or the Department OF Justice IL has no connection
whatever with the Barker charges.