St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-16
at this session Of the bin for the reduction of
local postage to one cent
Western Associated Press.

troller's Office, and after modifying his former
testimony by saying that when he made the
charges AGAINST the judges generally he
meant district attorney. He was excused
and Judge Lawrence took the stand. He
said the accounts allowed in his
Office, and cited by Barker as
illegal were allowed according to law. Rela-
tive to the resignation Of Barker as clerk in
the first com troller's Office Judge Lawrence
said claim for Sl6,5S4 State Of Florida
against the United States was presented to
the acting comptroller for passage during
the absence Of the first comptroller in Ohio.
The warrant was in an unknown hand
writing and was signed by the acting comp
troller but was detained in
one division Of the Office.
When Judge Lawrence returned he said it
was discovered the claim was fraudulent.
He asked Barker what he knew about it, and
he replied be knew nothing. "a few days
after" Judge Lawrence continued, Barker
came 70 my room and said he would explain
that matter. The next day he resigned, and
he mas never explained"
Judge Laurence continuing, said be had
oyerruled the decisions of the former comp
troller relative TO the payment Of accounts.
He bad also Overruled the decision of the at
torney general. Concluding his testimony he
said: II respectfully submit that the action
OF the chief division of Judiciary accounts.
and OF the present clerks in his division and
the Office of the comptroller as TO the accounts
in question, is fully justified. If it should
now OF hereafter be aseertained that any or
all Of these officers were i'm posed on and de-
eeived by false evidence in any case or bv
one or more fraudulent claims of discovery,
furnish haf
plant that illegal or extravagant claims
which the comptroller has any power to
disailow or reduce, have been or are
being allowed. 1t would be strange
IL there were not some successful frauds
praetised. During the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1884, vouchers examined in the
comptrOiler's office reached the number of
1855, $50, involving So, 243, O53, 391. OF
course it is physically impossible that any
comptroller can personally examine these, or
any considerable number OF them. The
work is necessarily entrusted to chiefs of di-
visions and clerks. There are classes of
claims over which accounting officers have no
control to disallow or reduce in amount
They are those in which some officer is au-
thOnzed to fix, by contract or by allowance,
the amount 10 be paid, and those which
grow out of and are mere matters Of ad-
ministratiOn. As to these claims over which
have control l have never heard, so far as
can remember, Of but one man
in the United States who alleged that l al
lowed either Illegal or extrvagaDt amounts,
aud he says am honest. and so far as can
remember have never heard of but this one
man who intimated that had been inefi-
Gent or inattentive 10 business
The investigation will continue tomorrow.
when the Witnesses will be examined rela-
tive TO BarSer's reputation and to his knowI-
edge OF the fraudulent Florida claim referred
to in the early part of to-day's testimony.
Barker objected to the admission of letters
in Judge Lawrenee's statement as testimony.
Some of these letters and documents were
then ruled ont. One letter, read but not as
testimony, was from A. NJ. Bennett, in which
the writer said Barker told him if he was at
the head of the comptroller's Office he would
soon be rich. That there were millions in it.
FOREST PROTECTION.
Senator Miller, of New York, introduced a
bin in the senate for the protection of for
ests in the public domain, which provides,
among other things, that unreseryed public
lands Of the United States, embracing
natural forests and public lands, returned
by public surveys as timber lands, shall be
Withdrawn from survey, sale or disposal,
under the existing law, and that a commits
sion be appointed by the president to
examine and classify timber lands and
determine what portion shall be permanently
reserved. A fine of not more than 81 900.
and imprisonment not more than one year.
is provided for any vessel owner or agent or
agent of a railroad company who knowingly
receives for transportation any timber or pro-
doet taken from timber lands of the United
States, and in addition thereto the cOndsca-
ton OF the vessel in which the timber is
transported.
SUPREME COURT WORK.
There was no decision of general public
importance rendered by the United States
supreme court to-day. Chief Justice Waite,
who was taken sick Saturday, was absent
from his seat for the first time since he as
sumed the duties of the office. His illness is
not regarded serious, but he is confined to
his bed. Justice Miller is acting temporarily
as chief justice.
AN ARMY BILL.
Senator Henderson introduced bill to in
crease the efficiency of the army by providing
that each infantry regiment shall consist of
twelve companies instead of ten, and three
majors instead of one, as at present. 1t also
provides that ali appointments to regular
vacancies, above the grade of second lieuten-
ant, shall be filed according to seniority in
the infantry arm of the service. Also a bill
tOincrease the pension offs. w. Price from
S72 to 500, he having become blind in conse-
quence of a gun shot wound received at
Kennasaw Mountain.
SWAIN COURT MARTIAL.
In the Swain court martial to-day Joseph
Mcdonald, chief clerk of the judge advocate
gsneral's office, testified that Bateman Wis
tied Gen. Swain at the latter's Office, and he
heard Bateman say, in conversation with
Gen. Swain that he would like to have money
loaned Brown on the same terms as Brown
had had it, and that Swain replied he could
not let him have it on the same terms, be
cause that would make him (Swaim) a part
ner in the concern of Bateman & Co., and
he didn't want to do that, but preferred to
let the money stand as il was The witness
also testified that he drew money on Swaim's
check for 81, 100.
Lewis, clerk for Bateman, swore that
Swain came to the bank in person and got
money on this check.
Not much more progress was made in the
case to day, as the judge advocate objected
to nearly every question asked the witness
by the defense, which gave rise in almost
every instance to protraeted debate.
Heavy Storm at Buffalo.
BUFFALO, n. Y, Dec. 15.-The city and