The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-07-05
FROM WASHINGTON
Special tc The CARBON ADVOCATE.
WAsHINoToN. June 2s. lssl

SpSSial tS me CARBON ADVOCATE.
WASHINGTON, June 2s, 1884.
Secretary Chandler appeared yesterday
as witness before q sui. committee oi
the Senate committee on expenditures oil
pubic money, ana was examined in re-
iation to the recently discovered frauds
In tie bureau of medicine aud surgery.
The amount of these frauds, committed
by means of false vouchers for goods
never delivered. and extending from
June 2l, 1888, to January 20, 1884, be
stated to be about 500 900, and they
were made against the Naval Hospital
fund, doubtless for the reason that this
fund, being derived from the assessment
OF twenty cents month upon each OF
the officers aud men of the navy, was
less likely to be closely looked after than
the regular annual appropriations for
the bureau. Frauds in this bureau.
moreover, seem to have been made DOS
sible largely by emitting the wise precau.
non exercised in other bureaus, of hav-
ing receiving officers certificate upon
tue voucher itself. In the course OF Tn.
examination Mr.. Chandler said, II don't
wish to shirk any responsibility which
belongs to me. / am mortified and Inn.
inflated that Notwithstanding these
frauds began before l went into the de-
partment, they have continued more or
less III this bureau since | have been
over il,
Who is to be mistress of the White
House ls question now agitating the
palpltatlDg heart Of society in Washing
ton Whether it will be Mrs. Blaine.
with her tall, commanding figure. stern
New England face. reserved, almost ex.
elusive manner, or whether the wife of
some Democrat, say Mrs. Justice Field.
whose home Is now the old CapItol urls.
on, overlooking the Cdpitol2 Mrs. Mac.
Donald, oil whom many unkind and un
Just thugs have been written; Mrs
B'yard, whose long residence in Wash
lngton as Senator's wife, fits her for
this position, or whether we shall have
again bachelor President. as was the
case In the last Administration-thes
are questions discussed among society
people, who look on the occupant of the
White House as controlling to great ex-
tent social affairs during the Presidential
term. Should Mrs. Blaine be the mis-
tress of the White House fewer people
would see its walls aud enjoy its social
privileges than WAS the case under the
last mistress proper of the White House
Rnmors Of cabinet changes continue.
Eoatmasier-General Gresham is marked
tor eally slaughter. The President has
been made to believe that Gresham act
Ell In bad faith during the last canvass
However the President does not intend
to show resentment in too marked a de-
gree. Gresham will be retired from the
cabinet to fill the place made vacant by
the retirement OF United States Judge
Drummond, of Chicago. Folger is look
ing about for comfortable place. He
hopes to see Joe Bradley retired from the
Supreme Court before the close of the
Arthur Administration, and he further
hopes that the President will appoint
him. Chandler will remain ip to the
very last and if Blaine is elected will ex
pect to hold his seat in the Cabinet on
account OF his boiling Arthur at the yerv
last IN his refusal to go to Chicago TO
take charge of the Administration forces
there. Chandler tried hard to go against
his old master, Blaine. but his spirit
failed him at the very last. This, too
was great disappointment to Arthur MS
he had calcnlnted upon Chandler's politi
cal generalship.
The results ofthe recent change in the
letter postage cannot be definitely esli. |
mated until the expiration of the fiscal
,ear in which the new two cent rate went
into operation. which will be October /.
but it is generally believed that the rev.
snues of the department will show con.
siderable increase, or such an increase
1t least as to Justify the late reduction.
'nd possibly to warrant still further
Of rates.