Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-06
BARKER's BATTLE
To Maintain the Truth of Recent
Assertions
MADE AGAINST SOME OFFICIALS
Allegations Of Fraud and Irregularities
Made to the Springer Investiga-
tion Committee.
WARNINGS THAT WERE NOT Needed.

WASHINGTON, December 5.-There were
lively proceedings before the Springer Com
mittee to-day. j. ]. Barker a confidential
law clerk in the Office of the First Comptrol-
Ter OF the Treasury. was heard in response
to the following letter:
WASHINGTON, d. c., December 2, 1884,.
To Hon. VIM. NJ. Springer, Chairman:
Sir: October % 1884, wrote an open
letter to the President, citing instances of
wrongful extraction of public funds rom
the Treasury. have no copy of that letter
here, but the enclosed editorials from the
Cincinnati Enquirer, of October %, will
give an idea Of its main points. am spe-
cially familiar with the manner in which &C.
counts are adjusted in the Judiciary division
of the First ComptrollerS office. In this
division the accounts of Commissioners,
Clerks, Attorneys, Marshals, etc., of the
Federal courts are finally passed upon.
The vouchers on file in the Registers
office will furnish abundant evidence
of the fact that for years it has
been the rule to make illegal allowances
to these officials through the Comptrollers
office, either by design or through inexcus-
able ignorance of plain provisions of the
law. | assert that more than one-half Of
the accounts presented by these court Off
cials contain illegal or improper charges
and that many OF these items are allowed.
These improper allowances willaggregste an
enormous sum. Convincing proof OF thestate-
msrt can be found in file rooms of the Reg
listers Office but these evidences can only be
produced by some one well informed con-
cerning the centents of the hooks and the
location of the vouchers When investiga-
tionS Of these matters have been attempted
only the papers asked for bY resolution have
been exhibited. Persons who are being in
yeStigatel do not usually volunteer evl-
dence tending to their own condemnation. Of
course, in the lengths Of letter, can only
briefly indicate the things complained of. /
should be glad to furnish your committee
with details.
Very respectfully, your o5t. servant.
Signed j. J. BARKER.
Before the Committee.
Mr. Barker consumed considerable time
in citing instances where, he alleged, vouch-
ers OF fraudulent or excessive character
were presented by United States officials
and allowed By order Of Comptroller Law
renee, in the face of protests by himself
(Barker). He said L. S. Commissioner
Shields of New York, presented an account
OF Sl4O0 for swearing supervisors Of the
election of 1880 to their accounts when the
statute provided Other means of payment
for the service. He protested against al.
lowance of this voucher, calling the atten-
ton OF the Comptroller to the law, yet the
allowance was made. United States Dis
trict Attorney Stone. Of Western Pennsylva-
MIA, he said, had filed voucher for so
days per diem in term of court where
one Of WHICH was disposed OF
by demuri er, another n6..ii::eeS3a and the other
two continued. The account was allowed
without inquiry. In the election of 1882 in
New York a voucher for thirty-three thous.
and dollars vas allowed for supervisors of
! e'ecticp, when il was shown that the super
yisors we've paid for from 6ve to ten DAY
stryice. But one day each was all the ser
vice required, and yet no evidence was pro.
due, d 10 the Comptroller to show that more
I service :hsn one day was necessary. Mr..
/ Barker mentioned a ridiculous account al
I lowen G. II. Geisburg, court officer at
Kansas CITY. No, allowed despite the earn
est proiest OF himself (Barker), who pro-
due, d the statute to show the Comptroller
that there was no authority for its allow
apce. The Comptroller, he said, replied
| that Geisburg had earned the money and 1t
| as none of their business what he did
with it.
sThe Only Man"
Barker said that he went to the Depart,
ment OF Justice at one time and called the
attention of Auditor Hodges to allowances oil
| fraudulent vouchers. Hodges, he says, re
| piled that he was the only man in the de-
partment that ever looked into the accounts
| Ilesented by officers, and that he only
| looked to see if all the papers were there.
| Barker went TO the COmptrollers office on
| Sunday morning during the past year and
! called the attention of Judge Lawrence to
the fact that the vouchers for expenses oil
| Governor Bliss, attorney in the Star Route
| trials amounting to 81. l.050, were wrong
and illegal, and warned the Judge against
| allowing them. saying: You canuot afford
! 10 sign those vouchers, Judge Lawrence.
| Tie Judge replied: Il can afford to sign
| them, for | have already done so.
Mr.. Barker said he, did not assume that
these statements should be the evidence IN
! tbis enquiry; that if two books (naming
theml were sent for, they alone contained
proof positive of all he alleged. Its only
a question of reading those books, said
| he "They will show that these fraudulent
accounts have been allowed for ten years
That is as far back as have looked, Ihe
committee will ne amazed at the amount o.
money wrongfully taken through tins di
vision of the Treasury Department.
Not New.
These things are not new" he continued
,,jor called the attention Of the chairman
oF the this committee TO them year ago
also the'attention Of Senator Van "Yck, o
Nebraska, and Harrison, OF lndiana;
NAV be said that am sour at Judge Law
renee of the Treasury Department. Ii tha
vcre true coull not have remained ther'
during this year of my knowledge OF thu
vrrnS doing. hoped By giving intorma
t;on ofit 70 correct the evils. l think Judg
svrenee is an honest and industrious man
bnt he was so wrapped up in writing his dc
c;siops (esiimable books no doubt) that n
canuo, attend to business.
JUDGE LAWRENCE
I M ~nra,