The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-12-16
Washington Notes.

THAT hhHklN-lAWRiNtE SCANDAL.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l5.-Nr. Barker
appeared again to-day before the com
milton examining the alleged Irregular
lties in the first cor.ptroaeRa aotiee, aud
after modifying his former tesiih ony by
saying that when he made the charges
against the judges generally, he meant
u district attorney, no was excused and
Judge Lawrence took the stand. IIe
said the accounts allowed in his Office
and cited by Barker MS Illegal were al
lowed according 10 law. Relative to the
resignation OF Barker clerk in the first
comptroller's oiilco, Judge Lawrence
said: IA claim for Sl6,5S0 State OF Flor
| ida against the United States,
was presented 10 the acting
comptroller Tor passage during tho ali
sonce OF tho first comptroller In Ohio.
The warrant was In an unknown hand
writing, and was signed hy the acting
comptroller, but detained in one of the
division oilices.n WHEN Judge ! .w-
renee returned, he said IT WAS dissov-
cred that the claim wHs fraudulent, and
he asked Barker what he knew about It.
and he replied that he knew nothing
"A few days amor" Judge Lawrence
continued, "Bgrker came to my room
and said ho would afterwards explain
tbAt matter, and next morning hu ten
dored his resignation, He has never
explained
Judge Lawrence BALD ho Lad over
ruled the decisions of former comp
trollers relative tn the payiaent OF nc
counts. lilo had also Ovortuled the do
cision OF the attorney general. Conclud
ing his testimony he said; "I respectfully
submit that the action Of the Chiei .
the division on judiciary accounts, ant
OF the present cl0rks In hia division, an(
OF tho first comptroller As 10 the nc
counts In question, is fully justified. I
10 should now or hereafter be ascer
tainod that any or all these ofhcera wer,
Imposed upon and deceived Ivy falsl
evidence In any case by on,
: or more fraudulent claims, tho d'scov
= cry can furnish no ground for any gen
eral complaint that Illegal or eXtrava
giant claims which the Compr0llo
lAs any mower ~ disallOw o
reduce have been or are being allowed
10 would be strange IL thero were no
some successful frauds practlced
b During the fiscal year endoC
June 80, 1880, tho vouchers examine,
In tho comptrolior's Office reached tn
numbers, 30, Involving S21i 300, ,3lg. 10
OF course II is physically impossib
that any comptroller can personally
Z examine these or any oOusiderabl
number of thom. The workQ is neo,s
4 sarily intuslOd IN the chief Of division
and his clerks. Thtrc wcrO claims owe
which the accounting officers have n
e control or discretion to disallow or rcdur
Z in amount They are these in whic
0 some officer authorized tO itN bv cou
= trac. or by allowance tho amount 10 d
q paid, aud those which grow Uut uf an
n are mere matters oi administrators
o Az TO these clRims, over which l HAY
o pO control, have never heard, so lar d
j. | can remember, Of hut one man In III
& United States who alleged that
r, allowed either an illegal or an e,
trayagant amount, nuu he says
A am honest; and so far ~ | can reinen
G her, have never hoard OF, but this on
Il man, who iutimated that had beon II
efficient or inattontiye 10 business.
l. The investigation viii he continue
IA tomorrow, whom witnesses will he q,
A amined relative to BnkOr's reputation
y and to his knowledge OF the traudulo
NJ claim referred to in the carly part of I
a day's testimony.
le iTLoOKs LIKE a GOOD IDEA.
A. Senator Manderson Introduced n N
10 TO increase the efficiency OF tho army, i
providing that each infantry regime
20 shall consist Of twelve companies /
to stead OF ten; and three majors
u stead OF Que NJ at presei
" IL also provides that all appointmel
r TO regular vacancies above the grade
second height shall he flied Rccordi
N to seniority in the infantry army of /
-, service.
CHIMP JusrICE WAITE SICK.
Chief Justice Waite, Of the suprei
- court, who was taken sick Saturday, "
~ absent from his seat for tho first ~
since he ASSUMED the duties OF the ofh
al ilis Illness IN not regarded ns sorio
ha but he is confined to he'd. Justice Mil
Ia is acting temporarily as chief Justice.