New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-12
CONTROLLER DURHAM TAKEN TO TASK.
MR.. CREswELL DEMANDS his SALARY AND UsHEEs
MR. BAYARD INTO TILE CONTROVERSY.


Mr.. BAYARD INTO TIE CONTROVERSY,
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-Judge Harlan, pre-
siding judge Of the Court of Alabama Claims being still
detained in the West by Sickness the communication
addressed by him Secretary Bayard in regard to the
disbursements OF the court Is still withheld from publ
cation but in the meantime breezy correspondence has
started with First Controller Durham by exsena
tor Creswe counsel the United states before the
court, whose salary Mr.. Durham has sus-
pended. In letter dated September IL,
and just served upon Mr. Durham, Mr.
Creswel refers with surprise to certain statements
given out to newspapers with respect to his official
salary and position He soys to the First Controllers
Knowing you to be the highest accounting officer OF
the Government am unwilling TO supp0se-in fact can
not beieve-thar these articles emanated from you
whatever upon the subject. l do not know from any
official source whether my salary has been stopped
August II You have refused To pass it, have left me
t yo si h az 70 .s reSOhS mncn d %
pose of presenting my views I'm support the claim.
Referring to the original act establish
ing the Court, Mr. Creswen says
that motion OF Senator Secretary Bayard,
-. 900 was agreed upon his salary. and he asks:
Who shall give meaning to this proyls0 but the sena
thory than the very Senator who amended the
amendment to meet his views and then proceeded
What Mr. Bayafd sa G propose to p9t that oicer
IA level with the Attorney General OF the United
$1,000 winch seems 10 me- Is enough Tor his services
This difference between Mr. Bayard the side and
his brother senators who agreed with him, and yourself
the other Is rrecOhcldblc and the inference Is inev
table either that Senator Bayard and his conreres did
not know the meaning OF their oN language or that
Controller Durham Is ia
Mr Creswe says the present attitude OF Controller
Durham Is an attempt to revive provision which both
the Court and Senate thought "most onerous and
pleasant" and which the law makers believed they had
forever precluded
DO you he asks, mean say that have not earned
$1,000 per anuum for the three years past and that
prove IL by measuring my work by the system
OF allowances II So let us Try your plan
There have been died In this court since s Organiza
ton July 10. $50, less than 75l petitions claim
ing ia the aggregate S2s,OO0,OOO, Without Interest
These Involve every conceivable complication
fact and intrcacy OF law, and represented by
able counsel appear in any Of the Of this Dis
Ia all AGO have been tried and disposed Of
than $50, and for cases dismissed. have
left 1868. which multiplied by $50, the rate OF fee
prescribed 10y the statute, gives the comfortable sum
OF ~33oO for docket fees alone saving nothing OF the
smaller cuses, which together would perhaps an sunt 10
much There remain 10 DE tried
IiGB In these docket fees
alone would amount to over $4,000. Do
you think on this showing, any good could be effected
by going back 10 he original act long discarded
ht Congress Your plan viii unnecessary trouble
aud consume valuable tmo. and turn tho court fro It's
pressing and upr duties, but It In no wise
diminish my compensation.
Mr. Creswcl closes by making formal demand for the
continued payment OF MS salary assanotonedby law and
usage heretofore for detailed statement writing
81 the objections ~ the First Controller that he may
be able 20 ukc the proper steps to maintain his rights.