The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-09-04
NATIONAL NOTES.

4
The Late Pension Agent at Philadelphia
Taraiy In Settlement-The Court Of Ala
bama Claims Defended-Army Officers
Pc n~ions.
WASHINGTON, August 29.-It IS stated
at the Treasury Department that A. Wilson
Norris, late Pension Agent Of Philadelphia,
is causing the accounting officer of that
department no little trouble because of his
failure to forward his accounts for the
month Of June last Mr.. Norris was re-
moved July Z, and according to the Treas
nrer's report, had up to July 81, failed to
account for advances amounting to $l76,-
| III Judge Williams. Third Auditor of the
Treasury. has several times requested the
agent to forward his accounts for examine
ton, but SO far Norris has not taken the
slightest notice of his letters. In making
his last formal request the Third Auditor
called Mr.. Norris attention to sections 1922
and 549l OF the Revised Statutes. which
requires that all officers who hold public
funds for disbursement shall render q
monthly account within ten days after the
expiration of each successive month, and
provide that officers who fail to comply
with this requirement shall be deemed guilty
of enlightenment and subject to fine and i'm
prsonment. This letter, it is said. has pro-
duced no better effect than its predecessors,
and the department officers are in some
what of a quandary as to how TO proceed.
There are no imputations against the sOfii-
cial integrity of Norris.
I PHILADELPHIA, Pa, August 29.-Colonel
/ Norris. eX-pensiOn agent being out of
Town. Mr.. Huckle, his clerk. who has been
preparing the accounts of the pension Of
! flee for the last month of his chiefs Occu-
| pancy of the place, was seen last evening,
and said that only one letter had been re-
ceived from the department since Norris
( left his position, and that within few
/ lays. THE Sl76,117 referred to in the
| dispatch" said Huckle, ''never has been in
I the possession of Colonel Norris, nor could
he draw against it. The money. az the
people at Washington know, is at the pres
ent moment in the Treasury Department.
1t is there to Colonel Norris credit, but he
could not now nor at any time since his re-
mOval draw against it. The money is to
/ mis- credit as disbursing officer, and as he is
no longer such he has no power over it. OF
course until the accounts are all in this
money remains technically to his credit and
,an not be covered into the Treasury until
The delay in presenting these accounts is
OWING to the fact that they are being made
! lp by Colonel Norris own clerks and are
very tedious. They will be sent down in a
few days"
! WASHINGTON, August 29.-Judge Asa
p. French. of the Court Of Alabama Claims,
arrived in the city to-day. Speaking in re-
gard to the recent decision of Comptroller
Durham, he said that the question as to the
light of the court to employ the necessary
assistants was considered when the old
court was organized, and it was decided
that they had the authority. The new
court was modelled upon the old with the
exception only that there were three Judges
instead of five. Secretary Fish, and subse-
luentiy Secretary Frelinghuysen, Comp
roller Lawrence and the other officers hav-
ny charge of the accounts decided that the
court had the right to employ assistant
counsel and clerks. Judge Creswell, the
special counsel. says the question was
thoroughly discussed and the authority of
lie court conceded. 1t was impossible, he
said. tor the court to do otherwise than en-
oloy assistant counsel to cross-examine wit
nesses in various parts of the country. He
says Secretary Fish at one time decided that
The United States Minister ut Hawaiian
tSIJltUS Co'ltu TectlNe ices lTOtH Tile
for services rendered as special counsel.
WASHINGTON, August 29.--Bat three of
The army officers affected by Secretary Endi-
,Oit's recent order. sending men on long
detached duty back to their regiments. have
complied with the Secreiary's instructions.
These are Captain William N. Wherry. of
General Schofeld's staff. who has been on
detached service eighteen years and three
months: Lieutenant c. b. Schoield, of
General Schoed's staff. on detached duty
six vears and nine months. and Captain j.
5. Wharton. of General llancOck's staff, on
detached duty seventeen years. Several of
The officers who have not complied with the
,rder have telCgraphed here asking that ex-
,eptiOns be made in their cases. and their
friends in Washington have replied that no
exceptions will be made. 1t is reported
tat some of the officers who have been on
ong detached service will resign the army
before they will rejOin their regiments.
WASHINGTON, August 29.-The Treasury
Department has paid out about Sl0,000,C0O
on account of pensions so far this month.
1t is therefore expected that the decrease
If the public debt for August will not be as
.rge as usual.