The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-05
A CONFESSION OF FRAUD.
Alleged DOings i'm the Agricultural Bu.
reau Under Republican Rule.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 29.-Frank Thoma, Of
1912 Columbia avenue, to-day told an inter
esting story of alleged fraud in the Agricul
tural Bureau in Washington.
81 entered the employ of Col. L. G. Nor
row, editor of the Washington Sunday Ga
zette," said Mr.. Thoma, ''as bookkeeper on
July u, 1888. About the beginning of July,
1884, Col. Morrow told me that he would get
me place in the Department of Agriculture,
where ] should have nothing to do except to
collect the salary twice a month and give it
to him. For doing this he promised to In
crease my salary as bookkeeper in his office,
but he never raised it a cent, and keptputtlng
me off by saying that if Logan was elected he
should get a soft place, and would be able to
help the whole Office. On July 10 received
my appointment from Chief Clerk Carman,
who was at that time acting Commissioner.
| was instructed to report to MIR. Carman,
who told me when he saw me that if l was
wanted he would send for me, and in the
meantime | was to draw my salary. On the
18th and 29th of each month L went to the
pay clerk at the department. He gave me
the money in an envelope, which l handed
over to Col. Morrow. | never did any work
for the department. In fact, the only room
in the building / ever saw was the pay clerk s.
As Morrow SAID, all [ had to do was to collect
the salary. | was appointed on July 10th,
1884, and was furloughed on April 9TH, 1885.
| was paid during the nine months | held
Office almost 5000, the rate being $1,000
year. never passed any civil service exam
ination. | was put on furlough by Mr. Car
man Just before the new Commissioner ar
rived. Mr.. Carman was discharged soon
after. Several other employees were furlough-
ed at the same time that L was.
II had nothing further to do with the De-
Z - l,,TT bod 10Th rnrr
to do with the police. A short time after
ward Col. Morrow discharged me from the
/ Gazette for some petty reason. | was angry,
and talked to my friends about the affair.
showed them Carman's letter giving me the
appointment, and his letter putting me on
| furlough. Col. Morrow wanted to get hold of
these letters, and told Lieut. Arnold, of the
| Fifth district, something about them. Lieut.
Arnold sent for me, and | showed him the
| letters in Col. Morrow presence. OF course,
as the letters were mine, Lieut. Arnold said
| had a perfect right to keep them.
Auditor Chenowith, of the Treasury De-
! partment, by investigating, can easily prove
/ the truth of my statements regarding my re-
ceiving the money from the Department of
Agriculture. The cash book of the Sunday
( Gazette will show Col. Morrow S regular re-
ceipts of the money twice a month. On the
/ 18th of each month | always received $50,
and on the 29th between S47 and $53. Be-
fore | was appointed to the position in the
/ department j ohm l.. Shaw, an editorial writer
on the Gazette, held it until his death. He
never did any regular work in the department.
He occasionally did little proof reading for
the office"
The following are the three letters which
! Thoma says Col. Morrow was anxious to
| obtain:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
/ WASHINGTON, d. c., July 10, 1854.
! Frank ThOma is hereby appointed to position III
the Statistical Division at the annual compensation
of 200 and will report for duty to the chief OF the
| department. L. A. CARMAN, Acting Commissioner.
| July Is.
DEAR COLONEL: I enclose letter of appointment
for Mr.. ThOma. Please have him report to me Oh
Tuesday next. Very truly yours E. A. CARMAN
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, April I, 1885.
! Frank ThOmd, Esq.
MY DEAR SIR: | regret to inform you that on &C
count of the exhausted state of the statistical appro
priation large reduction of the clerical force is
necessary, and that you hereby turloughed from
! the 10th inst Very respectfully,