Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-08-20
Washington National Republican Of Aug. 10.
The Case ofPaymaster General Smith.


Smith, United States navy. The high stand
ing of the accused in social and business
circles, his recognized ability as an officer,
his brilliant war record, and the peculiar
nature of the charges brought against him
all combine to render this a cause cete6re IN
the annals of naval courts martial. l, there
| fore calls for more than passing comment.
| The charges and specifications, as officially
/ presented, are too voluminous for reprodue-
ton in these columns, but the gist Of what
/ We may call the indictment Is that the ac-
+ cused extended the time for deliveries of
articles bought under contract beyond the
time specified therein; that he enlarged con-
,racts-that is, BY bureau order increased
the amount Of articles named in the con-
tracts, and that he directed that articles
bought in one fiscal year should be paid for
out Of the appropriations for The next.
On these charges and accompanying
specifications Gen. Smith was arragned and
compelled to stand his trial by court-mar-
tIal. II was court of inquiry which for
mulated the accusations. How little the
findings of such tribunal may be depended
upon. and how easily the simplest and
most honest business transactions NAV be
misrepresented and made to appear seri-
ous offences. has been clearly demonstrated
to those who have followed the course Of
this trial.
Ia answer TO the charge that the accused
officer extended the time for the fultiment
Of contracts, increased the quantities of ar
ticles specified therein, and paid for articles
bought in one fiscal wear from the appropri-
ations made for another, sections of the Re
v!sed Statutes were quoted, which. II IS
claimed. either expressly or by implication,
confer the power TO do any and all of these
things. Il was shown that under the law
the chief Of bureau is only the agent Of
the Secretary Of the Navy. 1t was further
shown bv the testimony of the eN-Secretary
Of the Navy and by record evidence that. in
all the cases mentioned in the allegations,
he. the Secretary, either tacitly or expressly
approved the action of the paymas,er gen
eral. thereby adopting his acts and making
them his own
Mr. W. b. Moore. late deputy fourth au-
ditor appeared before the court and tesii-
fed To some twenty or thirty cases of CON
tract, that had been made by Smiths prede-
cessors in office where the time for delivery
had been extended or the quantity increased.
and in some Of these cases both had been
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