Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-26
Startling Disclosures.

The First Comptroller of the Treasury
yesterday made ruling that is likely to
emharrass the Court Of Commissioners oil
Alabama Claims for some time to come. 1t
is in effect that the employment of twenty
four persons borne on the rolls OF the court
is entirely without warrant Of law, and that
no payments can legally be made from the
treasury on their account in the future NJ r.
Andrew II. Allen. disbursing agent of the
court, recently made acquisitions on the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury for 50, 900 to meet the
current expenses of the court. In the usual
course of business the acquisitions came be-
fore the First Comptroller, and he decided
to make an investigation ofthe affairs of The
court before authorizing the issue Of the ne
cessary warrants. His conclusions are sum-
married. in the following statement, prepar-
ed by him for publication: "The Court OF
Commissioners of Alabama Claims was ere.
atrd in 1871, TO hear proof Of claims 10 he
paid out of The SIS, 500 900 awarded by the
Geneva Commission, and was continued by
various acts until December 81, 1877. 1t was
constituted of five judges, with an annual
salary Of Sc 900 each, d clerk at 5000, q
stenographer at 81 500, and an attorney to
represent the United States ut IS 900. Pro.
vision was also made fer rent of court room,
furniture, stationary, fuel. and other neces
sary incidental expenses, all of which were
to be paid out of said Gum before judgments
were paid The court was reorganized in
1882, with the same officers and salaries as
before, except that the number Of judges was
reduced To hree. The Comptrollerine xamin-
ing the case found that outside Of the above
named officers there were on the pay rolls the
names of assistant counsel for the United
States, clerk to said counsel experts clerks
to experts, messengers, watchmen, &c,
whose aggregate salaries amounted to abou:
S34 500 per year. He also found in The
quarterly returns that there has BEEN paid
to other assistant counsel over IS 900 for
the quarter ending December 81, 1854, and
about 81 coo for the quarter ending March
81, 1855, besides other alleged illegal pay.
ments. He says he finds no law authorizing
said payments, and after consulting with
the Acting Secretary of the Treasury and
with the Solicitor of the Treasury, be has
decided to stop all future payments of the
same"
Among the employees on the pay rolls is
Mr.. Walker Blaine, at salary Of So 800 as
assistant counsel for the u S.
The Comptroller says that ali the above
named employees have been paid out Of the
provisions of the organic act authorizing
the payment of rent. stationery, printing
and other necessary Incidental expenses.
The accounts Of the disbursing agent have
been settled up to Merch 3lst last, and the
salaries Of all persons on the pay rolls have
been paid up to June so The acquisitions
which have just been refused were for ex-
penses, including salaries, for the month of
July. The Comptroller says the accounts
of the disbursing agent for the quarter end
ing August 81, when received, will fe dis.
allowed. The salaries Of the judges aud
other officers of the court who are named
10 the organic act are not affected by his
ruling.