The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-19
A PAYMASTER MUST PAY.
THE PRESIDENT DECLINES TO EX-
CUSE CAREL ESSNESS.


The Officer Left Government Funds in
Charge Of Two Subordinates While
He Went to Dinner-Ihey Failed to
Do Their Duty and a Cowboy Stole
the Doodle.
WASHINGTON, April 1s.-The President
sent to the Senate to-day a message vetoing
the bill for the relief of Paymaster Daniel
NJ. Bach, United States Army, who was
robbed at Antelope Springs, in Wyoming
Territory, in March of last year, of some
thing over $1,000 The robbery was perpe-
trated by cowboy named Parker, while
Maj. Bach was at dinner in the stage sta
tion. The money had been left in his
valise in the stage in charge of his escort,
consisting of Sergeant and one private.
The escort, however, abandoned their charge
and went to dinner. When they returned
the money was gone, and so was Parker.
One Of the points of defense set up before
the court of inquiry was that Maj. Bach
had not been able to procure a safe, with
which he should have been provided.
QUOTING THE FINDING.
The President quotes the finding of the
court of inquiry as follows:
That Major Daniel n. Bach, Paymaster of the
United States Army, did not give such direct
and detailed orders to the members of his
escort as to the manner in which they should
guard public money IN his (BaCh 81 possession
while EN- route 10 Fort Mckinney as the import
ence of the matter required, and that lie did
not take proper and necessary pains to see that
any orders which he had given on this subject
were duly obeyed.
The President then says:
t'This dudipo, da0uas caca ~ nauiipapga
which renders the paymaster liable for the loss
of these funds but number of army officers,
including the members of the court Of inquiry,
suggest that paymaster thus found at fault
should be relieved from responsibility This is
much the fashion in these days. 1t is said that
"A safe should have been provided; that the pay
master had right to rely upon the fidelity and
efficiency of his escort and that the two men
furnished him escort were uuinteligent
and negligent; that they should have been armed
with guns instead of pistols; and that the in
were sufficient to .acquit. him of culpable
neglect.
SHOULD HAVE MADE HIM CAREFUL.
1t seems TO me that the omissions of care on
the part of this officer of such nature as to
render much that is urged in his favor irrele-
want. He had charge of this money. 1t was
his care, vigilance and Intelligence which were
the safeguards of its protection. If he had as
full an appreciation as he indicates of the i'm
portance OF having safe, he must have
known that in its absence add
tiOnal care and watchfulness on his part was
necessary whatever his escort or clerk might
do | am thoroughly convinced
that the interests of the public would be better
protected IL fewer private bills were passed
relieving officials upon slight and sentimental
grounds from their pecuniary responsibilities,
and the readiness with which army officers join
IN application for condonation of negligence on
the part of their army comrades does not tend
in my opinion, to maintain that regard for dis
cipline and that scrupulous Observance OF duty
which should characterize those belonging to
their honorable profession. | cannot satisfy
myself that the negligence made APPARENT in
this case should be overlooked.