Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-19

The President Has a Few Words 20
Soy About Negligence.
by telegraph to the Diapatch.l

fBy telegraph TO the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, April lS.-The Presl-
dent sent TO the Senate to-day message
vetoing the bill for the relief of Pay
master Daniel NJ. Bash, United States
army, who was robbed at Antelope
Springs, in Wyoming, in March Of last
year, of something over $1,000. The
robbery was perpetrated by cowboy
named Parker while Major Bash was at
dinner in the stage station. The money
had been left in his yalise in the stage
in charge of his escort, consisting OF a
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 defence set up be-
fore the Court of Inquiry was that
Major Bash had not been able to pro-
cure q safe. with which he should have
been provided. The President quotes
the finding OF the Court OF Inquiry as
follows:
"That Major Daniel \. Bash. pay
master Of the United States army, did not
give such direct and detailed orders to
the members Of his escort as to the man
ner in which they should guard the pub
lie money in bis tBashs) possession
while en- route to Fort Mckinney, as
the importance OF the matter required
and that he did not take the proper and
necessary pains to see that any orders
which he had given on this subject
we're duly obeyed." The President then
says: "This finding defines case OF
negligence which renders the paymas-
ter liable for the loss OF these iunds.
But a number of army officers, in
cluding members of the Court Of
Inquiry, suggest that the paymas-
ter thus found at fault should be
relieved from responsibility. This Is
much the fashion III these days. 1t IS
said that safe should have been pro-
yided that the psymaster had night
TO rely upon the fidelity and efficiency
of tine escort, and that the two men fur
nished him as au escort were unlntelli-
gent and negligent that they should
have been armed with guns instead OF
pistols, and that tho instructions given
to the escort by the paymaster were suf-
ficient to acqult him of culpable neglect.
1t seems to me that the omis-
sions Of care on the part OF tins officer
are of such nature as to render much
| that is urged in his favor irrelevant. 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 importance of having n safe. he
| must have known that in its absence adj
ditional care and watchfulness on his
part was necessary, whatever his escort
or his clerk might do. L
am thoroughly convinced that the in
terests 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 withs which army
officers join in applications for the con
donation of negligence on the part of
their army comrades does not tend, in
my opinion, to maintain that regard for
discipline and that scrupulous observ-
ance of duty which should characterize
those belonging TO their honorable pro-
iession. / cannot satisfy myself that the
negligence made apparent in this case
should be overlooked"