Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-09
A Discussing OFFICER REMOVED.
The Investigation Of Gen. Ewimg's Ac-
counts shows a shortage.

The First Controller OF the Treasury has recently
been overhauling the accounts OF Gen. James w.
Ewing, the appointment and disbursing clerk OF
the Department OF Justice, and, 1t is claimed, has
discovered a shortage OF from $1,000 to 10000
The Controllers attention was first called to the
accounts by the dilatory manner In which returns
from Gen. Ewing's Office came in to him and at va
rous times he asked the general to be more prompt
In his reports. Gen. Ewing said, In explanation OF
his delay, that the duties OF his double position
rendered It almost impossible to prepare his re-
turns promptly. The Controller finally called the
attention OF the Attorney-General to the matter,
The work OF investigation was completed yester-
day, and the statement has gone forth that the
accounts show an apparent deficiency OF about
$4,000. Gen. Ewlng'S bond Is for $4,000, Repre-
sentative Nathan Con- Jr., being one or the securi-
ties 1t is said that s. 900 OF the shortage belongs
to the accounts for 1852, 's3 and 81 and that the
delinquency in rendering accounts runs back as
far as the 1irstnamed year. Gen. Ewing was ap-
pointed number OF years ago from West Virginia,
and was Union soldier with good record
EwING's SUCCESSOR APPOINTED.
The Attorney General has removed Gen. Ewing
from Office and appointed as his successor Frank
o. Branigan, OF Steubenville, Ohio. The appoint
ment was made on the recommendation OF Assist
ant Secretary Thompson. The office Is within the
classified service 42Oool, and II was necessary TO
Attorney General Garland told Secretary Fair
child at the cabinet meeting yesterday that he
would like the latter to fnd him good l,SoO
democratic clerk for position IN the Department
Of Justice, and the selection Of Mr.. Branigan was
the result. He will assume his new duties as soon
as his bond is approved probably tomorrow. The
new appoinree was appointed to 81 200 clerkshp
In 1885, under civil service rules. and has been ad-
vanced with great rapidity. He is good demo-
crat, and Is about twenty-six years old.
RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION.
The committee appointed to investigate GEM
Ewing's accounts discovered shortage OF about
$500. Gen. Ewing claims that this deficiency
can be accounted for, that most OF 1t was caused
by disallowed re1u1sitiOns among them being those
for the portraits OF ex-AttOrney Generals Devens
and Mcveigh.
II is understood, however, that the investigating
committee did not take into consideration any OF
the items which had been dsallowed by the ac-
counting officers, but that nevertheless Gen.
Ewing's accounts were found TO be nearly $4,000
short The matter is disposed OF so far as the De-
partment OF Justice is concerned but It Is proba-
BILE that 1t will take several weeks to carefully in
vestigate the accounts in the Treasury Depart
ment. The Government will not sustain any loss.
SO slow have the vouchers been coming in to the
First Controllers office from the Department Of
Justice that the requisitions for money from Gen.
Ewing were pared down To the lowest point and
there was but $33 on hand yesterday.