New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-02
DEPARTMENTS AT ODDS.
AN AMIABLK CONTENTION IN GOVERNMENT 0ff'0h'
INVOLVING GREAT INTEREsTs-sERioos
CHARGES UNANswERED.
TBY TELEoRAPH 10 THE TRT0UNy-1

INVOLVING GREAT INTERKsTs-sERioUs
CHARGES UNANswERED.
icy TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
Washington, July lit would appear that be-
fore the appropriation bills, which cover the eN-
penses and disbursements of the Departments Oh
the Interior and Treasury, arc finally passed by
both branches of Congress, the Democratic cry
open the books so often heard at the beginning
of the present Administration, should be promptly
and thoroughly complied with, and any delay
would appear to be fraught, not only with great
danger to that reform and morality OF the pupnc
service which is so dear to the party now in favor
hut also to threaten that great Treasury surplus
about which President Cleveland and his devoted
band of free-trade followers are so extremely so-
licitous
1t is alleged that there has been an amabie con-
tention for many months between the Commas
sioner of the General Land Office, Mr. Stocksi"soi'
and Mr. Durham, First Controller of the treasury
Departments as to the custody OF certain Nou0n'''
now, or until recently in the kccpine VI ',u M "0
counts division of the General Lana oiice' i"''o
vouchers, il is charged represent items Vi 'ooou
for survey of public land charseu "sa'n'o 'uo
Government by deputy surveyors WORK c'aiineu "
have been performed under contract, ana aiso cer-
tiiicates of deposit under the spechi deposit Ss-
Cow, - .ho omount of several hundred thousand
youcbors however, of both kinds, being items
~ account which have been ordered hung
un- or suspended" by the Commissioner OF the
General Land Office either fraudulent, illegal or
for other cogent reasons. These vouchers
vould seem to be properly in the Gus
tody of the public officer who ad-
justs the accounts of which they form the
items: and this the late Commissioner Sparks has
always maintained, as did all his predecessors.
The Commissioner of the General Land once Is
the only public official who audltS and settles the
accounts of the public lands and surveys, and ne
is obliged by statute to- transmit the accounts with
the vouchers and certificates to the FIRST Controher
of the Treasury for his examination and decision
thereon"
The wording of this statute would appear 10
settle the question as to who-or what Government
officials the proper custodian of such vouchers.
II these vouchers were withdrawn from the Ueh-
eral Land Office, the latter would, for example DE
unable TO prove in the courts that 1rauds OIL "hcn
such vouchers are the evidence, had been col'-
mittcd nor would the Land Office have the slish'-
est check upon disbursements made by the Treas
ury Department under its accounts, or PROOF OF
any erroneous or illegal payments made by Treas
ury officials said accounts.
WHAT JoHNsToN'S PROPOSAL INVOLVES.
Under these circumstances, it seem eXtraor-
dinarv that any First Controller of the Treasury
DEPARTMENT should demand that such vouchers be
given to him and prcpostcrous that any Comms-
soncr of the General Land Office should propose 10
surrender them. 1t is minated, however,
that the transfer will be made, if indeed IL mas
not been already consummated. Duo.io
Fletcher Johnston, OF kentucky', Democrs,add lr,nd
Chief of the Division of Accounts is reported
as saying that he believes Commissioner STOCK
slayer will now agree TO the transfer OF nnese
vouchers to the custody Of the Secoha dozen
mcnts were question OF mere uh-
important official detail such a change
of base would not appear to be partlctnlnrN ItrapN
IJr TRIBUNE correspondent last summer made
q specific charge that money had been rreguary
veys through the action of the Treasury Depart
ment and upon the certificate Of ITS flrst Ooni s
trollcr this charge WAS never specllcaiE ucng1 gn
either by Controller Durham or by Ofh9rai
Sparks then Commissioner of the General Land
Office In fact. the General stated 10 ine I,
correspondent that accounts nae Deen pau WnlcH t
he had not certified. and that he thought great
mistake had been made 1t further matter
Of newspaper comment at the time tnat Coii-
troller Durham ordered Comn's%1iolppa % Dr. pof GaIi
certify the accounts in favor OF the BANK OF Nati IL
fornia above referred TO, which aparks refused 10
do upon the grcun that fraud wa glieec9 r MnIo @
sdn up n Keptncky. with Mr. Bsscll. the former
law mariner of President Clcveland-who Are
said TO be attorneys il the matter ~ ao %
President to compel Sparks to adjust salu ac-
counts. but vr Cleveland referred the matter 10
the Attorney General who supported SpsraS almost
=. IN hlc that and Com Issorer Sto <slag I, so
recently i appon9 and confirmed should for Gne
moment be willing even to consider tne qurs.oSf OF
bis he Chiefs of Division Fletcher Johnston, VINO
nrSsides over the very division in which such % aG
counts are adjusted statcs-it is saano, roIIcr or
tbot be viii allow their transfer to Controller
nurbam's Office, but that he will do so because
the latter official has now under IN. GTnee of pay
Sia S.oO As.;stanf Commissioner and Comm ssoiier
Of tbe General Land Office for the period during M
which while filing the first named podIIn Ih NAV av
81 I've said that Commissioner Stockslagers loes
are those OF his own household: But by all means
lot Congress open the books"