Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-13

WASHINGTON, December 12.-The par
tial report of the Silcott Investigating Com
mittee, submitted to the House to-day, states
that shortage of $40, 1913 was found in the
Office of the Sergeant-at-Armso of the House.
The report continues;
There appears among the assets the individ-
ual check of ]. D. Leedom for $1,000, on which
there has been paid Sl50. and the balance Of
| $3.50 is unpaid. The check was made by Mr.. Lee
dom and deposited with the cash in the safe in
his Office for $1,000 drawn by him out of the
moneys drawn from the Treasury for the pay
nent of salaries of members. Mr.. Leedom has
stated that he was ready to pay the balance,
| $780, and take up the check. There appeared at
tached to this check a bond of the Trenton
Watch Company for 81, 600. The committee are
| informed that this was attached to the check
on Wednesday December
discrepancy OF S. ~ is stated 70 exist De-
tween the balance of $l6,657 which the COM
mittee found remaining in the National Metro
politan Bank to the credit of 9. +. Silcott,
cashier, and SIS, ,902. which should have been
there according to the books of the Sergeant
at Arms. This account of G. F. SIlcott, Cash
ier, with the National Metropolitan Bank has
not been as yet sufficiently investigated by
your committee.
ONE OF THE CUSTOMS.
It appears that it has been the custom Of the
Sergeant at Arms to discount the notes of
members given to anticipate their salary, at
the rate of So so per month on a note of $4l6,
which amounts to a little more than 10 per
cent per annum; that the amount Of discount
received by Mr.. Leedom from the 4th of Sep
tember 1885, down to the 9th of December,
1889, was s, ,S5e, as appears from the books kept
by Mr.. Silcott. 1t also appears from the evil
dence that not all of the discounts were en-
tered upon this book.
1t is claimed by Mr.. Leed0m that some Of
these discounts were made from hlS9pers0nal
funds deposited in the safe. but the committee
find that in several instances where notes were
discounted the money was taken from the Gov
eminent fund and paid over the counter by the
paying teller; and that in general. the amount
of the note, less the discount was placed to the
credit of the maker in his account, and the
amount of the discount appropriated by Mr..
leedom. Itappears in one case, on September
20. A number OF these notes, amounting to
IS, S40 were discounted at the National Metro
politan Bank, and the amount credited to the
account of c. F. Silcott, Cashier.
VERY LATE DISCOUNTS.
It also appears from the books of the National
Metropolitan Bank that on the 18th day of Sep
tember last they discounted notes purporting
to have been made by members of Congress
for the amount of $4l6 each, and due on the 4th
day Of December. instant amounting to the
sum of $l4,560 Nearly all the gentlemen whose
names were alleged to have been signed to
these notes have appeared before the commit
tee and stated that said notes were forgeries
There is no doubt in the minds Of your COM
mittee that these notes were forged by Mr.. Sill
colt and discounted at this bank, in order to
cover defalcations previously made.
The committee narrate the well-known
story OF Silcott's withdrawal of the money
from the Treasury and his subsequent flight,
and continue:
The cash was kept in two distinct compart-
ments of the safe, one under the control of the
paying teller, and the other under the control
of Mr.. Silcott. The paying teller kept an ac-
count of the receipts and disbursements of
cash under his control, and counted his cash
from day to day. There is no deficiency in the
cash under his control. These balances after
deducting the amount of cash on hand, from
day to day, were under the control of Mr.. Sill
cott and in his compartment of the safe.
NEVER COUNTED THE CASH.
1t appears that that portion Of the cash has
never been counted during the six years of
Mr.. Leedom's incumbency by any other person
than Mr.. Silcott. and it does not appear that
Leedom ever required or asked for a count OF
the cash, during the whole time. until the
evening of the 5th inst, when the deficiency
appeared.
Mr.. Leedom seems to have exercised no care
full supervision of the interests committed to
his care by the House. Your committee have
no criticism to make upon the manner in which
Henry l. Ballentine, the paying teller. and ].
n. Teller, the bookkeeper, have discharged
their duties during the entire period of the
services. They appear to have done their whole
duty.
Mr.. Payson, of Illinois, offered resolu-
tion continuing the committee and giving it
enlarged powers, on which long debate
sprung up, after which resolution was
adopted extending the powers of the select
committee, so that it may report to the
House its conclusions as to the effect of any
deficiency of cash in the Office of the Ser
geant at Arms.
LOOKING OUT FOR THE FUTURE.
A resolution was adopted in the House |
this afternoon, directing Sergeant at Arms
Holmes to arrange with the Treasury Off |
-cials to nay the mileage of members and |
delegates. It was Immediately engrossed |
and taken to the Department by Mr.. |
Holmes. The officials at the Department |
Immediately proceeded to the task of draw |
ing checks to the order of individual mem |
bers, which will be given to the Sergeant at |
Arms, and by him properly distributed. |
This relieves that officer from any RESPONSE |
bility in handling the money until it can |
definitely be determined whether he is a |
disbursing officer.
Mr.. Wilkinson, of Louisiana, this after |
noon announced the death of his colleague,
e. j. Gay, of the Third Louisiana district, |
and as a mark of respect to the memory of |
the deceased, the House adjourned until |
Monday. The Senate has also adjourned |
till Monday.