New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-13
CENSURE FOR LEEDOM.
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON THE sILCoTT DEFALCAT1oN.
rx,,o,rrxn THE DISCOUNT BUSINESS DONE
BY THE LATE sERGEANT-AT-ARMs AND
THE PERSONAL CHECK MATTER
ACTION TAKEN BY THE
ley TELEGRAPH TO THB TRrBuSE.1

NJ the select Committee appointed to investigate the
accounts of the Sergeant alarms was read IN inc
House today there grave faces on both sdeS Oh
the chamber IT was evident from the subsequent dis
cussion, which sprung up on the motion Of Mr. Payson
10 enlarge tho powers OF the committee. that large
majority had become convinced that the scrgcantat
Arms of the House Is disbursnG officer ms Is d
matter OF much significance relating to some Of the
acts done by him and his chief subordinate OF course
II he be disbursing officer the Sergeantat Arms Is
amenable TO the laws governing other disbursing
officers of the Government II is fair to say that
there was no partisan opposition whatever by inc
to the adoption Of the resolution so lar a
1t related to enlargng the Jurisdiction of the select
committee. There difference Of opinion as 10
who should be custoran of the remnant of money and
property left by the thieves and 1t resulted IN SORT
Of compromise, which leaves the money In the JOINT
custody of tho committee the paying teller ana inc
time lock on the safe In the Office Of the Sergeantat
Arms
Tho preliminary report of the committee bears hard
on the late Sergeant alarms. All the facts SHOWN
in the dispatch published in to-days Tribune were
clearly brought out and set forth in the report and
there was no mncng words in regard to the culpabe
negligence of the late Sergeant-a Arms. who with his
counsel ex-Congressman "Phil' Thompson. STOOD
behind one OF the IN the OF the hall while
the report being read
The discount business thoroughly exploited. II
appears that members and officers of the House were
required TO pay interest the Of 10 per cent per
annum, or per month per week, they case might
he, for the of their own money. In other words,
Congressman desired his months salary five days
before 1t was due he suffered discount of 10 per
cent for the use Of his money. The wonder is
that Leedom c Co. found any shortage which they
could not meet when the day Of judgment came.
The facts respecting Mr.. Leedom's personal check
were also clearly set FORTH and made decided I'M
preston upon the House. 1t appears that this check,
for 81 .000 was given some time before the attach
ing TO IL of bond of some watch company, some
where, collateral. The collateral appears not to
have been deposited until after Leedom became
satisfied that his man scot had not been murdered,
but had disappeared with some $4,000 of public
funds.
II Is evident that the unsupported statements OF
Lecdom. ard such of his statements were con-
tradcted by other witnesses, were not regarded as by
any conclusive by the members of the Select
Committee. 1t should be understood that the report
unanimous, and that partisan aspect has been
given TO the Investigation. which, 1t is 10 be hoped,
will end In complete and thorough exposure Of all
the transactions of the late SergeantatAms 1t
seems probable that the committee will be able to
report Monday next respecting the legal status of
the Sergeant-atArms, and his responsibility 10 the
Government OF course, so far as the salaries OF
Representatives for the month of November are con-
cerned, they must be paid; and is altogether likely
that the committee will unanimously recommend an
appropriation for that purpose. That much seems
be the clear duty Of the committee and of Congress.
What stops shall thereafter be taken will be matter
for the thoughtful consideration of the committee.
IL appears that an effort is making to consolidate
partisan sympathy and support In behalf of Lecdom,
but 1t is by likely that such effort will be
buccessful. who allows $3,C0O,000 or
100000 Of public money pass through his hands
IN period Of six years vii out once knowing the state
of his accounts, calling upon his cashier for
true balance will not be likely TO find, among men Of
his party, the opposite party larger share of
sympathy and support than he deserves.
The report, which submitted by Chairman
Adams, of the Select Committee says that the total
liabilities Of the Office Of the SergeantatArms the
morning Of December S154.107 and some
cents the total assets, $s3,408; and the shortage.
s7o,79s 90. After giving the items which go 10 make
up the liabilities and assets respectively, the report
says, in part There also appears among the
the ind ridua check Of j. P. Leedom for 81 0OO on
which there has been paid the sum of $780, which
made by Mr.. Leedom and deposited with the cash in
the safe in his Office, for 81 900 drawn by him out OF
the moneys drawn from the Treasury for the pay
ment of salaries Of members. Mr.. Leedom has stated
that he was ready pay the balance. $3.50 and take
up the check There appeared. attached to this
check. bond of tho Trenton Watch Company for
$1,000. The committee Informed that this was
attached TO the check on Wednesday, December A.
1t appears that II has been the custom Of the Ser
geant-atArms TO discount the notes Of members. given
to anticipate their salary, the of So so per
month on note Of SAG; which amounts TO little
more than 10 per per annum; that the amount
Of discount received by Mr. LeedOm from September
4. 1888, down TO December 8. 1889, 81 $50 So as
appears from the books kept by Mr. Silcott 1t also
appears from the evidence that not all of the discounts
were entered upon this book. 1t Is claimed by Mr..
Leedom that some Of these discounts were made from
his present funds deposited in the safe but the com
mtee find that in several instances where notes were
discounted the money was taken from the Govern
ment fund and paid over the counter by the paying
teller and that, in general, the amount Of the note.
less the 1iscOun placed to the credit of the maker
in HIS account and the amount Of the discount appro
priated by Mr. Leedom."
The notes recently discounted by the Metropolitan
Bank for silcott which notes puported be drawn by
Congressman, pronounced forgerieS by the com
mittee. The report discusses SicOtt's disappearance
condemns Leedoms lax management of the affairs OF
his office, and exonerates from blame Mr. Baentine,
the paying teller and Mr. Seller, tho bookkeeper.
The report closes follows:
The committee have restricted themselves to
presentation of the facts far they have yet ap
peared, believing that they confined thereto by the
terms of the resolution under which they ap-
pointed
Mr. Payson. OF Illinois, Immediately upon the con
cluson of the reading of the report, offered resol
ton. for which he asked immediate consideration.
authorizing the committee not only TO examine the
accounts OF the Sergeant at Arms's Office and TO
port thereon but TO take charge Of al the assets OF
The ONCE until the further order of the House; to
receive any proposal from Mr.. Lcedom. any one
VITA authority to act for him, for making good any
cenechc!' ana also to make full report TO the
ehect OF any deficiency, and especially as TO any
unpaid salaries of the members of this House ac.
cpmpauying the report with a bill, if necessary. Mr.
Payson said that the concluding paragraph Of the
report Of the Select Committee was the explanation
for tae offering OF The resolution.
Mr.. Bland. OF Missouri, said that IL the Sergeant.
alarms was discussing Oiiccr OF the GOvepm nj a
mari az tha 4
the Government, and should be in custody of tb
Treasury. How had the House, by a colnm,Ites or
otherwise, a right 10 take custody Of tina; money nm
less the sergeant Arms had been acting a. lis asent
Mr.. PaysOn said that the answer this: The
money was there, and there a dispute as IN VIII
had control over il. The Treasury discaimed response
biliiy 1t could not be given 70 the new TO The