Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-06
STOLEN SALARIES.
Many Congressman Lose
Small Amounts.
DoINGs OF THE NEW CONGRESS.
A New Taritf-fOr-Revenue-0nly Bill
Introduced in the Senate by
Voorhees,.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

voorhees,.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, December 5.-From
present appearances Edward Silcott,
cashier Of the sergeant-at-Arms of the
House of Representatives, has fed, car
rying off $72, 900 of the funds entrusted
to his care.
Silcott was an employee who came
here from Ohio. He was appointed by
Leedom six years ago. He had good
business qualifications and soon pos
sessed himself of the unlimited conf
dence of his superior. Last Saturday he
notified Leedom that he was going to
New York and would be back Sunday.
A message was received from him,
dated New York. Monday morning,
saying that he had been detained, but
would return that night. A similar
message reached his wife in this city.
Az he did not appear Tuesday, Lsedom
was fearful that he had been overtaken
by some accident, but to satisfy rising
suspicion he began investigating. Infor-
nation that Silcott had drawn his bank
balance deepened these suspicious, and
the inquiry was pursued. The enormous
Office safe could not be opened at the
moment, as Silcott had the combination,
but when an entrance was finally effected
it was found that some $50, 900, set apart
for the use Of the paying-teller, was in
tact.
The next inquiry was made at the
Treasury Department, where Leedom
was informed that Silcott had called
there Saturday and had drawn about
$72,0 1t was possible for him to draw
this large sum without exciting COM
ment, as he had long time been charged
with the duty of collecting the money
with which the salaries OF the Repreeen-
tatives are paid.
Silcott is under bonds in the sum of
$50, 900. This is, however, an indem-
nifty bond given to the Sergeant-at-Arms,
and Leedom, who is himself bonded in
the sum of $4,000, is directly Iespons-
ible for the shortage. Leedom says Sill
colt could have taken 100000 just as
easily.
WHY HE DIDN'T TAKE MORE.
A number of Representatives were in
the habit Of keeping individual deposits
with the Sergeant at Arms, and their
losses when sscertained, may swell the
sum total considerably.
Later information is to the effect that
the paying teller's funds, although in
the same safe where Silcott kept his
money, were protected by separate
lock and a steel door. This may explain
their preservation.
What concerns the members of the
House most deeply is whether in giving
signed certificates to the Sergeant-at-
Arms on which they obtained the money
from the Treasury, they have not re-
leased the Government from liability for
their salaries.
Opinions on this case vary.
A WOMAN IN THE CASE.
N. E. Silcott came from Youngstown,
Ohio, where he was merchant for many
years. Mr.. Leedom says he seems to
have no more than an ordinary mans
share of vices, and was one of the most
economical men he ever saw. Pereons
who knew Silcott's habits, however, do
not give him good name. 1t was said
he was intimate with a diereputable
woman, going by the name of Louise
Barrett, whom he had supported
for some time, and it is as.
serted she is now his companion.
This, however, is open to question. He
also. had the reputation Of playing the
races steadily, and of lending money to
his associates at the Capitol to back
horses. Silcott leaves q wife and three
children behind. The Oldest ia mar
ried son employed in the House docu-
ment room. The object of Silcott's visit
to New York Saturday, it is said, was for
the purpose of collecting $4,000 from
ex-Congressman Page, of Ohio, which
amount Silcott had loaned him out of
the funds in his custody.
CoNGREssMEN WHO LOSE.
Among the Congressman who lose per-
sonal deposits are: Rife, of Pennsyl-
vania, $500; J. D. Taylor, of Ohio,
s., 900; BouteIle, of Maine, $1,5OO;
Bayne, of Pennsylvania, 81 600; Butter
worth, of Ohio, 5000; Hermann, of Ore
gon. 81, 500; Pickler, Of North Dakota,
5000; Cornell, of Nebraska, $2,10O; and
Owen, of Indiana. 81, 500.
Several Congressman had left their
salary in the Sergeant-at-Arms' hands
for nearly year. and these are the
heaviest losers. Mr.. Turner, of Kansas,
said the question Of members losing
their salary would depend ON whether
the act creating the Office made the
Sergeant-at-Arms Government repre-.
sentative, or whether, as seemed proba-
BILE from the fact that mem bers signed
authorizations, he was representative
of theirs. In the first case the Govern.
ment, and in the second the members
themselves, would be the losers.
TEE CALIFORNIA VICTIMS.
The California delegation loses as fol-
lows: Morrow, $4l6; McKenna, $3I6 :;
Vandever, 1892; De Haven, $4l6 |;
Biggs, s416. Mr.. Clunie had on deposit
So, ,750, but had not signed his receipt,
and, having stopped payment at the
banks, he is believed to be safe.