The National tribune., 1889-12-12
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at tie Ma
iiOnal Capital

II |.
the Cashier Of the Sergeant Arms of the
House of Representatives for the past six years,
while the Democratic party had control OF the
House, was defaulter TO a very large amount OF
money ranging from $4,000 to 100000. The
exact amount cannot be known as yet, but
from the best data at hand, the loss is fixed al
81. 500 of Government money. and $4,000 of
the private funds of Sergeant-at-Arms Lee
dom, while great many Members of Congress
who keep private accounts with the Sergeant
alarms, he doing general banking business
under the law, are depostors OF considerable
amounts; and a large lot of this money has
also gone with the absconder.
This can hardly be called case of another
good man gone wrong. as Silcott was man oi
somewhat shady reputation, but he was man
of good address and thus had won the conf
dence of the Members of the House. But he
was well known AS frequenter OF pOol-rooms,
houses Of ill-repute and race-tracks, and has
been known TO wager large sums OF money on
horses aud various games Of chance.
He has wife and family living in Washing
ton, and yet was living with dIsreputahle
woman whom he had taken from bagnio
south Of the Avenue. upon whom he lavished
ali sorts of Injuries and she is said TO be the
principal cause of his downfall As the woman
was not found when the defalcation IS dis
covered, the natural inference was that they
are together and are now forming portion Of
where tie law cannot reach them, for time at
least.
The startling news was impaired to the
House immediately upon its assembling on
Thursday morning. There were 329 Congress
men in Washington WHO had not received their
pay for November aud il was rumored that
there was something unusual in the air, al
though hut few Of the members were in the Sc
cret, SO when the House was called TO order
there was an omInous silence. When Speaker
Reed arose and glanced at a sheet of paper,
pin could have been heard if it had been drop
ped. lie said that be held in his hand Il COM
muHication from Sergeant at Arms Leedom, and
read II 10 the House. Ii said: regret 10 report
that {. J.. Silcott, late Cashier OF the Office of
Sergeant at Arms, has departed from this city
without settling his accounts; and / have been
unable TO ascertain his whereabouts, and there
is a deficiency in the cash of the office. In
view of these circumstances j respectfully re-
quest an immediate investigation of my
counts under such action as the House OF Rep
resentatives may take in the premises"
Immediately there was great confusion, and
then Mr. Adams, OF Illinois. was on his feet
aud introduced s resolution authorizing the
appointment Of committee of seven 10 inves-
tgaie the Office OF the Sergeaut-at-Arms. The
resolution was adopted, and the House immedi-
ately adjourned.
Mr.. Silcott was appointed Cashier by Ser
T.
confidence IN him, and he was the only person
who knew the combination OF the big safe
where the funds were kept. He has had every
facility for getting hold of the money of the
Members, because for a number Of years il has
been the practice for the Sergeant alarms 10
send each Member printed slip, on which the
Congressman acknowledged the receipt of his
monthly salary. This slip was then given the
Cashier. who took il 60 the Treasury Depart
ment then handed the Member the money. or
placed n IN the safe subject 10 his order As
this saves the Members a trip 10 the Treasury
Department. the plan was generally approved
As before mentioned, a goodly number Of
Members who are wealthy. and who also have
lots OF outside transactions, have deposited
money with the Sergeant at Arms, besides some
oi them have left salaries which have accumu-
lated from two to nine months II is easy 10
see how 4 rascal like Silcott could take adyan-
tsge Of their credulity and yictiInize some OF
these astute politicians out Of some $1,000 to
Ss,0yJ of their money outside Of the money
Que them for salary. But this is nevertheless
the case
Silcoit was brought here by Mr. I,eedon
some SIX years ago. when he was first elected
fseTge;tiit-at-Arms and his good business quail
ncaDous soon gave him the unlimited conf
dence OF las superior. Last Saturday week he
drew ever Sl33.000 from the Treasury. lie then
disburDed some $4,000. and after taking $I0.-
V
l-eeaom. and leaving some $4,000 ia the safe
of which he alone had the combination.
he departed on leave Of absence to New
AOrks where lie told Mr. Lseedem he had to
20 for signatures Of some the Members. lie did
lot show up when due and telegfaphed both
has wife aud Mr. Leed0m that be had been uu-
sxpeciediy detained. This is the last that has
been heard OF him. The money left in the
safe however, was not left there except for the
reason that IL was money set apart for the use
Ot the paying teller and was protected by
separate door and lock. Of which Silcott did
not have the key. The Scrgeant-at- A rms saws
however, that silcott coald have obtained not
less $4,000 had he desired TO do so.
Mr. LeedOm is under bonds for $4,000 and
eK representatives Paige. Of Ohio, aud FELTON,.
of California, are his boBdsmeu Besides this,
Silcot Is under bonds 10 Mr. LeedOn In the
sum OF $4,000. Mr.. LeedOm will he saws
deliver up al his property, amounting 10 about
&0,0DJ. 20 the Government will lose but little
d anything, and there is no doubt but what
great enorts wili be made 70 bring the rogue
Sileott % justice. No blame seems To attach
% Mr. BeedOm. except oyerweening confidence
an has Cashier, who has proven himself r0t only
one OF The greatest deiaulters Of the decade
but also an unnitigated scoundrel from tbc
lact that he puriOined some $4,000 Of his en-
ployer and beneiact0r's money along with that
Of The Government, and has left his farnily IN
almost absolute penury, 10 60 of with CON-
mon prostitute.
REMOVAL or THE WEATHER BUREAU.
IN his message President Harrison recon.
Tnencs tho removal Of the Weather RHre.n
from the Mar Department 10 the Agricultural
department, which Secretary Rask heartily
approves Ine Secretary thinks the Weather
Bureau concerns the farmers more than a,y.
cody Else and for this reason fayors the trans
ler. heu. Greely. the Chief Signal Officer OF
The army, however, does not altogether agree
win thc Ffesidcnts recommend datiou. and saws
there has been several efforts made 10 fjK the
Bureau Oh definite basis, but this has meyer
yet been accomplished, and to-day the service
D. heterogeneous composed Of several different
elements without binding, effective orgauiza
ton. He thinks - interesting 70 note that AZ
TIE last session Of Congress the Senate defeated
the proposition % transfer the Bureau bV a
majority of % 10 votes while the Honse
has 0h two different occasions voted In favor
81 the transfer. The transfer would cost the
Government, ia Gen. Grccly's opiufon AZ
least 100000 10 $4,000 more Der annuu
Tor IT. support than il does now. part 30
this sum g0uld be required for extra Nancy
that would have To be paid to civilians who
would take the places Of Army officers now on
duty In the Bureau, while a large part would
have 10 bee expended 10 compensate the men on
OUTSIDE stations FOR extra duty on the basis ~
the claAl-hOur law. The salary LIST az oI,eerU,-
ere would be increased fully 33l per cent far
where Que man ls nov stationed there tVouId
bee two required under tie Civil Service y,,Ie
Telegraph operators now enlisted would have
10 De fEtld regular commercial salaries rrpt.rs