New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-23
JUDGE DURHAm TO BE ASKED TO ANSWER
THE EX.CoNTROLLEgs ACTION IN PAWN"
NEARLY 1000 on UNCERTIFIED voUCH'
TRS TO BE REVIEWED


Washington. Aug 90 (speclar. The Treasury De
partment will probably be asked before long to open
UP case which has about died out OF the memory vi
news paper readers and exConiroller Durham ana MS
bondsmcn may be called 10 answer to sun io'
S4s,050 paid fraudulent vouchers. IL was III ','
time OF Commissioner SPARKS that the attorney ior '
holders Of deputy surveyors vouchers to the aihoun'
named went before Controller Durham and mahe a'eu'
ment for their payment. These vouchers had pc'"
issued under an old law which had provided 'ha''
when surveys desired by private individuals they
could be made provided certain sum OF money was
paid into the Treasury the expenses Of each survey
be paid out of this deposit vouchers approved W
the Commissioner Of the General Land once i"'
vouchers IN question issued for work for winch "
deposit had been made. The work was principally j"
California seine Of II was in Utah.
AS no deposit had been made. Commissioner oparA'
refused 10 certify these vouchers to the Treasury De
partment for payment The attorney then went ~
Controller Durham, who undertook to order Mr. spar
TO make the certilcation The relations between the
two Departments became strained that the ma'-
ter was laid before the President, by whom IL was
referred the Attorney General. The la'uer Sa'N
that Commissioner SPARKS must certify the vouches' VI
refuse 10 certify them, according TO the dictates VI
his Judgment. Mr. Sparks stlll refused to certify o
Then Controller Durham undertook to order inc pay
ment OF these claims out of a fund Of $1,000 when
na0 accuinulIeu III lNt Treasury ~ pun
money deposited for surveys and not paid out. inc
claims were paid. Among the attorneys for the clam
ants was Wilson BsselL President Clevelands Ia"
partner. All of these facts were published III lno
Tribune al the tine and when Mr. Durham made
denial OF the statements The Tribune gave the mum
Der and the amount OF the check in corroborati0n
At the time this occurred. Fletcher Johnson was
Chief OF the Accounts Division in the Gencrai La"'
Office lie was indignant was commissioner
Sparks, at the action OF the Controller and Nr 'oh
son prepared statement to BIO submitted 10 the sc'o
tary of the Interior. showing how the matter soou'
This statement he took I'm person to secretary Lana.
who was about 10 90 on the Supreme Bench fNo
minutes before he turned the affairs Of the Depafnen.
over TO Secretary Villas Secretary Lamar aldressct
letter TO his successor, calling his attention III se
matter This is the last that was heard OF u un1
the Cleveland Administration. When the presehl fu
mnisration came in, Mr.. Johnson was allowed 10 ~ !,
main I'm office until June. When he was superscoeI
he LAID before Comm ssOner SOckslager copy OF INC
tabulated statement which he had gwen 10 Sectcd2
Lamar, and which had apparently disappeared Inis
CODY which he he'd kept by permission OF Mt LaInel
he left with Mr.. StOcbsager upon the plcsunpuoVn
that Il would be referred 10 the new secretary ol M
Interior Recently however Mr.. Johnson wa. calci
ON by Acting Commissioner Stone for the stateIne''
which couldn't be found in the Department Com,
missioner had sent to Mr.. Stockslager but hHi
moi been able TO get the copy which Mr.. Johnson nan
given the latter Mr. Johnson hal no Other COPY,
but he showed his successor. the new Chief OF me
Accounts Division how 10 make up another staio
ment. This statement was completed YESTERDAY anu
Is ready 10 be laid before the Secretcry of the Interior
II will probably be referred TO the Attorney Genera
for an opinion as to the legality OF Controller Dur
hams action.