Telegram-herald., 1891-02-11


his vouchers upon the table. The Off
eer inspected the ledger. Tie looked at
the expense account Among the first
items was the one Of forty thousand
dollars for fixing up the hospital. He
checked IL with his pencil tie passed
down the column and began TO cheek
every item in il.
What are you doinge Why are you
crossing those items?' the General in
quired
Dds allowed, SIR" replied the officer.
with dignided emphasis. There were
no appropriations for them"
lie continued checking ore item after
another 20 the evident surprise OF Gen
ersl Butler. For some seconds he kept
his OF eve on the pencil and finally
arose, put the ledger under his arm.
stuffed the vouchers in his pockets and
strode out OF the room.
The officer, after recovering from his
amazemeut, marched over TO Secretary
stanton, and told him what had oc-
Cured. The Secretary sent an orderly
after Butler. TheAeneral had hardly
got out Of the building before the order
" overlook him.
"The Secretary of War wants 10 see
you, General" he said
Butler turned and mounted the stairs,
his sword jingling at every step. As
he entered the Secretary's room, Stan
ton shouted: why, what's the matter,
General? | thought you came for a
settlement of your accounts"
"Wen, replied Butler. ''the trouble
is quickly explained. l went TO New
Orleans, strengthened the levees,
cleaned the streets, fitted up hospitals,
repaired the forts and put the city COM
pletely upon it's feet, without asking or
receiving one dollar from the general
Government. / raised the money my
self. l made the city foot the bills
Here are my accounts. They represent
every dollar that ] collected, and they
show how every cent was expended. l
have the vouchers here. If l have col
lected any money which does not ap-
pear upon the ledger, or if have ex-
pended any money for which there is
over and above what have expended,
have 100000 in my pocket, which
did propose to turn over to the Govern
ment as soon as my accounts were set
tied. But as my expenses are disal-
lowed, l presume, of course, that my
collections will be disallowed. Conse-
quently the $500, 900 does not belong to
he a. Ac &c x,-,th
an owner, and ] am in possession, /
propose TO keep it. The Government
doesn't seem to need it. Good day, Mr.
Secretary"
Thererpon the doughty General sa-
luted and was about to sail out of the
Office of the Secretary of War, when
Stanton recalled him. There was an in
settlement on the spot. The Govern
ment got the five hundred thousand
dollars and Buffers accounts were set
tied TO his satisfaction.
Such was the story told by the boyish-
looking gentleman in the smoking-car
of the Pennsylvania train. The slender
gentleman was John I. Davenport. But
ArA = piONONt hidiSAdA "AA,h eoAiiiuahU-
ing tho Army of the James. The con-
versation opened with a discussion of
the force bill and closed with this story
of General Butler. 1t was rendered all
the more interesting because General
Butler framed the force bill of 1875,
which was defeated by the mastery
parliamentary tactics of Samuel j..
Randall, and Buffers provost marshal
framed the force bill of 1890, which has
stirred the country TO its innernost
d.utbs Axos Il Cr-NNryGs