Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-17

( and the reessa Of the leeH sf private faAd.
could net be suspiiei,
Mn Price made the boat pessihie state
ment of his case, and put In claim for the
e1aeoo paid to his sueeesssR At the Mary
Department it was decided the apeeiAtmeAl
Of this successor was illegal, apfetest which
was IN illustra.iaa Of what seems TO DO the
policy Of the Government, never to allow
elsin 1t II eau be avoided, Finally u was
decided that the appointment was legal, but
the Government then ignored the claim in
brought suit In 1857, in the United States
District Court of New Jersey, to compel
Price to pay all moneys for whose paymen,
or transfer he could NOT show tie vouchers.
Unc,e sam Beaten ct Every Point.
The late Judge Bradley, of the Supreme
Court of the United States, was PRICE
counsel, and the Government counsel wa,
assisted by William L. Dayton, who was
the previous year the Repubiican candidate
for Vice President. The Government was
defeated at every point 4 clean verdict
was given for Price. and the jury stated
over their own signatures that If it were
possible under the law they would bring in
the Government debtor to Price in the
sum of S75, 600.
Judge Bradley, after he was elevated to
the Supreme bench, declared that there
never was q more Just claim than that of
PRICES, and often urged its allowance while
it was pending in Congress.
The period of the war, the confusion of
the Reconstruction" years, and then the
repeated misfortune of failure to reach
the bill in either one House OF the other
before the close of session prevented the
aging claimant from getting his just dues.
Frop hain ,fnh a
but he has been always esteemed as a gentle
man of the highest honor. He assisted to
bring California into the Union, and was
member of the first Constitutional Conven-
tion of that State. He was elected Governor
OF New Jersey, was member of the Thirty
seventh Congress, and is now held in the
highest esteem by all who know him. He
is in his old age and straitened circuin-
stances. genial, lovable gentleman of the
old school, such as it does ones heart good
to meet.
The Claim Thoroughly s,fted.
The Fity-frst Congress, Republican in
both branches, passed the claim of ex-Gov-
ernor Price by large maiorities, though
Price has always been a Democrat. The
claim was thoroughly sifted and discussed
by both Houses. The President examined
it and expressed q personal pleasure in at
taching his signature to the bill, the pleas
ure being the greater for the reason that
several valued and verv intimate friends
were among the closest friends of ex-Gov-
ernor Price. The claims went to the Treas
ury Department, Second Comptroller's
office, for payment
Itwould seem that after the passage of
the bill by Congress, and after it had re-
ceived the signature of the President, no
discretion WAS left the Treasury authorities
but to pay, yet it was "held up" Clerks,
mere ordinary accountants, mysteriously
were led to the decision that the claimk
should not be paid. As no amount of
money was designated in the bill, which
only directed settlement of the accounts
of e1-Purser Price, of the Navy, the excuse
was made that the account was settled,
though suit had been brought in 1857 to
compel Price to settle. The accountants
finally brought out the Government in debt
to Price in the amount of SAC, 600, but it was
dedided that it must be the entire 81, 900 or
nothing.
Closed Up by the ComptroIler.
After making several conflicting de-
cisions, the Comptroller, the Solicitor Cen
eral and the clerks seeming to grow more
and more confused about the matter, the
Comptroller closed the case with the sstonish-
ing assertion that Congress had passed the
law under O misapprehension of the facts.
The Solicitor General agreed with the Comp
troller, and as it seems, the Secretary of the
Treasury was powe-less in the hands of his
inferior officers. So these two officers of the
Treasury vetoed bill passed by Congress
and signed by the President after the most
careful investigation of the facts.
Then came climax which is probably I'M
paralleled in the annals of the Government.
Though unsettled accounts had been ad-
nitted and expert accountants had found
he Government indebted to Price, the Sec
retary of the Treasury addressed letter to
Congress stating that the accounts of Price
had been balanced and closed in 1857, the
very year in which suit was brought against
Price for settlement. and SO the matter
was referred back to Congress 'for such
additional legislation as may be necessary"
Some Most Extraordinary Juggling.
doubt if in the history of the country
another instance can be found of such extra
ordinary juggling with a solemn act of leg
lslature by department officials.
The letter of Secretary Foster was re-
ferred to the Committee on Claims A SUBJ
was appointed to consider it. 1 |
am informed to-day that the subcommittee
Will report to the committee that there is
nothing further for Congress to do in the
matter. 1t is probable, therefore, that the
Treasury Department will continue to |
assert that the accounts of Ex-Governor |
Price have been balanced and closed, in the |
ace of its plain admission to tine contrary,
hat the act of Congress signed by the Presi- |
lent will be vetoed by the Treasury author
ties, and that the venerable Ex-Governor |
will be cheated out of his S750 900 for the |
in, fho
Treasury.