Evening journal., 1892-11-29
SECRETARY FOSTER CAUGHT.


Unfortunately 1t Is not difficult to put
the officials Of this administration IN a
predicament. They have often been
put there but they have oftener put
themselves there. No member OF
It has been more adept in this manner
than Charles Foster, the secretary Of the
treasury, who is nothing If not politi-
clan Of the pronounced type, and an
official Of the meagerest ability.
In the controversy with Congressman
Fitch Secretary Foster appears to
great disadvantage, if not, indeed,
in the capacity Of defender
Of dishonest bills preferred by Supervisor
Davenport for partisan services in New
York. Congressman Fitch as the chair
man Of the committee to investigate
Davenport's official career and expenses
has requested a delay in the payment Of
$4,000 pending investigation upon
charges Of frand.
Ip refusing to comply with that rea.
sonable request Secretary Foster said
that the statutes provided for an ''inyes-
tigation in open court and that was a
sufficient protection to the treasury; p
and, that the finding Of the court al
lowing the claim is so far conclusive
upon the treasury department., that he
would not be warranted in suspending
payment until the committee OF the
house has had an opportunity to verify
and ayor,frn flsa ona,xtr,4r
lie mentioned as an additional reason,
that 1t was not the practice of the treas
ury 20 examine such accounts.
Congressman Fitch, who seems some.
thing Of Tarter, that Foster has caught
unawares, answering this, says:
The difficulty is that your statement in
your letter Of the practice in your de-
partment under the statute is IN direct
conflict with the evidence given both by
the district attorney, whom you men.
tion and the representative whom you
sent before the committee
He proves those assertions by quoting
the evidence Of District Attorney
Mitchell who said: "0f course / did not
examine Mr.. Davenport, because 1 under
stood, In accordance with the practice,
that bis work was sent to Washington
to the auditing officers Of the treasury
department, and all the items charged
for in the account are examined and
checked in the treasury department be-
fore any payment is made. Mr..
Mitchell was asked; "Did you make any
personal examination as to how much
these charges amounted to altogether
And he answered. THAT is a matter Of
accounting for the officers Of the treas
ury Department.
In regard to the examination sin open
court, behind which Secretary Foster.
in paying ont the peoples money is too
reverential to 60. Mr.. Rose, the assistant
district attorney, says that there was
no one else there besides him, Davenport
and the judge, Mr.. Davenport then
presented the account; that the Judge
asked him what he knew about the
accounts, and he said be knew nothing
at all about them, that he had not ex.
amined OF approved them; that the
judge thereupon signed the certificate
approving the account, and that the
whole matter was transacted in FIVE or
SIX minutes. Mr. Davenport was asked
no questions, he produced no witnesses.
and he got on that hearing and ac-
counting the sum Of $3i, ,090.21.
That statement is not ali, for Congress
man Fitch goes farther and proves from
the records Of Mr.. Fosters own Office
that Davenport's accounts have not only