Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-07-27
Observation-Disclosures
Comptroller of Treasury Refuses Payment
on BOunty-A Mysterious
Cabinet Meeting.
(FrOm our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. July p. ,e5.


WASHINGTON, July p, '95.
Caesar, Cromwell and Napoleon were
in their day considered powerful, but
the power exercised by them over the
expenditures OF their respective ma
tions was not greater than that now
claimed for "A subordinate official of
the u. s. Treasury. According to this
claim, the Comptroller has the author
ity Co refuse payment of appropria-
tiOns made by Congress and approved
by the president, whenever he believes
or makes a pretense of believing, that
said payment would be unconstitution-
nal, and the claimant has no redress or
appeal except to enter suit for the
amount claimed in the Court of
Claims.
The first notice of this remark able
authority was given several days ago
when n voucher for about $4,000 in
favor of the Oxnard Company OF Ne
braska, manufacturers of beet sugar.
was held up by the Comptroller, and
the company notified that the Comp
troller would hear argument as to the
constitutionality OF the Act of Con-
gress appropriating 1898 600 TO pay the
bounty on beet-sugar manufactured
before the repeal of the bounty
clause of the Mckinley law.
The Comptroller says he believes the
sugar bounty law to have been uncon-
stitutional, which is little queer, in
view of his having allowed $4,000, 900
or tbereabouts, to he paid out under
that law during the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1894, without protest. The
real facts in this business are we'll
known.
Comptroller Bowler is merely a
figure head, who repeats his lesson
just as it is taught to him. In addi-
ton to the money appropriated for the
beet sugar makers, there was $5.OO0, 600
appropriated by the last Congress to
pay deferred sugar bounties-they will
be deferred sure enough, it seems.
This money the administration doesn't
wish to pay out until a Republican
Congress shall have put more money
in the National Treasury.
Comptroller Bowler has been swelled
up by praise and made the tool of
| smarter men TO carry out this idea.
The same tactics are. according to cur
rent report, 10 be used to defer pay
ment on the contract made with the
| International Steamship Company for
1 the transportation of mails to Europe.
This contract was made 10y Mr.. Wanna
maker, when he was Postmaster Cen
eral, under an act of Congress, and in
cludes the use of the steamships own
ed by the Company as government
cruisers in time OF war.
That mysterious Cabinet meeting
has naturally been the subject of much
gossip Ard of numberless rumors.
That the Spanish minister, who came
to Washington about the same time
that Secretary Olney did, if he did not
accompany him, was the cause of this
Cabinet meeting is certain, and that
il discussed the Cuban revolution.
/ All.else is conjecture, owing to the air
of mystery with which those who at
tended >the meeting have since sur
rounded themselves, although it is
difficult TO imagine any good reason
why there should be any secrecy as 60
the position this government occupies
towards either Spain or the revolving
lCubans. Rumor says the Spanish min
lister went so far as TO ask that those
American editors who arc disposed tc
sympathize with the Cubans should be
muzzled by the Secretary of State.
1.-THE administration would seem to
have about all the muzzling il can at
tend to, in trying to shut the mouths
OF the Silver Democrats, without tack
ling the editors of the country, al
though Secretary Olney is probably
fully in accord with the idea of a press
censorship.
The populists are much chagrineC
over the latest phase of the reorgani
cation OF the Senate at the beginning
OF the coming session of Congress
> They have been confidently counting
: upon being asked TO Join the Republic
: cans in the reorganization. and O
course, receiving q liberal share of tn,
: Committee Chairmanships and of tn,
| Senate patronage. 1t has lately com,
out that many of the Republican Sena
tors would much rather not reorganiz
r the Senate than to do il with the assis
lance of the Populists.
This wasn't pleasing TO the demo
lcrats, who do not wish TO retain con
3 troll of the committees without tn
: power TO control votes enough TO carr
i anything through, and some of theT
n have intimated to the Republican
l. their willingness to vote for a reorgan
Y ization that will divide the chairman
J. ships and the patronage between tn
ir Republicans and the Democrats, leaN
r ing the Populists out altogether. \
? lone has authority TO accept this or an
other proposition concerning reorgan
zation until it shall have been submit
ted to caucus of Republican Senator
u but all the same its contamination
II probable enough to have destroyed Il
u extensive air castles which the Popl
= lists have been building on the bell
e that they would hold the balance
power and could dictate their on
y terms for the reorganization of Il
- Senate.
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