The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-07
The Bouncing 81 Mr.. Doe.

During the last few months Of the Cleve--
land administration Joseph B. Doe. OF
GAINESVILLE. Wis, who was assistant secre-
tsry OF war, held a sinecure, and people
are just beginning to find out the reason
why, says the Washington correspondent OF
the Chicago Record. He was deprived Of
all authority, was not allowed to issue any
orders or sign any but routine mail or per-
form any other function Of his Office. He
was not even permitted to issue requisi-
items. Secretary Lamont assumed all the
labor and responsibility. and did all the
work that had formerly been done by mis-
assistant, except such as could be intrust-
ed to the chief clerk. II is customary for
the assistant secretaries to hold over from
one administration TO another until the new
new member Of the cabinet have familiariz-
ed themselves with the duties OF their Of
fees. and in all the department. except the
war and navy some Of the Cleveland Of
ficials are still retained. But Does resig-
nation was accepted at once. and his desk
was vacant until Mr.. Meiklejohn OF Ne
braska was appointed.
AS soon as he was able to find the time,
Secretary Alger commenced an investiga-
ton of the official conduct Of Mr.. Doe. but
soon discovered that Secretary Lamont had
anticipated him, and the only result Of his
inquiries was the dismissal Of Richard j.
Whitton, also from GAINESVILLE, who was
brought to Washington by Doe and served
as his private secretary for two years or
more, and was then transferred to the sup
ply division, and as soon as he had fami-
liariZed himself with the duties OF the Of
flee was promoted to chief Of the division
IN the place Of Captain Thorpe. an old SOL
der, who had held the Office for quarter
of a century with credit to himself and
satisfaction to the several secretaries OF
war under whom he had served. There
were no charges against Thorpe and no
complaint Of mis- official conduct. He was
simply forced out by Doe to make place
for Wilton, with an ulter.or object that
was soon discovered. Whitton's duties were
tc buy the supplies of the department and
disburse the appropriations. except the pay
roll. Shortly after he came in Wilton en-
deavored to secure the dismissal Of David
Cranmer, another old soldier, who had been
storekeeper for the department for many
years and had the custody Of the supplies,
but the conspiracy was defeated by Colonel
Ainsworth, chief OF the war records di-
vision, who had strong personal influence
with Secretary Lamont
About a year ago Assistant Secretary
vision of supplies and other branches of the
department that caused considerable Cos
sip among the clerks. and to make requisi-
tons for articles for his personal use which
had not been purchased before with public
funds. He continued TO do so during the
frequent absence of Secretary Lamont I'M
til after the election in November, when
that sore of business became so active as
TO attract general. attention, and within
few weeks the gossip reached the ears OF
the head of the department. Secretary La
mont at once made an investigation. He
called before him the clerks in the supply
division, the storekeeper, and other Of
ficials Of the department. and secured state
ments from them which caused him to re-
ou:re Assistant Secretary Doe and Wilton
TO make restitution to the amount of nearly
81, 900 in cash and to surrender to the de-
partment a considerable amount of prop
erty which, in his opinion, belonged TO the
government
1t was disclosed, for example, that dur
ing the absence of the secretary Of war
Doe had ordered two bicycles. one for HIM
self and one for Wilton, which were re-
turned to the department and are now stor-
ed In the basement. The official photo
had made two sets Of prints. about 1000 in
number, from the negatives purchased by
congress some years ago. from Brady, the
celebrated war photographer, and George
K Jenny, In charge of the department
bindery testified that he had mounted these
prints and bound them in handsome Rus
sian leather albums. about twelve by eigh-
teen inches in size, at the expense OF the
government. A. K. Johnson, the depart
ment carpenter, testified that he had been
employed for several weeks, under the or
dedrs of Assistant Secretary Doe. in max
ing and packing furniture and other arti-
Giles which were shipped to GAINESVILLE, Wis.
Among other things he made Mr.. Doe ten
handsome chests, two Of cedar, two OF ash
and six Of poplar, and two chests of cedar
for Mr.. Whitton, which had been packed
with articles unknown and shipped away.
Secretary Lamont himself accidentally
discovered one day in the carpenters room
a large chest, sealed and addressed to Gen.
eral Doe, at GAINESVILLE. When opened by
his orders II was found to contain large
quantity of fine stationery. sufficient to
last Doe the rest of his life. 1t had been
packed by the storekeeper on Mr.. WHIT
tons requisition. Colonel Lamot had the
chest emptied and its contents restored 10
the shelves of the storeroom. There was
another box caught ION the fly" which was
also addressed to Mr.. Doe and ready for
shipment When opened by Colonel La
mont's orders II was found to contain six
fine United States flags. One Of them was
made of silk and cost the department 500.
The others were Of bunting and cost from
$50 to 500 each. These were unpacked and
returned to the shelves.
II was also reported TO Secretary Lamont
that q nlanfify of fine furniture hook