The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-01-04
GAGE AND STANDARD OIL BANK.

w
sale was made under provisions OF
special act of Congress providing that
The purchaser of the old Custom-House
should permit the government TO con-
tinue TO occupy it until the new Gus
tom-House was ready for occupancy,
the government to pay as tenant of the
old building 4 per cent. upon the -pur-
chase price, or about S13o,ooO n year.
The day after the sale James Stillman,
President of the National City Bank,
went to Washington, taking with nm
certified check. drawn on his own
bank, for $3 225.350-all but Slo,Ooo OF
the full price agreed upon. This check
Mr.. Stillman personally handed to Sec
retarv Gage. who Immediately handed
1t back to President Stillman to be de-
posted without interest in the National
City Bank.
In other words, none of the three ana
a quarter millions of dollars which the
National City Standard Oil Bank pald
the government for the United States
Custom House six months ago has ever
for one hour passed out of the bank S
control. The bank has had not only
the use of the money every day since
to loan out at interest for its own profit,
but it has at the same time been recelv-
ing rent from the government for the
Custom House. The old proverb that
one cannot eat cake and keep it Is
thus set at defiance. for the National
CITY Bank owns the Custom-House ana
vet retains the money it paid for the
Custom-House.
Secretary Gage has never turned the
proceedings into the Treasury, as re-
uuired by section 4 of chapter 33I, I'M
der the terms of which the sale was
| made.
The $4,000 "held back was for an
other purpose. The deeds of the Gus
tom-House are still in the Treasury
Department at Washington. The title
to the property has not therefore pass
ed to the National City Bank, and the
city of New York can collect no taxes
upon the land. as it is nomiGaliy gov
ernment property, although the Ma
tional City Bank owns and receives
rent for it. The $4,000 held back was
therefore merely a legal excuse for not
proving the title, and for evading taxa
ton.
The law authorizing the sale of this
property was as follows:
Chapter No. 337, Section No. THAT
the Secretary of the Treasury is here
by authorized and directed to sell at
public or private sale, to the highest
bidder, after due advertisement, but for
not less than S3,000,O00, the present
Custom House property in the city of
New York, bounded by Wall, William
and Hanover streets and Exchange
place, and to deposit the proceeds of
the sale, after the payment of the usual
incidental expenses, in the United
States Treasury as miscellaneous re-
ceipts derived from the sale of govern
ment property.
Section 3,617, Revised Statutes-The
gross amount of all moneys received
| from whatever source for the use of
the United States. except as otherwise
provided for in the next section, shall
be paid by the officer or agent receiving
| the same into the Treasury at as early
a date as possible.
3.61S, Revised Statutes-All proceeds
of sales of old material, condemned
stores. supplies or other property of any
| kind shall be deposited and covered into
| the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts
on account of proceeds of government
property and shall not be withdrawn
or applied except in consequence of a
subsequent appropriation made by law.
| These facts are admitted by Secretary
| Cages subordinates as to the deposit
| of the check in the National City Bank,
The only defense is first by Superyis'
| ing Architect Taylor of the Treasury
that the money was covered into the
Treasury" in the language of the law
when it was placed in the government
depository, the Standard Oil Bank.
| Chief Daskan, of the public money
division, said vouchers showing the
money had been received by the gov
ernment were in his possession.
.The money" said he, very likely
WAS never covered into the Treasury
but deposited in some one of the gov
ernment depository banks"
He did not know why the property
was still being recorded as in the gov
ernment's possession and thus kept of
the city tax books. That" he said
"was not the governments business
If was for the New York Tax Depart
ment."
Four transactions of the government
with the National City Bank have net
ted the favored institution these prof
its: nno,,,rs.