The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-10
Revelations of Interior Depart
ment Files $ Lapham Given
District Post After Virtual Dis
miSSal by Secretary Noble.
Bidders for Interior Department
Contracts Officially Warned
Against Lapham'S Solicitations
for Employment.

An illustration OF the care exercised
IN making appointments to the fiscal
divisions of the District Offices is af-
forded in the record of William R. Lap
ham, now clerk in the Office Of the
Engineer Commissioner. His duties for
the past several years have been to
supervise all accounts for permit,
whole cost. and kindred work. One
feature of that duty was to compare and
check the accounts OF James NJ. A. Wat
son. jr.. now under Indictment for en-
bezzlement. Mr.. Lapham now appears
IN the City Directory as a member OF the
firm of Watson. & Lapham."
Removed by Secretary Noble.
In 1891 Mr. Lapham was chief Of the
stationery and printing division OF the
Department of the Interior.
On January 1. 1892. Secretary Noble
made a peremptory demand for his res
tgnation. and received II.
There was brought to the secretary's
attention a few weeks later. a COPY OF
circular letter sent by Lapham TO firms
dealing with the department, in which
he claimed certain advantages which
would enable him to assist them before
the department
An Official Warning.
Secretary Noble thereupon sent an Of
fetal letter. under date of March 2s.
1892. 90 all stationery firms dealing
with the department. in the course OF
which letter. he said:
In order that there may be no mis-
apprehension on the part of persons in
tending to submit bids for furnishing
envelopes and stationery for the use OF
this department. during the ensuing year
you are informed that any interference
on the part Of W. r. Lapham, former
chief of the stationery and printing d.
vision. with the business in any way
will not be to the interest of any per
son or firm represented"
Some time afterward Mr.. Lapham was
appointed under the District Commis-
sioners and assigned to making out tho
assessment and deposit accounts These
went over TO Auditor Petty and into the
hands of Watson. and to keep these
straight Lapham and Watson, as Mr..
Petty sets forth in his report. FIRE
Quently exchanged visits for the avowad
purpose of comparing accounts and
checking against each other"
When inquiry was made of Commis
sioner Biddle as to Lapham's connection
with Watson. the Commissioner gave
out for publication letter sent him by
Lapham June Is
In the course OF that letter Mr.. Lap
ham says the deposit and assessment
fund was checked but three times in
about ten years. the last time in Feb
ruary, 1902. by Watson and himself. At
this last checking. which was the most
thorough OF all. Lapham says. $3.50
could not be accounted for and was
charged off, representing the total diff
ference in years Of work and the expen-
diture OF hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars.
At neither of these checkings was the
bank book of the Auditor examined. nor
did Lapham consider IT his duty 10 do
so. he says. Lapham further says that
since several important accounts never
reached his desk, mo possible compari-
son OF my accounts with Watson's could
be significant as 10 the correctness or
incorrectness Of Watson's total balance
IN these funds.
Business Connection With Watson.
MY business connection with Mr..
Watson" LGpham continued. began on
May %. 1902. az which date the News
was started. I had no connection what
ever with his barber shop. lunch room.
Continued on Second Page)