The Washington times., 1903-11-20
A Miscarriage of Justice.
The Grand jury and the Fraudulent
Voucher Case.

Voucher Case.
Speaking, on Monday last. at the
centennial celebration Of the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church
tie President said:
We can divide. and must divide, on party
lines regards certain questions, as regards the
deepest. regards the vital questions We can
not afford 70 divide. and I have the right TO
challenge the best effort Of every American
worthy OF the name 10 putting down by every
megns in his power corruption in private life
snd above all. corrdpfion in public life AID
remember you. the people Of this Government
By the people, thar while the public servant, tho
legislator, the executive officer. the Judge are
not to be excused VI they fall short OF their
duty, yet that their doing their duty cannot
avail unless yea do yours In the last resort we
have to depend upon the jury drawn from the
people 20 convict the seoundrel who has tainted
oar public life. and unless that jury does its
dwy, unless l. is backed by public sentiment
a the people, all t'e work Of the legislator Of
executive officer. judicial officer. are for
naught
The answer to this impassioned
piea-the purpose of which cannot be
Misunderstood Commissioner Mac
tarland's bland announcement, made
yesterday, that IN the opinion of the
law officers of the District and of IL
grand jury, composed, presumably, of
reputable citizens. 1t Is no crime to Sc
cure 5000 from school funds on ficti-
fious acquisitions and false vouchers.
and to apply such funds for pur
pose which the Comptroller of The
Treasury repeatedly declared - be Il
legal, Commissioner Macfarland
makes the announcement IN somewhat
different Language, but that Is what it
amounts to.
Readers Of The Times viii remem-
ber that this is the case to which we
Grew attention IN June last. The
facts we're undisputed. The former
3oard of School Trustees arranged
with a photographer to pay 1,20O
for lot OF school views for AN ex>
dGbit at the Paris exposition. Hale
of this sum was paid by the former
beard. The bill for the balance was
presented 10 the present Board of Ed
Eeation. The Comptroller Of the
Treasury was asked if school funds
could legally be so applied He was
pressed several times to allow il, but
insisted that such payment would be
illegal. In spite Of this, IN the alb
senee Of the president of the board.
lis former secretary made up a
Iequisiticn for maps which 10 one
lad asked for, 10 cost $500, and al
ranged with a local dealer to submit
vouchers for furnishing them. The
vice president of the beard signed the
requisition; the dealer made out his
bills for 5000 fer maps which he IN
Gorstood he was not 10 deliver, and
which he did OF deliver; the secretary
o. the board certified that they had
been received; The moIey was paid
the dealer, and ne passed it over to
the photographed. The amount is not
great, but If i were $4,000 or 500, 600
the principles involved would be the
same.
In discussing TINS ease, on June %
last, we ventured also 20 draw atten-
ton to section 543s Of the Revised
Statutes which makes it an offense,
under high penalty, to prepare, or
use, or cause 70 be prepared, or used,
"fietitiousv papers in the matter Of
claims against the United States. We
also drew attention to the fact that the
statute Of limitations threatened 10
run IN a fortnight against prosecution
under that section of the Revised
Statutes and others covering the ease.
Il spite Of tEis warning, however, the
fortnight was permitted to lapse.
Then there was a great show of pro
eeeding under District law, and pres
emily it was announced that here the
statute of limitations had one more
year to run. By the light Of Commits
sioner Maefarland's statement. made
yesterday, the. taxpayers Of the Dis
trict VIII have an opportunity o.
jsdging fer themselves to what ex
tent the District Attorneys Office mus