The Washington times., 1906-07-18
For a Long Year He
Tottered to His Of
flee to Cover
Tracks.
TREASURY OFFICIALS
POSITIVE OF GUILT
Say Excuses Made for Late
DiSburSing Officer
viii Not Hold
Water.

That Major George AnseI Bartlett. fer
twenty-five years disbursing officer OF
the Treasury Department. was without
excuse and unblessed by mitigating cir
cumstances In his defaIcati0n OF $1,000
Is the conclusion Of Treasury officials
today
For nearly a year before his end he
fought death necessarily. tottering
weakly 10 his daily task and struggling
with Spartan herOism to achieve con
cealment OF the shortage IN his ac-
counts. He was at his desk when his
limbs could scarce bear the weight Of
his body and when his mind. enfeebied
by the inroads OF illness. could hardly
recall the combination of his safe.
Through at least the last four years Of
his life the dread specter Of suspicion
was his constant companion and the
fear Of discovery weighed down his
heart always. He suspected-what was
a fact-that some Of his feIlOW-work-
ers thought him dishonest. and his ter
ror OF having his books examined
dragged him from beds Of illness when
his tortured body and fevered brow
were argument enough 10 hold him In
his room.
His Iron VIII Saves Him.
Nearly q year before he died he suf-
fsred an acute Illness and the doctors
heid ont no hope OF mis- recovery. rat.
with The strength OF despair and The
VIII power that would have been superb
in a better cause. lie conquered the
Dread Visitor and appeared one morn
ing. more an apparirion than a man 70
assume the duties Of hts office From
that time until he died his one efrOrt
was 10 reCOup, 20 restore what had been
lost 10 the Government through him
His failing hands grasped the thread OF
life with awful resolution in his attempt
10 leave the world with no blot upon
his name.
Whether he went 20 the stock market
with Government funds 20 win back
enough 20 square his accounts VIII
probably never be known. That he took
such q course was a thought freely
voiced at the Treasury Department to
day. One Treasury empIoye told how,
several years ago. a clerk said 10 him:
I believe Bartlett is crooked, and
some day his books will be found
short"
Regarded as Model Of Integrity.
In the office Of the Comptroller Of the
Treasury It was said that Major Bart
lett's superiors never had the slightest
suspicion Of him. but. on the contrary.
had always regarded him as a model OF
industry and integrity.
The explanation was made IN this
same Office that the major could not
have very well started on his crooked
path because Of his belief that a COM
mission OF S9,19O20 was due him because
OF his handling the funds for The Post-
Oflce Department building IN this city.
Friends of the major have said that his
troubles arose when he thought this
sum was due him. that he spent the
money. and that after he had taken this
action he was Informed that the com
mission would not be allowed him, and
IL was his duty TO make good the $9, 1000
which he had spent His friends sug-
gested that, perhaps. 20 make good this
money he appropriated other money
10 cover up the shortage or used It IN
stocks TO win back enough to streighten
up his accounts
In answer 10 this argument, this state
Ynent was made today TO The Times, at
I the Treasury:
Excuse VIII Not Hold Water.
Major Bartlett had had in 1880 six
teen years ago. a similar claim amount
r
therefore. or he should have known. that
there would be a dispute about this com
mission OF 5000 and It would have been
the part Of wisdom, 10 say the least. for
him TO wait until the matter had been
definitely passed on
But did he pay this commission to
himself before his claim for it was pess-
ed on? If he did he should have done
IL bv means Of a voucher and receipt
which he should have turned IN just
as he would have turned IN az other
vouchers and receipts IN Dalai clh& ~
I his accounts. SO far as the TFccrdS
show now he did not do tnt= here
fore ii he took the money T. mixing u
was coming TO him, he took IL regular
( Is and improperly
"Puf SO far as the records show, he
did not pay this money 70 himself. lie
merely nut in 4 claim for II, which claim
+ yyas disalIowed. Therefore, this claim
and its disallOwment could not De held
rasD0usihle for the majors shortage.
/ Asked what could be the excuse for
/ the shortage, Treasury officials saic all
/ thew knew was that the majors ac-
counts. when finally arranged, showed
The showing is that this $1,000 OF Gov
I ernment money went into MS hands and
was never again returned 20 the proper
places.
A Pathetic Struggle
Several people In the Treasury today
recalled the fact that Major Bartletts
last year OF life was a pathetic and
hopeless struggle against weakness and
illness, He often appeared at his desk
IN q thoroughly enfeebled state, his face