The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-02

law passed putting the expense of the
bond upon the government in the case of
disbursing officers employed in the Indian
Service. The law was just, but the bond
ing companies Immediately Jumped their
fees from One-half of / per cent TO 3
per cent, and the law was repealed.
Occasionally some man beats the
government out OF a small sum. as Is ev-
idenced by our conscience fund Which
amounts TO several thousand dollars an
Eually. The other day $25 came in from
West Virginia. Most of the money,
think. is sent by men who got ahead OF
the government during the civil war,
when methods were necessarily loose.
and from employees in the public service.
who, having padded their expense ac-
counts, have afterward joined the
church. or Married or undergone some
other moral reformation. While the gov
eminent believes that the average man
is honest. nevertheless the government
keeps its eyes wide open all the time
What could a citizen do were he dis
satisfied with your decision concerning
the amount OF money due him from the
government" I asked
"A sovereignty cannot be sued How
ever. a court of claims was established
in Washington twenty-three years ago,
so that citizens might have their rights
investigated"
What brought about your appoint
ment as Comptroller of the Treasury"
II don't know. AS the story comes TO
me. President Mckinley asked Charles
w Fairbanks. then a Senator from In
diana, If ne had a man whom he could
recommend for the place. I scarcely
knew Mr.. Fairbanks at the time, al
though I had served term In the House
of Representatives, and been beaten for
reelection in a district that had been
made more largely Democratic than be-
fore, under the belief. I suppose, that I
could carry it just the same I was of
fered a judgeship IN one of the South
western Territories. provided I gave up
my residence in Indiana. but declined
the conditions and the office
Job Cost Mere TrifIe.
mfr. Fairbanks telegraphed me concern
ing the inquiry of the President I re-
piled. likewise by wire at cost of thir-
ty-ive cents. that I would take the
place. That is ali the money spent to
obtain the unlocked for appointment
You were born.' said. in the Val
ley of Virginia How did you get to In
diana?"
Il was taken there when I was two
old NV
started for Texas with his wife and
three children. Most OF us became ill on
the way. and so we, stopped at Louis
vile, KY. bankrupts not alone in health.
but in money. My father taught school
In Kentucky for time. and then found
a similar position at Corydon over in
Southern Indiana He became a LAWYER
ana lived at COrydon the rest of his
life. building up a large practice and
coming to be known finally as Uncle
Billy
Il was nine years old at the beginning
of the civil war. Living on the border
between the North and the South, 1 wit.
messed a good many exciting occurrences
and heard many violent arguments. NV
father was Union Democrat, but I was
a Republican, taking my politics into the
street and unfolding my views In all
sorts or company. John Morgan and his
men came through Corydon. having a
list OF all the loyal men and the Confed-
crate sympathizers. He is known as a
cavalryman. However. hsee always
maintained that he was rfbber. There
were three mills at Corydon, owned by
persons outspoken for tie government.