Evening star., 1912-10-06

ton was that of a famous New YORK
architect. Objection to his account was
based on an item charging the govern
ment 80 cents for having his trousers
pressed. while en- route to Washington
from Broadway town. This sum the gov
ernment refused to pay.
The expert protested. SO did the gov
ernment. Finally the case reached the
Supreme Court of Questions FINANCIAL
and the decision of the controller is a
marvel 1t covers seventeen pages OF
closely written copy, citing law after law
and reference after reference. And nnaI-
ly, in the most correct or legal Verplase'
the expert is informed that the govern
ment while interested in his opinion, is
of the belief that said opinion would DE
lust as valuable if given while the eX-
pert were clad only in bath robe.
AT any rate" ruled the controller, the
appearance of the clothes of the claimant
is not a matter for which the govern
ment is liable
Controller Tracewell laughed when ne
handed down that decision.
Nice nerve, but it doesn't go here.
he said. Were not conducting tailor
shop"
Controller Tracewell frequently does
more than merely say whether or not a
claim shall or shall not be paid. 1t has
happened on more than one OCCASION that
his investigations have put an end 10
graft which has been going on Tor years.
Such a case recently came to light When
an Indian woman put in. claim for an
increased pension. She Gained to be the
widow of dead chief, and represented
herself and children as being in want
for the barest necessities of life. Con-
troller. Tracewell's men went into the
life history Of that squaw. tracing ii from
the day of her birth down to the time
that she presented her plea to the gov
ernment. They found her statement that
she was the widow of dead chieI TO pe
true But they found that she was also
the widow of Canadian Indian, Wnom
she had married subsequently,. They
found, too, that for fifteen years she mao
been drawing money month by month
from Uncle Sam, and for seven years
she had. also been drawing money, from
the Canadian government. 1t also de-
veloped that she was endeavoring TO
secure an increased allowance from the
Canucks. In short. 1T was notlceaDie
case of playing both ends against the
middle.
Needless to say, the increase was not
only refused by Controller Tracewell,
but her pension stopped altogether.
Orders were also sent forth to the eff
feet that the allowance paid her during
the past fifteen years be refunded-but
the government has not gotten it yet.
Sometimes it is high government Of
fetal who gets 'in wrong with the con-
troller-sometimes even an entire bureau,
for he is just as quick to decide against
the federal authorities as against the
most humble private individual. An in
stance of this sort is found in the deci-
sion in a case where a party of naval
officers. taking an aquatic Joy ride" in
government launch, had collision which
damaged the craft to the extent of sew
eral hundred dollars 1t SO happened that
the lainch was intended for the use of
officers. SO the repairs We're made. the
bill sent to the proper bureau. given the
official 80. X" by the auditor of the
Navy Department and paid.
Then the report of the matter came to
the controller-and things began to hap
pen. The launch was intended for the
use of officers, right enough. the con-
troller ruled. but for government bust