Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1889 — A CASHIER IN CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

A CASHIER IN CONGRESS

Prrrii Dighone«t and Meals *73,000 of the Congressmen’s Money. EdWard Silcott, Cashier of the Sergeant at-arms of the House of Representatives, has fled, carrying off $72,000 of the funds intrusted to his care. Silcott was a trusted employe, who went to Washington from Ohio six years ago, and was appointed by Mr. Leedom to his present position. He drew $72,000 from the Treasury, Saturday, went to New York, and up to Friday had not returned. It was possible for him to draw this large sum without exciting comment. as he had for a long time been charged with the duty of c ollecting the money with which the salaries of the Reppresentatives are paid. Silcott is under bonds in the sum of $50,000, his sureties numbering about fifteen persons. This is, however, an indemnity bond given to the Sergeant-at-arms, and Mr. Leedom, who is himself bonded in the sum of $50,000, is directly responsible for the shortage. The first news of . the state of affairs came out just beforej the House met at noon Thursday, and there was an exciting scene in the office oftheSergeant-at-Aarms. Mr. Leedom, who was sitting in the rear Of his office, was surrounded by a number of members of the House, who were tender ing advice of all kinds. The most practical suggestion was adopted at once by Mr. Leedom, who appeared to be completely unnerved and unable to act for himself, and telegrams were dispatched to his sure-, ties notifying them of Silcott’s disappearance and expressing a willingness to cooperate fully in every effort to find him and secure the return of the missing funds. Outside the bank-like railing across "the room stood another crowd of members, evidently as anxious for themselves as for Mr. Leedom, as they put many queries as to the amount of money left in the safe and the prospects of getting their salaries. Mr. Leedom says that it was within Silcott’s power to have carried off not less than $156,000 instead of the $72,000 which is missing. Treasurer Huston, who paid the money to Silcott, says it was done as usual on drafts drawn by the Clerk of the House, Sergeant-at-Arms acts as agent for members of Congress, and draws from the Treasury tlie salaries and mileage due them theni, which he holds subject? to their order. He secures money from the Treasury by presenting drafts signed by the Clerk and stating the member named therein is entitled to t the amount stated. A woman is in the case, it is believed. He deserts a wife and family. A resolution providing for an investigation wa9 at once adopted by the House., Mr. Leedom is reportod as having said that he could raise about $22,000, which would leave a deficit of $49,860 to be made good by his bondsmen. It appears that the U. S. Treasurer has repeatedly called at tentlon in his annual report to the necessity for the appointment of a suitable disbursing officer by the House for handling its funds, and seme heed is now likely to be paid to these recommendations. The present system under which it was possible for a defalcation to happen iB as follows: The Speaker certifies thatamemberisentitled to $417, salary fora 9tated month. These certificates are signed by the members and given to the Sergeant-at-Arms,, who collects, the money from the Treasury, where the certificate is receiveu as a receipt, and places it to the account of these certificates. The total was not beyond the ordinary drafts, and he had been making the same collections for several years. What concerns the members of the House most deeply just now is where the loss is to fall. Some of the ablest lawyers in the House (and particularly those members who have drawn all of their salary and have it in theii pockets) are of the opinion that in signing the certificates the members have given a receipt to the Treasury and released the government from liability, in which case they must look to Mr. Leedom or his sureties for their money. Others—the great majority—who havo not drawn their November salary, hold that,as the certificates were signed and presented before Dec. 5. when the salary was due, the Treasury must have taken notice of that fact and could not have legally paid the certificates. Meanwhile many of the members will be, for a time at least, kept out of their No vember salaries, which, as Representative Butterworth says, is pretty hard, with Christmas so near at band.