§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in reference to the action of the Customs and Excise in disallowing, without inquiry, fees claimed by Mr. Doheny, clerk of 1601W Kilkenny borough pension committee, because their local officials returned a smaller number, he is aware that Mr. Doheny asserts that, without any inquiry being made of him, he received a docket showing the claims in excess of the number returned by their officials struck out, without any mention of their being held over for inquiry or any request to him for information regarding them; whether he would cause careful inquiry to be made as to the circumstances under which inaccurate material has been officially furnished to him for his reply to a question in the House; and, having regard to the fact that he has seriously reflected on the accuracy of the information supplied by Mr. Doheny, whether he would cause the department concerned to act in future with a greater sense of courtesy and justice than their course of action in this matter has disclosed?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere was no intention in the previous answer of reflecting on Mr. Doheny's accuracy, and I cannot admit that it was founded on inaccurate information. Neither the answer nor the information on which it was based is inconsistent with Mr. Doheny's assertion as stated in the present question. It is true that the docket referred to did not, on the face of it, indicate that further inquiry was being made; but the fact remains that the discrepancy has been under investigation. I hope that a satisfactory settlement will soon be arrived at.