The daily union., 1852-09-02

largest whlg conventions which assembled in sba
State" 81 A&a M ta th0N
Ia September, 1850, an appropriation Of $4,000 was
made 10 enable the President 10 hold treaties with the
Indian tribes ia the State OF California The Presi.
dent under this, oTganized board OF commissioners,
consisting OF three persons. These modest gentlemen
drew Sl30OO0 OF public money from the collector al san
Francisco and started 10 their language, with
escort OF one hundred and one picked men, ten OH
GERS three sx-muie covered wagons. aud some one hun
dIed and hiy pack mules. To carry provisions, annu
nton, and Indian goods, all under the command ot Cap
tain ID Keyes, an experienced and excellent oihcer
This Is indeed dong an extensive business on very
in uotatioa Of lato, take $4,000 and start on with
csvacade. the expense OF which VIII DC as inucn more
Surely. The crediyssimls not ye qu'le exploded But
style of still greater masnihcence. These commission
ers after arriving among the Indians made presents and
gave entertainments that truly dstonted the nattues -
and have for this and other expenses drawn drafts on
the Secretary OF the Interior amounting 10 nearly
quite, ono million Of d)uars They have usuTped the
with The Indian tribes and proceeding TO act upon them
without any rafcation the result of which must, in all
probability, involve us IN an Indian war; and yet these
commissioners are not removed or even censued by the
administration and the collector at San Francisco who,
in violation OF the treasury acl paid themt the money,
is also retained in Office
fornia which Senator GwIN has exposed, and which
cannot omit in this place allude the first co ecor
OF at San Francisco, Mr. Collyer He sent
across the country with military escort at expense
OF $3.50 000 when the cost OF getting there by the usually
travelled and proper rouethe ishmus-would not have
exceeded $500 He then, after seizng upon large
bers OF vessels contrary TO law-sellng the goods al
mere nominal sum- and thus causing the loss TO the nj
ted States 81 200 000-became public deauIter TO
large amount, and was then asain renomnaed by The
President Tor the office buthe Senate, by nearly
unanimous vote, refused 10 confirm him. pass Ihe
thousand other instances oil prohgae OF money by
the admnsl in Callforna-such paying l 90 per
cord for wood $500 per thousand for lumber to build use
less barracks These are nothing compared with the
cases have named II party which is guilty not only
OF such gross and papabe violations of law but ou,rages
upon the propriees of official position and disregard OF
Official responsibility can be sustained by the American
people, then written constitutions mockery and
cheat.
Blu, we need no, travel 10 Texas New Mexico or Cali
orna seek abuses for the purpose of asceainng the
true character OF the who control the administration
OF affairs The proof is before US daly--our own eyes
be closed il we do not behold itour must be
shut not TO hear II.
The Gaphn and the Gardiner frauds, and the connex-
ion of members Of The catnst with these the selling of po
lilica influence for money consideration by those hold
ing high official position have become matters Of history
and though attempts may be made this floor and else
where 10 paate those who have been guilty
OF these Offences il is all in vain No matter how ele
waited the position exalted the intellect OF the perpera
tor, the stain is there, nwrough and ineIadcable and
though The effort OF lifetime should be directed TO et
face ii. the damned spot" will never out" Runors
OF avery suspicious character prevalent here early
in the session in reference 10 the connexion OF certain
persons in two OF the departments with made
The office, and The allowance and payment of rejected
claims by those departments after those claims had been
purchased, in whole part by persons employed in
the departments where they to be allowed or re-
ected In order that these might be put at rest,
and the persons implicated be- il innocent exonerated
from groundless suspicion, this House the 28h of
January last adopted the following resolution:
ROptd That the Secretary State the Secretary OF
the Treasury the Secretary the Interor the Secretary
the Navy, Secretary War; and Postmaster Gene.
rn be- and hereby instructed TO be reported
to this House, may be practicable, fun and
plete lists OF all claims il any Uncuding principal and
,eres and designating each separately allowed and paid
py Inc respective departments, bureaus thereof
the 4h day Of March, Anno Domin 1919. which had been
previously presented suspended, disaowed whole
~ part and specifying the character of such caims and
also ha they cause 10 be reported the names OF all person.
VINO any ma acted as the agents solicitors for said
claims and the who received any portion thereof
or were Interested therein"
To his resolution neither OF these suspected departments
has made any reply This is what The LAWYERS would
call taking the bill eoafessei Why donf they answe
it3 Would the answer show how certain persons with
small ealaries only sufficient 10 yield them economical
support, can live in fine syle-keep their elinue OF
wants and make investments in socksi Would il show
the people, The voters, the taxpayers how a can
take The bankrupt act and in less than yeas. occupy
ing subordinate position in of the Departments be
able TO build and own fine city houses and speculate in
property Such knowledge might be useful 10 the public
was for such Information We sought IN the resolution
We cannot get II. II seems until the administration il
changed. How many cases like the following would an
answer TO the above resolution give uss quote from
late speech OF Senator HUNTER
"A claim for compensation was made on the part Of the
owners OF the steamboat, Wachmsn Tor its in 1895 and
1896 THIS demand was presented soon after that time
Mr. Hsgner and allowance Of something like So zoo
was then made Once and perhaps twice. afterwards an
attempt made reopen the account during Mr. Hag.
ners tern of office He said that the only effect OF the
new evidence was to make him doubt the ptopreiy OF
The original allowance lie said, too, that the claim was
cosed. Both he aud the comptroller opinions
It, But on September 25h, 1885, IL allowed by the
present auditor, and anoent Of Sit750 found due by
him. The question then the OF paying
the claim balance was found OF an old appropriation
made 23t August lI2 Tor the payment of Florida militia
for services In 1889 and ISs0 This balance trans
fcred the head OF another old
preston OF indian hos,ilites'-aud thus paid"
L. f.. AZ q
raid on claim twice rejected by democratic admin.
istraiion
The way these things are managed, and the treasury
pundered m said 10 be ollows Some clerk, or other
officer in the department before which the claim is or has
been pending, either buys IL, like Mr. Corwin in the
Gardiner swndle sells his services and influence for pei
centage'a contingent iateys,f' in it, He is then in a
position where he find or simulate ecidsnee lie sees
each link that Is wanting, and supplies H. The claim
put through the money paid, and the official, for his very
efficient services takes the lions share The extent OF
thls abuse and robbery believe is enormous; but we
never know the whole until after full
There IS a double evil hete--an nducemcnt Tor these
men TO throw obstacles in the OF honest claims until
the owner, weared and dsheaened will sell for small
consideration, and temptation TO those who should be
the guardians TO become the ponderers OF the treasury
will not 20 further into particulars but call upon
suspected departments TO answer now. Seven months
have passed since the resolution was adopted sui
cent Ime one would think, TO answer any inquiry. Or
do they plead the felons privilege and refuse any
sponse because answer toogid cTininne mem,euss
There is another abuse which has become general
the appointment Of clerks wholly untitled for their sta
TONS merely account OF the partisan services OF them
selves or their friends. Such appointments have driven
from employment many OF the competent and faithful
asd filled the departments with oilers and drones-men