The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-24
FRAUDS UPON THE GOVERNMENT.

strongest terms That International comfy VIII
allow
FRAUDS UPON THE GOVERNMENT
We blame no man for labOrng TO guard the
Peoples money against fraud and extrava-
gance. Too much vigilance cannot be main
tanned over the public treasury-too much pains
cannot be taken to secure the faithful fulhlment
of contracts with the Government. 1t il COM
mon to regard the Government rs great cor
pOration, which it is no crime 10 oyerreach or
subject to extortiOn.
But the words economy" - retrench-
ment""waste > extravaganza, corruption
" Fraud have magical effect In political
warfare. The men who are the most fluent
in the use of them, are not always the pureSt
of patriots. A fraud may offend them, not
30 much because it il fraud a. because it is
successful Waste or corruption which they
would overlook in their own Party they ar
raign with most Pharisaical austerity, when
practiced by their political opponents. Nay,
in their over-righteous judgment mere rumor
or an ex-parte statement will serve as ground
for long indictment of high crimes and INSIDE
meanors against an Administration which they
would render odious.
Lately, we observed in several newspapers
charges of gross fraud in the use of the apprO-
priation made at the last session for the cree
ton of additional wings to the Capitol. They
were repeated in every variety Of form, and
the only evidence offered to sustain them was
certain eI parte statements made in Congress
during the heat of debate. 1t turns out that
there has been great waste Of righteous in
dgnation. MIR. Stanton, of Kentucky, a Dem
ocratic member of the House, and Chairman of
the Committee on Public Buildings, in note
to the Union, puts a quietus upon the charges,
as follows:
"'The Deficiency bill brought these frauds
before tho Senate. That bill appropristes the
sum of $500 900 to meet Deficiencies in the fund
provided for the enlargement, although it ap-
pears that when the last appropriation of half
a million was made it WAS intended that no
deficiency should DO permitted to occur for it
was believed that the expenditure was limited
strictly to the sum appropriated. A deficiency
limited to five hundred thousand dollars-an
increase of four-ffths over estimates-is char
aoteristic achievement of Wing administration.
Now, sir, it will suffice to say, in reply to
this paragraph of your article that at the be-
ginning of the last session of Congress, Deem
Der, 1851, the Secretary of the Interior and tho
architect Of the extension sent to Congress their
estimates of the amount of money required to
carry on the work until the end Of the present
fiscal year, June 80, 1854 period of more
than q year and half The amount asked
for was 81 900, OO0 as will be seen by the re-
port. The subject was referred to the Commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds, of which
was and am the Chairman.
" In consequence Of the hostility which then
existed against the work, and the efforts made
in some quarters to defeat it, thought an APP
| preparation Of u half million could be carried
easier than the amount estimated for and ac-
cordingly, with the assent of the committee,
offered resolution in the House. making APP
preparation of that sum only. This carried
and instead of million, which was necessary,
there was appropriated only one.half the sum
needed to keep the work in progress until the
expiration of the present fiscal year. The OBJ
| ject for which the four hundred thousand dol
| lars is now asked ia to keep the work in opera
ton until tho last of next June The sum here
t0iore appropriated is fully exhausted in the
purchase of materials and the employment Of
labor No debts of any Importance are due
either for work, material, or other objects. You
will see therefore, that the deficiency to which
you refer is not deficiency of four hundred
thousand in an expenditure of five hundred
thousand dollars--an increase of four-ftths
over estimates, rs you allege and that the
inference you draw therefrom, to the prejudice
of those having the management of the fund,
is MUST
In relation to another charge, that sixty-ive
thousand dollars had been lost to the Govern
ment by frauds connected with the furnishing
Of marble, he says
"My official position, as Chairman of the
Committee of the House having jurisdiction Of
the subject has induced me to inquire into this
alleged euormity and having examined the re-
turns Of marble delivered, and the payments
made to the present day, am prepared to
state that the whole amount paid for marble
delivered up to this moment is only SOL, 2445I
Your ingenuity will perhaps enable you to
show how, under this state OF fact, the marble
contractors have been enabled frsudulently Ia
pocket SOS. 900 over and above the value of the
article
The Government has its rights, and 30 has
the citizen. The Public Treasury should be
guarded against proAigate expenditures; bu,
private character should be protected agains,
yanton or inconsiderate outrage. He who
robs the Government of sixty-fve Thousand
dollars, deserves the Penitentiary but is h,
guiltless who, on insufficient grounds, and with
out careful investigation, publicly arraigns u
Q swindler his fellow citizen We suspect tina
mans devotion to the public interests, wh'
ruthlsssly tramples upon private character.