Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-26

THE wATRoUs CASE AND THE pLuNpER1NG
PRACTICES IN AND ABOUT CONGRESS.
Correspondence of the Richmond EnquirerI
WAsHISoros, d. c., Oct. %, 1855
InaTexas paper, not OF rece ut date which has fal
81 under my eye accidentally, notice an article sign
I'd by Mr. Cleveland who, appears. the Marshal
Of Judge Watrous court complaining that the Chair
man OF the Judiciary Committee, which had had said
Judge srraignsd before it on charges of great NAL
fuasance, had reduced by thousand dollars the
iees which Mr. Cleveland and others OF the Watrous
witnesses had clsimed for attending to testify in the
case. Now. l do not presume 10 pass upon the par
ticulsr merits OF this complaint to discuss how
far such public cards impugnag the conduct of mem
bers of the committee and signed by Judge Watrous'
own officers, offend propriety. But the action OF
MIR. Houston, of Alabama, who was Chairman Of the
Judiciary Committee, in cutting off a number of ex
penses in this famous Watrous proceeding has elicit
I'd some just commentators from the press and the
subject leads me naturally to make simple expo
sure OF some of the mispractices in Congress, the
suppression of which, by Mr. Houston in ths Wstrous
case, promised rich gain 10 subaltern othcerl
OF the llouse aud amateur Witnesses was by no means
grateful to some parties. Hne lila tdchryme.
The last session OF Congress Was distinguished for
the numbsr of "iuve.tigstious' with which it was
occupied; at time, no less than seven special com
mttees charged with particular Investigations, we're
in progress; and large number of witnesses were
summoned by wholesale process to attend on these
generally frutless proceedings in Washngton, at q
vast expense TO the Government. The practice had
been for these witnesses TO charge greatly overated
mileage. A common man would have been aston
shed al the efrontery OF sme OF these cans but as
il ususl for the members themselves to charge for
any number of miles they please, the witnesses were
allowed pretty much the same privilege. Mr. Hous-
ton, in tie Wairous case, where about twenty wit.
nesses had been summoned from Texas, suppressed
the former msprsctce, and restricted these chsrges
by very properly certifying the accounts o the Wit
n.sses according TO the post distances obtained from
the Postmaster General. Some Of the accounts were
thus cut down actually by one thousand miles
do not believe that the simple public have any
idea Of the mons:rous eIactiona Of mileage by mem-
bers witnesses and officers Of the House, upon which
system Mr.. Houston boldly declared war ut the last
-ession. II has happened not nrequently that per-
sons have been brought by their friends TO Washing
ton under the Of witnesses, merely to crafty
them with visit 10 the Capital. and place thousand
or go of dollars Tor mileage in their pockets In this
way very many of the Investigations" OF ths last
session were speculaed iu. II s understood that il
sas actually proposed by Judge Watrous' friends
to summon vast crowds of witnesses from Tex
~ to prove public sentiment there az 10 the
Judges usefulness aud popularity Ibis ab-
>urd and reckless proposition was, however,
defeated. Ii has also happened many times
that witnesses have been summoned 10 Washington
city, or near by, and then given mileage rom soVne
,istant point which they chose TO deeignae as their
homes. In the Fort Smelling case there were frequent
instances of this abuse.
Blu, rne most mOnstrous abuse Of the mileage sys.
tenn and at which Mr.. Houston dealt very effective
blowi 8 in the Office Of the Sergeant-at-Arms. That
officer was charged with the duty Of summoning the
clouds OF witnesses that attended the last session
and although be never went out OF bic ofoe to make
service il il said that he cleared more than go OoO
hy the little job The way it was managed was this {:
The Sergeant at Arms is allowed 20 cents mile,
coming to and fro, for summoDng witnesses. de
would readily obtain person TO 20 the round, aod
summon large number OF witnesses 10 one "Trip, ano
yet he would charge mllesge Tor number OF trips
equal TO the number of witnesses. About Is witnesses
we're summoned from the ueghoorhood OF Fort Snel.
!ing-end so the Sergeant at Arms charged milesge
for Is rips-snd he was allowed II. But MIR. Houston
was more troublesome customer. In the Watrous
case about 20 witnesses summoned, at one time
rom tbs distant State OF Texas and the Sergesnt-at-
Arms greatly tecitsted himself 90 the prospect OF
monstrous fee by charging tor about ~ constructive
rips 10 Texas. Mr. Houston, however, opposed this,
compelled the Sergeant alarms to suocomo: and
4aved the Government nearly $luUUO by hs unnlncn
ing economy in this instance.
| might pursue the general subject OF corrupt and
Differing practices in aud about Congress- by giving
40 account OF the crowds osnecures Kept on Inc pre-
misss-uessengers who get $1,000 and $l5OO per an
mum, and porters, who are paid $l2OO year for do
ne nothing, all of whom OF course, too proud to
10 menial offices, but potic,dns or by Informing
;our readers Of the fabulous cost OF gorgeous furn
ure mirrors Brussels carpets and book cases costing
$500 each, tyou can see one IN the Claims oommttee
oom) which adorn the committee and private drink
ms Ivvr,,, L--- .L.----A |. nd naftv
plumbers by which Uncle Sam ia made to bleed at
very pore, by swarm ofsubaterns, hangers on gu
uernumeraree and what not.
wish only to impress the remark, that the day OF
-nal things is not to be deepised in public economy,
and that whoever renders service In defeating b
comparatively petty scheme OF plunder, not only
IN ha
Il sincerity OF purpose which the people should de-
light to commend, and gives an example OF the
highest public usefulness. 1t is the fashion Of the
obby to spesk dsrsvely of those men, who manifest
reat anxiety 10 discover and defeat public plunder,
ven 10 the smallest matters. ihs watch dogs OF
he Treasury" But The title is proud one. THESE
are the men who. alike, approve The sincerity enc
business of their notions OF public economy and give
!, high moral example 10 the country,
In Mr.. HoustOns public life his eIac,nR economy
,as been prominent characteristic. 1t has obtained
tor him uDpopularity among those two c!asses
If critics. the office holders aud the lobby agenf but
!; has been in the ful6llnent OF high duty TO the
country aud has marked his public life with noble
.iistiuctiou
The faithful and the economical administration o
,he general Government are primary objects OF rs
gard, and none OF our statesmen or representative
n the House has been more jealous and persistent II
heir efforts to such administration than Mr.
iodston, of Alabama. In his vigi!ant guard OF th
1
| III the Government, and against the plunderings
| obby cornorants and corrupt men generally, Mr.
Houston has done noble and substantial service. ID
| nay have Incurred certain unpOpulsrity for hi
trct notions of economy in the administration of th
| Government, and for his severity OF judgment OF
cIams upon the public purse; but, it is an unpopu
arty of which he may we'll be proud, and which ih
South, and his own State peculiarly, should be sDI
Qua to reward by marks of public gratitude an
| favor.
| TO Mr.. Houston s attributed the noble sentimen
that the moral estimate and guide which be had TO
his actions in private affairs, he carried into his OH
cial life-s rule of public action which VIZ may en-
| phasxe tor the instruction of all those who as
ure The names OF ststesmen and the rewards OF pa
riots, and as expression of s;stesmanshp in f fu
est ideas OF honesty and usefulness.
The creation Of moral standard of official action
noble otfics Of statesmsnship. The country mus
be dissbused OF the idea that not only 10 IL easier IN
Iess dangerous to plunder the government than ndi
vduals but that 1t is infinitely ess felonious 10 fac
hardly disreputable The valuable Lessons OF ofhcis
integrity must be taught; and those who will assst
IT, will do work Ut pubic virtue and OF patriotism
secoud to none other in the country.
| FIAT JUsTiTIA.
For hs En1ur.r.