Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-26
PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

About once a year we have stated reveal
tons of official corruption which startle us fol
the time, and are then forgotten, With the
exception of one or two members of Congress
quietly laid upon the SHELF and one or two
dispensers of bride money sent to that cara
vansary of sharpers-Wall street.-the large
army of public men, and negotiators of pub
lie business, who have been exposed 10
charges of Corruption, all the way from suspi-
cion to conviction, are as much honored ana
trusted as ever And it is fact, well under
stood among those who are at all conversant
with the public business, that any person in
the service charged with heinous abuse of his
prerogatives, always finds a defence and shield
in his more honest associates. So that Com
mittees of Investigation, however astute, are
compelled tolabor almost in vain.
The latest exposure relates to frauds in the
navy and the management of that vast cleo
pioneering machine; the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
1t appears to be proved that the President has
caused to be removed competent contractors
for the supply of coal, timber and other mate
rails for the Useless enginery Of navy yard,
and appointed in their places mere adventures,
capable by the force of audacity of render
ing some partizan service, yet wholly in
competent for the places to which they were
assigned. They have taken their pay and
broken their contracts. The large patronage
connected with this particular navy yard has
been surrendered by the President and the
Secretary-or as much of it as they did not
choose to use for themselves-to the local
members of Congress belonging to their own
party. The following letter will show how
recklessly and corruptly they are accustomed
to use the power placed in their hands, 1t is
addressed to one of the master carpenters
"MR. CoHANE:-Mr. Cullen tells me that you are
to take on Tuesday; now ask you to take
him on and the Others have asked you to take on.
soiH hare my proportion Of 1en under you; If you do
NOT giue them tciH lodge charges against you You
have turned away all the men but one from my Dis
trict already Of this have complained to the Sec
rotary, and now, unless you rectty this injustice,
ciH make application that yoa be turned out The bear
er will bring me an answer. Yours, SC,
JOHN CoCHRANE.'
In May, 1853, as it appears by the report of
the minority of the investigating committee,
enc Charles H. Hunter of Reading, Pa, was
appointed coal agent-a very responsible Of
fee, as about 5000 tons of coal were to be
purchased, and the per centage would yield a
very large salary-with the understanding that
the emoluments of the office should be equally
diuded 6et,oeen him, John f. Smith, and J.
laurence Getz, both ioarm personal and political
llads Of The President, lcho had contributed large
" Nf6 BIS election. The testimony shows that
y ssias--v-- Ienas was a party to, and the
PRESIDENT himself wnen me made the nomina-
ton of Hunter, was informed of the bargain.
In supplying the navy yard with 4rorkmen.
the local members of Congress diviAe1 tho
spoils. Each master scorkman understood to
schOm he and each Of has telloos o,ced their places
The contracts for supplies, for ships, and for
all the contingencies of the department, appear
to have been made wholly regardless of cost,
and with the sole purpose of rewarding sup
POSED party services, or securing retainers for
future use.
If such conduct were known to prevail in
the management of our town or State affairs,
it would be regardedas slightly corrupt. Any
person implicated in it would be regarded as
unworthy of social intercourse, and disgrace
to good neighborhood Yet, in this case, per-
petrated on a large scale, countenanced by men
high in official position and in the confidence
of the country, it is only possible to obtain a
feeble rebuke and a kind Of qualified censure
from minority of Congress, and that minority
composed almost wholly of political opponents.
When can we hope for reform