New-York daily tribune., 1859-07-06
FROM WASHINGTON.
from Our 0vl Correspondent

"hSh'N"iON, July x icoS'
After all the parade and promise of reducing the
Custom House expenditures and correcting the
notorious abuses at New-York, the Secretary Of
the Treasury fell far short Of public expectation in
only removing ninety-6ve supernumerary dronss
yesterday. Mr.. Guthrie the speci, agent of the
Department who made the invest Cation recon-
mepded the discharge of al least $50, and his
report was, in the first instance, accepted by Mr..
Cobb. There are, therefore, fifty five useless in
cumbents retained, allowing this basis to be cor
rect. 1t may be properly asked therefore, in view
Of the action here, why the Treasury is ssdded
with this unnecessary expense No public reason
can be assigned after the investigation which has
been had, and in the absence Of that jusifc 4tion
party considerations and personal interests may be
fairly ascTibed. No other can be supposed, aud
there doubtless interference at srters to
stay the ak, after the guiliotne had commenced ia
work.
These professions Of economy are at best hollow,
and never would have been made. except for the
Indignation uttered against the eXsravsgance aud
corruption with which the Government has been
conducted during the last. aud more particularly
during the present, Administration. which is with
out parallel in the history Of the Government.
They spent S5l 900, 600 the fret year. accord
ing 10 their own showing, exclusive of deficit o.
$40, 600 900 which bad to be supplied. During the
Tay lor Fillmore administration, the expenses Of col
lectjDg the revenue were fixed BY Congress at
81, 500, coo, and it went out of Office leaving an
uBexpended balance of that fund. amounting to
$500, 900. Mr.. Secretary Guthrie soon cOntrved
TO get rid of that balance and good deal more, by
stocking the Custom Houses with partizsDs and
seedy politicians, and, under Democratic rule, the
expenses for the same service have run up t. 3d.
60V, 900 year. Repeated Efforts were made by the
Opposition side Of the House last Session. to reduce
this expenditure, but on every occasion, the imme-
date representatives Of the Treasury Department
resisted the retrenchment and Mr.. Letcher carried
the appropriation. Mr. Cobb's action now, even in
this limited reduction, is a virtual confession OF
Judgment, in regard to these abuses, and an admls
sion that they ought to have been corrected long ago.
The POst-Office law is obligatory in denying pay
TO Postmasters and their clerks during the present
fiscal year. until Congress shall make an apprOpria
ticn for that object. They stand precisely upon
the same footing as the contractors in the eye of
the law, and there is possibility Of escape from
this conclusion, except by an evasion such as is
now entertained here. The plan is for the Post
masters not to make the issue, but to go here
t0fore, paying the expenses from commissions, and
returning the balance to the Treasury. We shall
see whether such an open and hasrant violation of
positive duty will be attempted or permitted. If
it is the contractors should at once demand their
pay and try the question in order that the country
may understand whether any act of Congress is to
be respected here. The President refused to call
an extra session, when his friend Mr.. TOOmbs, by
his single opposition, defeated the Post Office APP
preparations; and in order to escape the effects of
that omission, il is now contemplated to disregard
the painest requirements and to resort to expe-
dents which are notoriously illegal. These things
may be done with impunity, perhaps, in the az
sence of Congress; but there is some consolation
in knowing that day of reckoning is near at hand,
when the responsibility of such acts will have to be
confronted.
WASHINGTON, July 3, 1889.
The Court journal and its followers, have man-
tanned profound silence on the subject of the
funeral expenses of the late Postmaster General,
Gov. Brown. They have consulted prudence in
this course since the fact cannot be disputed, for
it is of official record, and went through the ordi
nary formalites at the Treasury. In order that no
msapprehension msy exist on this score, 1t is as
serted positively, and contradiction is challenged,
that about $1,000 was psid out OF the public
Treasury, upon the authority of the Interior De
partn ent, and with the knowledge and consent o.
the Secretary of the Treasury. No appropriation
was made or contemplated for any such object, and
there is not the pretence OF law to justify 1t. In
every sense and aspect, it was hagrant mlsappli
cation of the public money, and, under the circum
stances, without parallel or justification. Gov.
Brown was man of large fortune, and maintained
state here, more costly than any OF his colleagues
His funeral corresponded, may be readily sup
posed from the cost with this style, and attracted
Unusual attention. 1t can hardly be believed that
his immediate friends could have c0untenanced
such charge upon the Treasury, or even would
have permitted it, if the intention had been knowa
No explanation has been given and none Will pro-
baby be attempted, because the imposition Is not
susceptible of defense When any OF the poor
ol.rl hc rtainly more deserving objects
of public charity than Cabinet ministers with sala-
ries of IS 900 year-they are buried by the voun-
tary contributions of their associates. Were an
application made, in such a case, to Mr. COBB or
Mr. Thompson, it would be secuted without hesita-
tion and vet these gentlemen Gan stretch power so
ss to furn.h pJincely paradeior one OF their own
order, with yes claim than the needy subordinate,
upon such consideration
An importanuprlnciple is involved IN this matter,
which is Of higher consequence than the mere
money so prodigslly expended. Ii Secretary,
without color oflaw, ,may draw Si3OO topay funeral
expenses, he msy draw a larseIeum for some other
purpose. This expenditure was strictly personal
one and the precedent is dangerous, because 1t
breaks down all the Safeguards for protecting the
Treasury 1t is in perfect hsoing with the loose
and corrupt system which tnh Administration has
inaugurated, and applied everywhere. Since the
foundation of the Government, such abuses as have
been witnessed here in the last two years, were
never before heard of much lees practiced. Ex.
trayagance venality, and recklessness have had full
swing, and this polluted influence has reached the
HIGHEST places in the Government. The press Is
subsidized, Congressmen bought up Like cattle,
the Departments are controlled by secret agencies,
and alpole' msxim of every man having his price,
is the only principle recognized by those who DIS
pense power The English bill was VIGOROUSLY
bought through the House by publc patronage, and
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