New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-31
CORRUPTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

From The London Zines
When things 20 wrong 10 any OF our pubic depart
II cuts, told by certain section OF poiucians
10 lock 81 AmcIica. We are recommended 10 observe
the economy and integrity of administration insured
by Democratic institutions, AID TO contrast the opera
ton Of reslly popular Government with the results
of the system prevailing at home. This advice has
lately been taken TO some purpose, though with con-
sequences rather different nom those which were anti
cipsted and at the present moment we can aci upon
the suggestion with very good effect indeed. We
have got into bi. Of scIape with our Navy. Aiter
SPENDING enormous sums OF money We are somewhat
short OF slips; we in doubts 6bCut the established
system OF mana cement and are investigating the qIes
ton with view TO reforms. The Am6rc sns, as II
hsppeps, have been doing Just the same thing I0ey
also have appointed an " investigating Committee to
INQUIRE into various branches OF their naval e1pendl-
tnre and INTO the general conduct Of affairs in their
dockyaIds; but here, feel hsnlfuto say the anal
ogy Of the two abruptly terminates. Whatevc.
may be the constitutional fouls OF the British ADM
rally il is certainly not charged with any such pOca.
corruption as has been formally alleged against the
corresponding department in the United States. The
American Committee has finished its Investigations,
but, not being unanimous III H. conclusions, II haS
presented two reports. One Of these, signed by three
members while admitting the vices of the system IN
operation xoIerates the officers actually concerned
the other signed by two members, directly duplicates
only the Secretary of the Navy, but the President
Of the United Ststes himself and charges these high
officers with proce edings dangerous TO public safety,
al deserving Parliamentary censure That these re-
markstle conclusions may be compsrei ana sppre-
cAted we print both sets OF resolutions In smother
column Of cur impression this morning.
The form taken by the original accusations was
manifold. II was alleged that the Brooklyn Navy
ysTd-sn establishment corresponding with oar Poris-
mouth Dock aTd-was 50 md1agsd IN It's severhl de-
partn eus that electioreerng ohbery suffered 10
override all eKigences OF the public services that the
contracts made Tor the supply OF timber and coa were
regulated By political considerations 70 the damage o.
the public purse; ami that m a particular negotiation
for the supply OF marine engines the interference OF the
Dy. t.sf ycaa a,ftU ID rrro
party feeling. The reader, after comparing the
nval reports on the subject, viii probably hSye little
difficulty IN arriving a. genera conclusions but Is
important TO observe thar in any estimate OF the
the action Of elecu0neernG politics upon the large
masses of wOrkmen IN GOyernment establishments
proves 10 be infinitely more scsndelous in the lard o.
Democracy and the Ballot than Il Is 10 tbs c0u1!ry.
We hear row and then OF pohtlCsi ludlcucs &, Chat
ham or Portsmouth but Iotbing has ever been
ina gned Of the kind reported ron neTica. Tle
departments Of the Brooklyn Navy ard were al
oOOlly distributed as the Report OF the Minority
assures Us, between tie Democratic members IRON
Ncw-Nork, tie Secretary OF the Navy being q party
10 the arrange neut. one member na1 tae
master carpenter g. his pcrqulsi.e another the
master psirter, another the master olocsmaker and
40 forth Each Oh taese mastsr-vOlkmen understood
10 nom he and each Of his fellows owed their places
snd not cny we're they liable 70 removal n case o. p0
C 81 dtfacstion the part OF Their patrols but they
held 10 ant BY toess patrons iOr Tie aPpont
merits OF the africans working under thsr orieTs We
are even treated 10 documentary speclOlen OF the
kind of privileges claimed. mosr Of Congress in
note produced before the Committee tells the master
carpenter, a viii have proportion Of men under
you. II you do not give them, viii lodge charges
against you In another case the master painter,
having refused 20 rcappont workman discharged "a
di-gTsce, Was told you may set 1t down as n fac;
- that viii have you removed If csn, If you don
" put that man on again. std having persisted n
ms ooduracy, be was removed, surely enough, two or
three months siierGaTd. We ask if anything N oar
elections makes any sppfoacA 70 a system Ike this
Otthe coal contracts we will oLy s1y-and ~ take
tie description OF tie case from the more favorable
Tepoit-thAt the feel for the United States Navy Is
supp cd by coal agent, and that the agency was con-
ferTed npOn DR.. Hunter, prsc,ioing physician at
Reading Pernsy ANA, who PAID sort OF atten-
lion TO TIE duties of lis office, but lsft the lnsge-
merit OF The business entirely in tie hands OF large
osl iIm in Philadelphia one OF tue partners " which