The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-15

TIE Posr OFFICE DEYALCArioSs.-Theye 4,
not one Of the exposures made before the Co
vode Committee which is at all to b compared
in gravity with the facts contained In Postmas
ter General Hollis letter to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives on the recent Post
Oface defalcaiens. Here We have state of
things deposed TO which, We will venture to say,
does not find parallel under any other admit
nistrative system In the world. For the period
of five years, according to Mr.. Hollis statement,
these defalcations have been carried on, without
the heads of the Department being in the Least
aware Of them. The first deficit occurred in
December, 1865, and from that time until the
suspension Of Fowler from his post 1t was
steadily increased, and the abstraction of the
money concealed by applying the deposits Of
the revenues of one quarter to extinguish the
liabilities of the previous one. This, Of course,
could not occur without the knowledge Of one
or more Of the other Post Once officials In fact,
It ought not to have occurred ct all without tho
heads of the Department arriving earlier ct
suspicion of It. And yet not only for
this long period of i've years do they
remain unconscious Of the faot, but
an officer of the Treasury Department, whose
special duty 1t was to bring these Irregularities
under the notice Of the authorities, became
afflicted with similar blindness. Aud all this
took place under . system Of financial checks
which, although 1t may not be perfect, ID still
sufficiently elaborate to prevent the commission
of frauds, if those who are charged with carry
ing it out pay proper attention to their duties.
We must say that q more remarkable case of
ignorance and incompetency on the part Of
public officials has never been brought
to light. It is calculated to shake all con.
fidence In the honest discharge Of the business
of the several departments; for of what use
are administrative laws and regulations if
those who are charged with tho duty of put
ting them in force not only select subordi.
mates unified tor their posts, but themselves
neglect to give that close superintendent to
their proceedings which is necessary to secure
efficiency We are afraid that the facts admit
ted in the Postmaster Generals explanation
will furnish q complete legal defence to
Fowler 3 sureties. How can men be called to
pay up forfeitures that had already been In
part incurred when they signed the bondss
Besides, these instruments were themselves
drawn up in q manner that would almost lead
to the inference that It was intended to afford
the parties signing them means of escape in
the case of breach Of trust by their princi-
pal. This affair altogether reflects the greatest
discredit on the manner in which the business
of our public departments 10 conducted. The
evil Is in part attributable to the too frequent
displacement of the clerks in the public Offices,
and In the appointment of inexperienced and
Incompetent persons in their places, merely on
the ground of their political claims. But ito
main responsibility lies on the shoulders Of the
men who accept positions of great public
trust, without either the capability or the do.
sire to perform efficiently the duties which
they undertake.