The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-29
THE RAID OF A SUPERVISOR AND WHAT
II SUGGESTS. -

afford to dispense. Nevertheless, 1t would De
of infinitely greater benefit to the country
TO establish and enforce in the whole civil |
service such qualifications and conditions,
such safeguards and securities, as would
place official malfeasance, as nearly as pos
sible, beyond the pale of contingencies, and
reduce the sum of its evils to an inconsistent
BILE minimum Nothing in the art OF govern
ment is SO simple, and at once so cheap and
remunerative, as prevention. But eheapness
and simplicity are the very last things OF
which rulers who are equally Ignorant So
phisticated and concerted will be prepared to
think. They believe in remedying the per-
nicious operation of q system already too
complex by the addition of new complexities;
they believe in correcting waste and extrav'
apance by creating more bureaus, more offices,
more salaries and perquisites to open drains
into a reeling public credit, more hungry
and Unsuitable tongues to lap up the life
blood of a nation they believe in multiply
ing temptations to dishonesty by schemes of
taxation, exorbitant in some items, and laby-
rinthine and mysterious almost to inscruta-
bility in their processes. But they do not
believe in, they do not comprehend or care
to comprehend, the fundamental principles
of economy, honesty and efficiency In the
management of the public finances. Il
The results and the symptoms of this kind
of policy ere seen cropping out in various
forms on all sides. The recent raid of Supervi-
sor Creecy into this State was one OF its logical
manifestations. The commentaries which it
elected are also illustrative of the nature of
the system which he represents. He swooped
down suddenly from Washington. If we
credit Washington kilograms, evidently dis
patched with official sanction, his apparition
caused a fiutter. He suspends two collectors
and an assessor of internal revenue. He seizes
untold quantities of tobacco and whisky.
And he is off again to Washington, to report
the fruits of his foray, and to recover breath
and energy expended in this impetuous chap
ter of detective labor. Pending the moment
GUS investigations, a discussion arose as to the
remuneration coming to this functionary for
the discharge of his delicate and confidential
mission. 1t was observed by one paper that,
his pay being confined to salary OF no more
than twenty-five hundred dollars, it was ao-
surd to expect from him an energetic and faith
| full performance of duty such as would enure
to the substantial gain of the public revenue.
Another paper, the Advocate of this city,
whose editor is not only STEPPED. heart and
soul, in the peculiar morality of the dominant
party, but assumes the responsibility of one
anointed for the work of indicating the ways
of God to men, notes that Supervisor Creepy
receives a salary no larger than that OF New
Orleans tbook-keeper, and expatiates on
the fact in words which say in effect that 1t is
simply preposterous to suppose that man In
his position can live honestly and decently
upon SO pitiful sum. But then, by way Of
offset to these dark and misgiving reflections
comes the assurance that the supervisor need
not be reduced to the stern alternative of
starving upon two or three thousand dollars
per annum, or of living in reasonable comfort
upon brides received from officials whom he Is
set to watch. And what is the ground OF this
assurance? Why this, to be sure, as might
have been anticipated by all who understand
the plan upon which the internal revenue sys-
tenn has been constructed that the govern
ment guarantees to him extra compensation IN
the shape of liberal assessment of perqui
sites on seizures and recoveries. In single
case, the seizure of lot Of tobacco in this
city, it is said, this assessment will yield hin
as much as thirty thousand dollars. Such In
cidental items of profit, it is inferred, ough
not only to keep gentlemen employed in Mr.
Creecy's line of service above absolute want
but to assuage the fire of any ordinar.
cupidity that may haply-for, though patri
otto, they are human-burn in their bosoms
Well, we dare say it ought. We are cordial!
willing to concede, as all must be who ar
J not prepared to impugn the official integrit.
of Mr.. Creecy and of every other supervisor
that no provision of this nature was neces
: sary 10 incite him to the faithful Performance
of his duty. But this concession does no
lessen the pernicious consequences of tn
theory, running through the entire civil ser
vice of the country, which complacentl.
assumes the general dishonesty of public ser
wants. even of those charged with the detec
ton, exposure and punishment of the dis
honesty of others, and which, therefore, pro
. poses that government shall secure tn
fidelity of the latter class Of agents by out
bidding all the overtures of bribery. The ap
plication of this theory to the administration
, of the public revenue is a sisyphian and sui
cidal labor. No government can afford +
enter the corruption market to purchas
official fidelity. The corrupters will Away
be able to outbid it ultimately. 1t must con
sequently, continually raise its bids Taxa
. ton must be increased proportionately an
the higher taxation is, the greater are tn
opportunities and profits of corruption Their
| is but one solution of the difficulty. First
let the taxes be fewer and smaller and co
c lected by methods so simple and plain tha
: fraud and delinquency could be instantly dis
; covered and arrested Next, let eyerythin
: be done to bring the personnel of the civ
= service up to the standard of honesty whic
. the public conscience exacts in the ordinar
e dealings Of man with man. 1t is true that, III
!, less there is enough unpurchasable integrit
- tha oourtrv 20 f;ll rocitions of pacuniaY