The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-07-04
New phu,. Of Omcia, Corruption.

4 New Phase Of Onciai Cerruption.
Tue corruption and proaigacy OF the
Radical office. holders, high and low, for
the last seven years, during which they
have had absolute control of every
branch OF the government, have no pre-
cedent in the history of this country.
This fact and it's results are SO well
known to the people that it is hardly
necessary to direct attention to either;
vet, since new developments are con-
tinually forci ng the subject ints notice,
we are compelled occasionally to accord
it passing attention. The Radicals
themselves are we'll aware that the peo-
pie know to what extent they are being
pluudered aud they are after the thieves.
1t was the knowledge Of this fact that
induced then: at Chicago TO cry "stop
thief" lsuder than their pursuers, by
Introducing the following into their
platform
The Government of the United States
should be administered with the strict
est economy, and the cOrruptlons which
have been so shamefully nursed and fos-
tered by Andrew johnson call loudly
for radical reform. 81
The latest development of Radical
corruption il the enormous frauds which
have Just been unearthed in the Second
Auditors Bureau of the Pay Depart
meut 1T Washington. On the authority
of those concerned in the investigation
the correspondent of the New York
Tribune states that the Government has
been swindled by these frauds to the
extent of 81 800, ,OO0-s sum nearly equal
to the amount of the Deficiency bill re-
ported by TnAD. STEVENS in the House
a day or two ago!
A brief elucidation of the manner in
which these frauds have been carried
on will not be uninteresting. The game
has been traced to IN organization
which exists among the attachees Of the
Bureau of colored troops of the Adju-
raut Generals office, in the same divis-
ion of the Second Auditors Bureau,
and in the Pay Department. 1t must be
known, in order to understand. thor
oughly, the working of this organiza-
ton, or ring, that the muster-rolls, be-
ing in, the hands of different parties, are
supposed to act as check against
fraudulent payments. 1t was therefore
necessary for the operations OF this
ring that its connections should ramify
through the War, Treasury and Pay de'
partments. 1t should also be under-
stood that the bounty Of colored soldiers
was fixed by act of Congress at $500 for
freedmen aud 500 for slaves. The present
Congress, with great liberality, pass
ed an amendatory act declaring that in
the absence of notatiOns on the muster
rolls to the contrary, all colored sol.
diers should be considered and paid as
freedmen. The system of the fraud,
therefore, was to issue certificates fol
bounty to soldiers who were enlisted AZ
slaves, as though they were freedmen
the soldiers receiving 500 and the ring
pocketing 500 in each case. The plan
is simple one and requires not half AZ
much ingenuity as rascality in its ex
ecution. Like most plots of this nature
it was doubtless concocted before tn,
passage of the amendatory act provid
ing for the payment of all colored sol
diers as freedmen and it is highly prob
able that the Congressman who, iron
avowed motives of "equity" and "phil
antroPhy" pashed the measure forward
were literally rewarded by the lobby
DIR. WISE, OF G. Israelite, in Cincin
natl, very appropriately used the fol
lowing language in eondemning Grant