Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-01-01

ington. | listen with incredulous ears to re-
ports of days long gone by, when, if the Govern
ment owed any one dollar, it was the general
custom Of the Department officials to show the
claimant every attention, and courteously at
tend to his wants. 1t may be so, for twenty
years sometimes make great changes, and the
fall from Andrew Jackson 10 Andrew johnson
would seem to imply that a similar depreciation
might be expected in the lower offices of the Gov
eminent. Nowadays, however, if an importer
of goods to the amount of millions year, and
man of high moral and intellectual worth, goes
TO Washington 10 get few thousand dollars
owed him for over taxes exacted by an ignorant
or dishonest public servant, he is as likely as
any way to he met by fippant, adile-headed
youngster. with neither honesty nor capacity,
and who boasts of having been appointed by
some Buckalew, or Randall, and that he can
hold his place anyway. The merchant is per-
haps slluted with Well, old fellow, what can
IRE do for YOU He states his business, but,
if he doesn't come down - he goes home with
out a sight Of his money. with a feeling that the
Government intends both to insult and cheat him.
So widespread has this impression become, that
no honest claimant expects TO get justice at
Washington, save through the laborious and
tedious course Of a suit in the Court of Claims,
unless he can gain hearing before the patient
and just Committee on Claims, in Congress
The result Of this is that thousands of honest
citizens, to whom the Government owes money,
have had to employ lawyers at great expense, or
trust their cases to shaky claim agents. IL Is to
be hoped and expected that vigorous purging
Of the Departments will follow Grants inaugu-
ration.
One of those clerks who are sent out on spe-
cal service, openly boasts that he made over
S3O,ODO in Mobile, backmailing parties after he
hat ief them commit frqudst This fellow now
holds a clerkship that should be filed by some
deserving soldier lie also boasts that he was
kept and maintained by notorious brothel-
keeper in Washington as a ''decoy - to rich
merchants He sits in his room and gets the
same pay as the heightened gentlemen who are
forced to listen to his foul speech, and when he
goes among strangers he is taken for n represen-
tatiye man among the Government employees
The honest men in the Departments should see to
il that such fellows are turned out Heads Of
Departments would also do well to consider
whether they would not find it to their credit to
forbid all clerks from putting their initials on
letters writtsn from their departments. They
are the means Of many a black mailing operation.
The official rascal is no respecter Of persons.
The widow and the orphan, the rich and the /
poor, all fare alike with him. His price may
vary according to circumstances, but he has a
price for all. He is vampire 10 honest people; /.
a jackal to the lions Of 8" the Ring" and syco-
phautic, hwn ing cur to Cong essmen and Sena- /
tors
Heads Of Departments not unfrequently IN /
Willingly aid these vampires by ctreessly sign .
ing letters in which they have written decisions /
SO unjust rs 10 be almost atrocous The claim
ant, under such a decision, sees no hope for JUS
tee, and is only too glad to give half Of his claim
to some aecomplice Of the official for getting it
paid. Then without any trouble the thing is
settled.
asses are constantly occurring in which par
les find thar they have paid excessive duties on
'rtlcles, on which they were entitled 10 certain
drawbacks allowed by the Treasury Depart
neut. Many a man in such cise has gone 10
y ashincton and called NJ the drawback room for
he refuudng Of his money, only 10 be informed
bat a- be neglected o. claim hi- drawback when
was due it will not be- paid now; and this.
otTtl-'auing SIMILAR payments may have been
made ia Ike cases that same day But soon
fer an outside operator for our official rascal
ais no The importer and for q certain sum OF
hare, offers 10 collect the amount over p1f
md many such claims are paid, az a cost o. the
'liutut of 80 per cent of his honest dues
/ have heard of case whore a wealthy impar-
pr lsi paid $40. excess Of tax d. For SID
lys d.. ASSESSOR. M hand You back this money.
you DON'T give o. me It'll bet you never get it,
Ie did not accept the proposition. and for two
..rs JOS has heea kept egt ot hi, money. AuiI
Iu-i give many similar cIs5- if carei 20.
Yours, H.