The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-18
now TIE THING rs DONE.


THE ASSESSMENT OF oFFIcE HoLDERs-THE PER-
CENTAGE ON sTEALINos-A SUGGESTIVE COR
BEsPoNDENoE,
The following correspondence, which eX-
plains itself, was begun by the receipt by
General Barlow, of New York, formerly
United States Marshal for the Southern dis
trict of the usual printed circular, calling
for money towards the election ex-
penses, the blank space for the amount being
filled in with the words, $4,000 for yourself
and subordinates: s%f
"NEw YORK. October 20, ls69.-James b. Taylor,
Esq, Treasurer, etc.-Dear Sir:-I have received
communication from Hon. Hamilton Harris, chair
man, ETC., requesting contribution of $1,000 from
me and my subordinates to the Republican fund.
al presume this amount was fixed upon under the
impression that this Office was very lucrative to me
and my deputier. My income from the office by
no possibility exceed $4,000. The general rate OF as
cent, and enclose my check for s12O, being at that
rate. Whfther in or out of office, am desirous OF
sary and proper expenses OF the party and regret
that can now only afford to give this amount.
such amounts as thev feel able to do. cannot i'm
pose It upon them as duty, and cannot under
take to nc collect any thing from re them have sub sub
you will no doubt hear from them.
''Yours, ETC., FRANCIS c. BARLOW,
"United States Marshal"
Groom E, FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL, NEW YORK,
October %, 1s69.-MaJor-G L. C. Barlow,
United States Marshal-Dear ri am in receipt
OF your communication Of 10th instant, to James
II. Taylor Esq, treasurer, enclosing check for $780,
"The gre at discrepancy between the amount OF
the check and the amount asked for by the COM
mttee would render 1t, in the opinion Of the COM
mittee, an act OF great injustice to the other Gov
ernment officials who have already responded to the
your contribution. therefore, by order Of the Ex-
ecutiye Committee, return the check to you, ex-
pressing the hope that you will reconsider the views
expressed in your communication.
every respectfully, your obedlent servant,
'JAMEs w. Hustled, Secretary.
"P S.-The assessments made upon the Govern
ment officials In the State are not made upon basis
OF two per cent. upon their salaries, but upon the
ascertained income OF their respective offices.
"UNITED STATES MARsuAL's OFFICE, SOUTHERN
DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK, October %,
1S6s.-Hen. James w Hustled, Secretary Republican,
State Commttee-Dear Sir:-l have received your
letter OF this date returning my check for $780, on
the ground that the acceptance of would be an act
OF injustice to the other Government onicials who
have contributed more liberaly. You also express
hope that will reconsider the views heretofore eX-
pressed by me In the premises
81 cannot afford to contribute larger sum than
the one have named and that may not seem dis
courteous to the committee desire to explain why
cannot change the views heretofore expressed.
81 do not consider that the holding OF public
butte anything, and whatever do give is not given
on any such ground. As private citizen interested
r6ns e success % OF % the partly nave aTayS va been de-
penses; and were out OF Office should give more
now, because | could better afford 1t.
"Any person who holds public office in this country,
and gives all his time and energy to it, consider
underpaid if he receives only the honest salary OF
his place. know that lose money every day that
l am Marshal and for that reason shall shortly re-
sign. The fact that am working for the public for
less sum than could earn in my private business
is rather reason why should be relieved from
assessments than why should pay them, and this
applies, In my opinion, to all public oflces that
know any thing about-they are all underpaid.
'You speak Of the 'ascertaned value OF my office
as distinguished from its salary which is only s600O
do not know from where you ascertained its in
come; but do know that whoever has received
more from 1t than $4,000 per annum has not received
it honestly should be sorry to believe that dis
honest gains OF public offices were so recognized
made the basis OF expected contributions.
"Wbat have said here VIII also explain why
bnons @ on Sv nv I'VE er every VI
they receive, and cannot recognize the right OF the
Government or the party to call on them for any
gladly contribute what each feels himself able TO
do. make this explanation with entire respect for
the views Of those gentlemen whose opinions on
this subject differ from mine. My Views may seem
Quixotic and unreasonable, but l am firmly i'm
pressed Win their soundness, and we must au act
upon our views OF what is right. The check for seO
is at the service OF the committee If they feel that
they can accept it.
every respectfully, FRANCIS Z. BARLOW"
This last letter was returned to the writer
without observation, and the check never
called for.
Upon this correspondence the Nation
makes the following pointed observations
THE SYSTEM.
We publish in another column perhaps one of
the most singular bits of correspondence ever
laid before a civilized public 1t shows the
agents of the party in power not only attempt
ing to levy blackmail-for this is what assess
ments" on ofiice-holders amount to-but actually
rating the office-holder's ability to pay not by
the amount of his lawful salary, but by the sup
posed amount of his stealiDgs. General Bar
lows salary, as United states Marshal, was
$4,000, and this was all that he an honest
man, could or did make out of the place; but
others have made out of the place as much as
$50,000. Indeed, in political circles" this Is
well understood to.be the value of the Office
TO "a practical man." The Republican State
Committee last year, however, while flooding
the State with stump speakers to inveigh
against Democratic corruption, and declalm
about the economy, honesty, and efficiency
Republican auspices, were actually sending
round circulars in which thievings were recog-
nized among the legitimate gains of Govern.
ment servant, provided he paid his party dues
upon them.
In the particular case before us, the com.
mittee happened to light upon one OF the elias 3
OF officials Tor whom the President, in the early
days of his administration, showed an honorable
and hopeful prediction in making his appoint
ments-a man who served the country in peace
as he served is in war, because he loved it, and
not becaus he was unfit for any other occupation,
and who held that the moral obligations OF a
Government official are the same as those of q
man in any other position of life. Accordingly,
he resisted the attempS at eXtOTtion, and the
tine for it having apparently arrived, lays the
matter before the public
We DO not mean to say that all the members of
the committee are responsible for this singular
transaction. Most OF them probably know no.
thing about it; but during all canvasses the real
work Is left TO a few meE in each district, who
are traint in all the lodges OF the outrageous