Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-01
THE CAUSE OF THE MISCHIEF.

The New York Commercial Advertiser,
leading Radical journal, refers the detal-
cation of Paymaster Hodge to the bad
habits of the Secretary OF the Treasury,
and to his neglect of the duties Of his office
We quote:
"As the facts relative to the defalcatiOn
Of paymaster Hodge appear, the careless
ness of the chiefs of his department IS
made manifest. The voucher to winch
suspicion was directed was drawn III Iooo,
and twice since then, viz: in 1867 and in
1871. Hodge has been newly commissioned
and has filed new bonds. On each of these
occasions il was requisite that his accounts
should be thoroughly examined and closed
nm Had this been done before the new
responsibility to the government was as
sumed the existing irregularity would have
been discovered and the sOundneSs OF ten.
Brice's singular and long continued conf
dence in Hodge would have been brought
To a Dractical test. II remains for the Pay
Department to explain their obvious neg
Iect of duty. Ordinary prudence requires
an examination of accounts at frequent IN
taryals. In this case the regulations of the
Office and the rules of military discipline re
ouirad it. 1t was omitted because OF favor
itism. and from the vicious system which
has preyailed in the Pay Department, whose
chief is, by his habit, incapacitatedfor doing
business. and who lends an easy faith to
others while he neglects the affairs OF ms
own office"
The facts being brought to light by even
an unofficial inquiry into the Hodge detalca-
ton, develop a mismanagement OF the
government funds by Secretary Boutwell,,
that may well startle the country. PaymaS-
ters' accounts have been lying in the Treas
ury Department for five years without eX-
animation and settlement, and millions OF
the peoples money thus left in the hands
Of Paymasters, who, like Hodge, may have
been tempted from the path OF honesty by
the sharks who promote stock gambling III
New York. Hodges account, as 1t now
appears, had been settled only up to March
1. 1867. and any one can readily see that
opportunities for large appropriations
rust have been afforded since that time
and the wonder is that his detalcation did
not reach millions instead of the Sl45,4OJ
with which he is officially charged with en-
bezzling. This is a specimen OF the man
uer in which business is transacted by the
Secondary of the Treasury. The policy OF
Mr. Boutwell, is the policy OF the
Radical party. and the leaving Of
millions Of money, for years At
time, in the hands of paymasters, and per
haps other agents, to speculate with aud
gamble away, is a species of mismangement
peculiarly Characteristic Of the Grant adj
minstration. 1t affords startling evidence
Of the looseness with which financial affairs
are conducted by those in power. 1t Is
pertinently remarked by the Cincinnati
Enquirer that the official business of the
executive branch Of the Government has
become so vast a. to require in the
several Departments gentlemen Of Good
heads and aSsiduOUs attention 10 their
respective duties. Business must be thor
o,phlv systematized, and subjected to in
telliCent Supervision and energetic cNecu-
ton That will not be done when the
..rbief is. by his habits, incapacitated tor
doing business, and who lends an easy
faith to others while he neglects the affairs
Of his own office" The President may
lake his pleasure during the summer months
at Long Branch, and at intervals at other
places, and the heads Of departments may
follow his example, and leave the business
of their respective offices to the care OF sub
ordinates, but just so sure will their absence
and inattention work mischief to the public
service.