The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-07-26
The Peter Funk Of The Cabinet.


The Peter Funk Of The Cabinet.
Under the present money-getting
Administration it seems that in near
ly every quarter from which proceed
an expenditure of public funds there
people for the pecuniary benefit of the
Presidents Immediate friends and
supporters. The baneful influence o.
the Military Ring, which has assumed
aud apparently acquired complete
control e the measures OF the Pres
ident for its OWE m~ercenary ends, has
spread through every department of
public service, and each day brings to
light some new instance of the de-
moralization which, encouraged by the
tacit approval of Grant, as manifested
in the San Domingo job and in the
case of Commissioner Parker, appears
to pervade the management OF nation
al affairs in all their details.
The letting of mail contracts, other
than railroad, for the Southern States
involves a vast expenditure Of money.
Postmaster General Cresswell, who
has already gained IN unenviablc rep
utation through the fraudulent Chor-
penning claim, has been exhibiting
peculiar financial talents in making
his mail contracts. Proposals were
invited several months ago for mail
service in the division embracing Tex
as, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama,
Tennessee, and other States. Under
the law anybody who could furnish the
guarantees, with a Postmaster's Ger
t~ifcate, might bid. Interior Post
masters with salaries Of 500 or $50
have been in the habit of certifying to
the responsibility of contractors who
proposed to assume contracts involv-
ing the payment of hundreds of thous-
anGs OF dollars. But it was provided
that in case any bidders should fail to
furnish good and sufficient securities
for the performance of their service,
the Postmaster General shall proceed
to contract with some other person or
persons for the performance of the
work. 1t has been the uniform prac-
tice of the Department in such cases to
take the next lowest responsible bid
uST dllu give lilu GlIC VI dCG.
This year q great portion of the
bids made for mail service in the ex-
treme Southern States have come from
fictitious or irresponsible parties, who
have assumed the position of Peter
Funks in this great national Post OF
flee mock auction transaction. The
bids were made so low as to overbear
all competition but they were made
with no intention Of performing the
service. The various routes were
awarded to these low bidders in ac-
cordance with the terms OF the law,
but when the men were called upon
to fulfil the duties they had underta-
ken they were not to be found.
Under these circumstances, an hon
est official wauld naturally award the
contracts to the responsible parties
who offered to perform the service for
q reasonable consideration. But Post
master-General Creswell sees fit to
pursue a different and entirely unprec-
edented. course. He u his
intention to readvertise all the lapsed
routes; and in the mean time he will
make temporary cont acts with such
parties as he may choose to favor,
them such terms as he sees
fit. The present contractors have
made immense profits out of their
lettings, and it is probable that they
will take the requisite measures to Sc
cure themselves in the continuance OF
their emoluments.
Mr.. Creswell had ample authority
to crush the combinations which in
this case undoubtedly existed The
bids in all cases were put in
by parties who were interested i'll the
continuance of the present mail SER
vice with its exorbitant rates, and the
bids we're made for the purpose OF pre-
the acceptance of propositions
made by legitimate bidders. Over
one hundred and fifty of these straw
bidders have been reported since the
first of July as failing to fulfil the
terms of their contracts. Mr.. Ores
we'll mad only to m the recent
bidders and require them to present
bonds within thirty or sixty days, and
he could have gained an assurance of
the service performed in &C.
cordance with the requirements of the
and for a reasonable remunera-
ion. But he has chosen to open the
natter anew, giving opportunities for
| repetition of the same d~isgraceful
tarce. In the mean time he will
award to his favorites temporary con
on the same extravagant terms
low existing. And this is the way
which the peoples money is being
'quandered under the present corrupt
Y Sun, (Rep.)
- Z
The double baby, a monstrosity :