Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-04
MORE ROBBERIES.
lOundlng Frauds in the Pen
sion Office.
v Millions Stolen from the People
Another Huge SWindIe.

From the Washington Patriot, Jan. 81.
has been stated for some time, upon
( we regarded as reliable information,
there has been that astounding NAL
inistration in the Pension Office, which,
.oroughly investigated by a select COM
zee of Congress, with open doors and
to all who had information 10 give,
i'd prove, (what Mr. Garfield thinks it
to admit at this late day,) namely,
ton or condition Of frauds there, by
h seven or eight millions Of dollars are
yearly to the people, and Of course this
ition has existed several years, and the
egate loss is not less than fifty million
rs. This state Of things is not confined
,e management Of the Pension Office
e, but exists TO more or less extent in
Ie other offices charged with high duties
connection with wh8 relates 10 the
ans of the people. The fact Of fraUdu
Z transactions, aside from what occasion
gets out by accident, comes from
Mt of system adapted to the tremendous
Siness of bureaus, and from want, in
nv instances, of the high capability and
Questioned integrity which formerly con-
led or worked them. The prescribing
men who had that character and the sub
uting, in large part, Of party favOrites,
nv of whom, in the most response
positions, have been o. are i'm
lie, incompetent, and mercenary, has
sed a coalition of mal-administra-
which has resulted in an amazing plum
ing Of the people, who now have no
IT possible remedy except in a sweeping
,rm movement, which in all places, high
low, shall install honest and capable
1 in the public service. 1t is always ne
aary that the guardians Of the peoples
sure should be equal to the calls or eX-
lcies of their positions, in order to pre-
imposition and fraudsS and where
e is failure in this regard, the worst con-
uences infallibly ensue.
: is not within the belief Of those con-
ant with the business Of the Pension
&c that the frauds which have been per
'ated are without inside aids and COM
nications, and to arrive at certainties in
regard if would be necessary TO probe
affairs through and through, TO the bot
1, and to the bitter end. For this puT-
9, all the persons who have been latterly
Gals in it, or in tire connection Of its
mess, or hold the same relation now,
those who have latterly done or now do
mess with it or in connection with it,
MD be summoned before a committee of
estigation. If not all, then many or the
st conspicuous of the persons refer
to.
is not sufficient to appoint clerks or Of
rs who shall seek TO detect frauds in the
Ire, but it is necessary tOget at the army
scoundrels who have been the recipients
yenefciaries by fraudulent transactions
hose who got them and put them
,ugh, and, above all, who in Office, di-
ly or indirectly, whether Of the Pension
ice personnel or that Of other high OIL
!, were particeps criminis-
his with q view, not only to stop the
drain of public money TO fraudulent
lies, but particularly to fasten the crimes
"a all the persons implicated, and to Wis
Ipon them the penalties Of infracted law.
urhaps the detective corps Of officials,
I'd for by Mir. Garfield's appointment,
do something towards preventing
Ids in the future, but there is past
h needs rakiag up for the ends of pub
Justice, and it is not to be denied that a
s high degree of experience and ability
bsolutelv REQUIRED in all the higher or
3. responsible positions of the Pension
re. 1t is the axe to be put to the foot
&c tree.
gle magnitude Of the plundering there
n1tside parties, aided often by inside
Cand by this expression we do not in
to convey the idea that the dishonest
corrupt are other than exceptionally,
we repeat, for q thorough investiga-
NV a select committee Of Congress.
ths5out the Tweed plundering at New
or that at the CustomhOuse This,
81 little Bureau of Pensions, right under
seyc of the President, and long going on,
deds them. They somewhat rank with
irect stealings of the carpet-bag and
Dwag Rings in the South, Ito say moth
inf the endless injuries to business by
wlrule-and-rIIin course), and in the ag-
dr,te are, perhaps, equal to half the steal
of defaulters and the like who ar pro-
I'd by the Grant administration.
B thout further comment, except TO ask,
ere any member Of Congress who viii
stciuce a resolution for investigation in
ff2remises? we copy from the Globe,
fal journal of debates), as follows:
ex-. Garfield, of Ohio, am directed by
anJommittee on Appropriations to strike
y'S47, 000," and in lieu thereof to in
WtS75, 600"
Yc. Butler, of Massachusetts, ask the
20 man of the Committee on ApprOpria-
Chwhy the amount is nearly doubled?
Tor stationery, engraving, aud Eetouch-
tiu,ates: for bounty land warrants, print
an0d binding the same, and Hiscellane-
Suems, including two daily newspapers