The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-02-03
The Radical Rogues' Calen dar.

The Radical Rogues' Calendar.
A pressure of other duties for the past
week or two has given US no time to compress
within the space allowed us for such purposes
the yoluminous details of radical thi everies
with which the daily press is constantly teem-
ing. Yet the subject is one of such import
ance, as illustrating the corrupung tendencies
of the principles by which the party in power
is manly controlled, that TO neglect giving
brief resume Of the more notable of these
thieveres from week to week, would argue
neglect of duty on our part as Journalists
pledged ~ the cause of honest government.
Among the minor thieveries which the past
week or two have brought to light are those
of the sanity Gen. Howard and his contrere
"Gen. Bullock the one chief and the other
disbursing officer of the defunct freedmen's
bureau. There is not the slightest pretence
to denial but that these gentlemen have had
in their hands for over a year past $500, 914,
remnants of the defunct bureau funds, which
ought to have been deposited in the U. s.
Treasury, where Boutwell, could have used
the money in buying [. S. bonds, but which
sum these gentlemen had themselves invested
IN L. S bonds, and pocketing the interest on
the bonds until compelled, in their final set
Element to convert the bonds back into cur
rency and pay the proceeds over to the treas
ury. Their teal in thus compelling the gov
eminent to pay interest on its own money,
amounted TO the snug little sum of about $780,
600.
Secretary Boutwelrs syndicate" transac-
ton has Just been ovcrhaued by a congress.
sional committee, and though the committee
was organized for whitewasling purposes the
kalsomining process has failed to cover all the
blackness of the transaction. Boutwell, was
limited by the law to = per cent. to cover all
the expenses OF converting the 5-20s into the
new loan. The proof is clear, by his own ad.
missions to the committee, that he had not
only paid the syndicate the per cent, but
il addition paid them interest on $50 600, 900
for from to G months before the syndicate
PAID over the money but allowed them extra
commissions besides. The steal is figured up
by congressman Beck to amount to 81 000,-
600. No wonder the Rothchilds offer, on the
same terms, to take 5000, 600 of the new
loan
Representative Garfeld-hlgh radical au-
thority-chairman of the Committee on Pen
sions, stated in a speech in the house on
Thursday, that of the S30,000000 year
paid out OF the national treasury for pensions,
one-iourth is stolen by pension agents and
clerks. Among the more notable thieves who
have tattencd on this fund arc Lawrence of
New York, who stole 100000; Van Buren,,
OF the same state, who got away with $50, 900 {;
Forbes, OF Philadelphls, $4,000; and CAL
houn OF the same city, $4,000 Not one of
these thieves has been attempted to be pun
lshed
a gigantic postal ring has lately been I'M
earthed, ~ which through the connlvancc of
the department officials at Washington, the
government has been swinded of millions in
the mail carrying business, by means of q very
ingenious dodge called the "straw bid sys-
tenn" OF the thieyery or a gigantic scale
there is no doubt; the only conundrum in
connection with it, over which a congresslon-
al committee are now cudgeling their brains
is, whether Post Master General Cresswell
himself Is the head thief.
But, as already minated. we cannot devote
all our space to this business. We have ma
terals for column or two more of this sort
before approaching the enormous thieveres
III the Southern States disclosed by the very
loyal Senator SCOTS report of the results
OF the Investigations of the KuKlnx commit
tee; while certainly not less than column
more can begin to to do justice to the enor.
nous csrruptions in the New York custom
now being dragged to light by the Senate in
vesuSatIns committee. OF course we must
cry our readers mercy if they insist that we
shall keep them posted in regard to all the
daily revelations of radical thievery vet to the
extent OF such space as we can reasonably af
lord, we shall try to keep them posted.
Agricultural Society,