The sun., 1873-05-17
Organs at Washington.

There are three daily Republican papers
at the capital-Rcp,tblican and Chronicle,
morning, and star, evening which are
subsidized and kept alive mainly by plum
der of the national and District treasures
As the star has no competition, IT enjoys
the benefit of advertising independently
of what Is eXtortcd from the sources which
support its coufedelatcs. These sheets
have only local and limited circulaticn
they are hardly known even by name out
side Of Washington, are destitute of any
form of talent or enterprise; are fiat, stale
and stupid, and exert no more influence III
any sphere of affairs than three hand
organs turned by so many lazzaron. They
are owned directly and indirectly by mem-
bcrs of the Ring. who are banded together
Just rs the Tammuny thieves were in their
day of vonal power and vulgar pride.
II was proven before the Congressional
Committee Of Investigation, that sl5O,cON
was expended in less than year to con-
quer the prejudices OF these and other
Iapers, so as TO stiiie any voice Of opposi-
ton against the robberies that have been
perpetated upon the people Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. And at this very time
the STAR Of which Boss SHEPHERD is the
principal proprietor and directing spirit,
has II bill before the District Legislature
for Il single advertisement of tax sales, eX-
ceediug $4,000. And this IL II fair sample
of the rotten system that prevails, and
which has made the press at Washington
mean and morconary, without n stirring
sign Of independence, and a discredit 10
journalism i'm every exalted sense. The
people there are entirely dependent upon
the newspapers of New York and other
cities for any defence of their rights or any
exposure of their wrongs. Not word of
even the iustest censure can be uttered
against the cnormitics of the Ring. In
that respect every paper is mulzlcd, and
the price of this degradation is patronage.
Such papers are ft organs for the nation
al Administration and the corrupt oli-
garchy which rules and runs the District
machinery. Like master like man. Not
content with the enormous sums which
have been extracted from the treasury
under IN" technical forms of law aud with
/ convenient constructions by plant Off
cials, they have now set law at defiance
and made IA concerted RAID on the public
Treasury, which has already cost tens Of
thousands, aud may AT the same rate of
progress swell into hundreds OF thousands.
When the gross abuses which had been
prictisod at Washington m Government
/ advertising became a scandal three years
ago, AN act was passed requiring special
/ authority for all advertisements Of the
public service, and prohibiting payment
without the order OF the department as a
voucher.
This stringent provision has been fla-
/ gIantly violated for these favorites, either
/ by contemptuous disregard Of the law, or
/ by orders fabricated after the fact. Famil-
iLrity with crime has omboldened the
plundcrcrs until now obedience to the
statute is secuted Collusion is necessary
/ to complete success, for certain formal
ties cannot be ignored before the account
ing officers, Hence the Ring and their
confederates in the departments under
stand each other, and the most atrocious
/ impOsitlOns are passed without the least
prctence of scrutiny or compliance with
the regulations. The old practice has not
| only been revived, but expanded into pro-
portions heretofore wholly unknown.
For months past the Washington papers
| have come freightcd with advertisements
which are expressly excluded by law, and
which could not have been ordered by any
department. Outside of those which may
bp considered local and within the statute
whole broadsiuos are issued and kept
standing month aftcrmonth, TO be charged
at eGtOrt onatc rates. This may be called
the only feature IN the morning organs NJ
the capital. The habit is To search for Off
cial advertisements in distant papers, copy
them without the least authority, and
then audaciously present the bills for this
work, rs If II had the fullest sanction. II
serves the double purpose of filling space
in their duh columns, and OF eXtorting
money under false pretences at the same
time. Many OF these advertisements are
continued long after the time for bids had
expired, and they generally invite pro.
posals which could not possibly be supplied
from Washington. The whole thing ha,
! bareiaced impostue STAMPED upon ever,