The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-10
From the New York Sun.
The washington Police.

The Washington Police.
Our exposures seem to have pene-
/ trated even the thick hide of Gen.
Grants Police Commissioners at
| Washington, headed by a notorious
lobbyist who appropriately runs one
of the Administration organs there
The people of the United States are
taxed two hundred and seven thou
sand five hundred and thirty dollars
every year for a police at the capital,
under the false pretence of guarding
the public property, when we have
shown by citations from the laws that
another large and costly police force
and Watchmen arc maintained IN and
about ali the public buildings, grounds
and reservations. To Keep up both is
a bold imposition, and only consistent
with the system of fraud, peculation,
and extortieh which has fastened up
on every part of the public service.
The original reason which infiu-
eneed Congress to bear two-thirds of
the charge for policing Washington
has long since ceased to- exist, but the
appropriation for it, like other abuses
has continued, merely because there
was once a law authorizing this pro-
vision. That is the weapon with
which all reform is combated by the
retained advocates of extravaganza,
who are intPusted with this branch of
/ legislation. Let Mr.. Holman or some
other genuine economist rise in the
House to propose a reduction in any
/ particular item reported from the
Committee on appropriations, and he
will be at once met by the tart answer
of Mr.. Garfield that "it is in accord
ance with 1aWD-whieh may be an
abuse fifty years old. " .hA
The appropriation bills which annu-
ally vote away about three handred
millions of dollars, and are always
loaded down with some iniqHity like
the Dack-pay grab, rarely command
more than quorum, unless there be
some amendment of especial interest
to attract attendance. To go through
almost as matter of course, upon the
presumption that the committee have
strictly scratinized the ltems. a prac-
tieed has grown up which gives the
report of any important committee an
authority to which it is not fairly en-
titled. An honest and determined
member bent on refrenchment has
therefore little chance in eontending
against a corrupt chairman, because
the majority shelter their collusion
behind an excuse of "following the
committee Al3 1lfE
Hence it is that plunderers, lobby
lists and schemers of every Kind di-
rect their main efforts upon the COM
mitees, and that Mr.. Garfield and Ne
Dawes especially, who head the APP
propriations and Ways and Means,
are so much courted and, exercise so
much power through their positions.
They may be said to shape all the leg
islation relating to tariff changes, in
ternal revenue, and the vast supplies
for carrying on the Government. By
concerting with Mr.. Sherman and
few, others in the Senate they can
affect great interests materially with
out any positive demonstration. Mr..
Schenck. in his day profted immense
ly by these facilities, and the proofs
of it exist in Washington to7day in
large landed property there which
only partially represents his gains
from the change in the tax on whisky.
His example. was not needed to stim
ulate others who long knew athe OPP
portunities and had enjoyed them
perhaps in. less remunerative de-
grees. a,et ~ .ss5e.tdsf<f
1t was by the Influence of chair |
manship that Mr.. Garfield putthrough
the enormous grants to the Washing 81
ton Ring last session, by whichythree |
and halt million were voted tojan |
organized gang of thieves, worse even |
the Tammany chiefs in their day of
despotic rule. He not only did that, |
bat he protected these robbers against !
any possible scrutiny. Inasmuch as |
f4 Rohanalv fn hno al, -
public buildings and grounds, was
known to be partner of Boss Shep- |
herd in various jobs, and a member of |
the Ring, a condition was proposed in |
the committee to the appropriations, |
that the measurement of all the alleged |
on public property |
should be strictly made under the di- |
rection of the Chief of the engineer
corps. That would have exposed the |
frauds and false measure
ment of the Board of Public Works :.
go the resolution was, stified on the |
plea that it reelected on the integrity I
of General Babcock, and Garfield /
brought,in a substitute confiding the |
expenditure to his discretion. i,f-g
These illustrations. serve to show
how the police fraud has .been perpe+
trated at cost of nearly quarter of |
a million peE annQm to the country, /
Ind without any return or benefit /
n This police is not onlyI
but it is frequently made
the instrument .ofioppression, outrage
and injury to the. public. A fragrant
case was recently exposed in our col
umns. Just before the adjournment
of Congress MIR. Colfax, then Vice
President, and undergoing a. serious
Investigation before the Credit Me-
bilier committee, was robbed at
Wormley's Hotel His room was en-,
teEed by a thief who had established
in the house for
his trunk was opened and a box .conr
tanning various forms of bonds and +
stocks was carried off. This box had
been removed eto Washington from L
ano otherE place of deposit in order to
have thunder the personalEeye of Mr..
Oolfax during the investigation9 and |,
it contained values to the amount of
one ahpndped thousand dollars more
0ffless. ,4EG--3IECH III 59as4L
1t wasiaof the first Importance to J,
Colfax to conceal the. extent of this
robbery from The public, because it
revealed it would confirm his Venali- f
by, and explode the pretended poVer-
ty which she urged as a plea of linno-
sence before the committee in at
to explain away the rs. c."
check for $1,000 which he received
from Ames for his cash dividend on
Credit Mobilier. The Associated
Press was therefore employed to send
put a1ie to the country, by represent
eg the loss as triRiaI.l But. to recover
pack the money it was necessary to
ct the detectives into the secret, and +
20 give them an exact description of
he stolen property. They were
bound to the atFfctest privacy, and the
nulk of the bonds, and stocks were
recovered before ColfaHs departure
ior South Bend on the 4th of March.