, 1873-10-18

There 10 no doubt that tho general disruption
of partics, which ia worry distinctly indicated In
the iowa and Ohio elections, is partly duo to
the widespread impression among tho people Of
this country that tho public offices arc not Us
honestly administered, aa class. IS they ought
to be. There hayo been sufficient cxpoaures OF
official corruption to warrant this impression.
They hava not alwaya been in national matters,
but the dofalcations that have occurred in Fed-
oral, State, aud local trusts hayo been 80 uumer-
GUS as to excite tho general distrust which
we have mentioned In addition to tho
actual tofalcations, there have been other eVi-
dences Of corruption calculated to create tho
eame suspicion. OF this class arc the evidences
OF Congressional and legislative bribery, OF Golf
isla aud partisan ma1adminiatraton Of office, Of
| unexplained shortage Of accounts, eto. Every
| few days there arc now contributions to the
black list which has occaaioned the popular d'a-
trust It is Of no particular import whether
they are furnished by tho Republican party or
tho Democratic party, by the Federal offices or
Btato Offices, BY tho chiefs or their subordinatoa
! The effect on tho public mind is tho same, and
the first natural remedy TINT suggests itaol is o
change,
New York State has furnished very important
contribution to tho Inter defalcatlons, amount
ing to e390, 900, and coming out OF the funds in
the hands Of tho State Treasurer. IN this case,
tue detaultor was Charles H. Phelps, Cashier Of
tho department. He WAS not an oflceholdor
elected by the pooplo, but he vas in position
OF official trust, and his dofalcation was rendered
possible by the loose aystom Of administration
which, IN fact Is truo Of all defaications In pub
1o Office. by IN agreement between tho Comp
trolleraud tho Treasurer Of the Btateof New York
tho State funds are deposited in sono Ave or sia
Albany banks. There had been Bystem Of check
and two sets Of books adopted to guard agains
fraud hut thoao precautions were dropped. Thu
, vho1o financial administration Of the otic
see1us gradually to have passed. into tho hand
OF tho Cashier, 30 TINT hs nero statement 0
tho accounts and bank-bafancos WAS accepted
/ final In this way lie succeeded in approptiatlu
+ e90v. 900 before 10 was discovered. Al a matte
o Of course. ho reports that tho money had beo
+ QaG0 III htecpuAtsoA3 AAa3 a1oo g. NN"''"A
/ course, he had accomplices, though ho has nj
II rot revealed thoir names. Tho statement
o made that tho loss can DO thrown upon til
;. bapls 80 TINT tho Stnto will not Hnffer by tt
10 aotulcntion but this ia rare1y tho outcome
u similar trausuctions, aud 1t will DO surprising
" IL should he the case III tho present inatauco.
10 Thoro is a law in Maryland Which provid
q TINT tile Comptroller Of tho State shall furn'
T. oact officer WHO may 10 in arroara In Lis a
,s oounts With statement III dotall sixty tasys
Ia foro eloctlou* II Huch officers full to mako ths
n. accounts good within the ensulug thirty da!
j, those In arrears arc adycrtlael in tho pub
Of newspapers together with a statement Of til
ar elcienoios. Ia rsault Of this law, It is stat
1t. that nearly 200 delinquent officials havo be
It thus posted, showing an aggregate deficiency
at $3.50. 900, Tho list Includes ahorIfs, Tscaa
bo ors Collectors, aud other officials
30 tue VARIOUS counties. The amount d.
Tia not represent an satpA ds;slcation. but tho