, 1873-04-06
TERMS OF: THE TRIBUNE.

Sunday Morning, april g. 1878.
PUBLIC DECENTRALIZATION.
The most deplorable Of the social evils Of the
present day is the general weakening OF public
respect for tic eanctity OF official and public
trusts Since tie 4th OF March, 1869, to the
present time, there has been constant Success
sion of robberies Of the National Government,
committed by subordinates Of every degree.
These men hare taken public monoy intrusted to
their hands and used it in some form Of gam
bling. Many OF these men have been convicted,
but all, or nearly all, Of them have been par
doaed; others have run away, and Congress has
relieved their surcties of all responsibility.
Others, after conviction, have been reappointed
10 Office. The Executive clemency has even gone
backward, and dpardoned criminals convicted under
previous Administrations. Congress- has practi-
cally recognized the rottenness and irresponsi-
bility Of the Civil Servico BY releasing principals
from all liability for the frauds committed by
their subordinates. It may be safely said, at
LiliH LQut 641plo3e "a l1e ooLGlal 10f"
eminent are not mistaken in assuming that there
is no criminal punishment to be inflicted upon
aaJ man who robs the Treasury Of the United
stetcs, either by forgery, fraud, stealing,
couaterfeiting, or otherwise. This is supple
men.ad By the knowledge that any man
who 3y forged invoices and false oathB defrauds
the revenue may easily "compromise' by pny-
lag back part Of what 1e has stolen. The
United States collect nearly two hundred and
forty millions Of dollars annually through the
eustom-houses, and it would DO interesting to
know how much, in addition to the seven millions
salary paid the officers, the latter receive from
importers in tho way Of black-mai}, for false ap
p-aiscments, and all the other means so we'll un-
derstooa in official circ1es. This utter demoral-
ization Of the Civil Service Of tho Government
has, naturally, extended to the Governments Of
States and municipalities. The robbery Of tho
State OF Pennsylvania, open and confessed. WAS
ratified and indorsed py the election Of onaof the
le.1ers As Governor OF thAt Commonwealth, a vast
political party considering his election Of more
Importance than the vindication Of public hon
zsty. And nov convicted ballot-stuffer, who
assisted in this election, pardoned by the Presi
ieat!
The general Generalization has been promoted
By such scenes as where the Honorable 4lr.
Dawes, Of Massachusetts, rising in bis place in
Congress, declared that false and scandalous
robbery of the Treasury had been so far SUCCESS
~. Tn1s k1,n&
warrant for the payment Of nearly half mill
lon Of dollara WAS then passing through the
hands OF the recording ofacora of the Treasury,
nnd nsking the immediate passage Of q law pro-
hibiting the payment Of the warrant. The mem~
.bor Of the Cabinet whose job WAS so summarily
arrested by Congress has been complimented by
= reappoiatment; first having been whiteWashed
By committee, composed in part by an ex-mem-
Der Of the Cabinet, who has since been convicted
n OF having received 900 from railroad cor
boration having daily business With him officially,
HlTe need not point out the effects upon the pub
lie morals OF the shameless disregard Of truth,
end even Of oaths, By others holding the highest
places in official life, whore they yainly sought
to hide bribery b5 falsehood and falee swearing.
With such Ell nn exhibit Of the moral standard
,ecocn;zcd in 1t 1cast txo branches Of tbe Ns-
t;,ns1 f.ovc-nn,ent tha to,,owine sta+amont of
onrs,r yo-l corrssror;7ao+ xr;,, mt .rnao- au,.
or;s;,o 8
rn oonve-s,+;on n. otts~ d.v r.t.r,, onsrator
o. tue Stock Exchange, who knows the street. told me
be lid to believe that there defalcaonB
~ $500 no - thaus 4,oas -
a.o speculation, to guard against irregularities on
the psrt Of officials, Insiders alone Che added>
nase any a.. aasaus,e 'aes o. ,s sns To- Mn'a
da7 1asscs without the discovery Of some large
deficit in tears or hootaepers accounts and most Of
1s ~ ~ .e friends 81 ,ent;anad
large bank in Nassau street, which had lost, he as
seEted over s. Co., in the past year. by the dis
in s pns street, b.d suffered at h. t,ne
ard in tie same manner, to the extent Of s5oo,ooo
End still another only Last January found TINT IN hVe
:, ~ 49,. F1'|@1110 ~ ~ 90 A'814e4