National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-04
THBsUHoFrHE WHOLE MArrER

THESUN0F TIE WHOLE NATTER
We print this morning all the remainder
of the testimony taken BY the Investigating
Committee last week In secret session. II
comprises the evidence of Messrs. Holmes,
Grayson. Moore, and Storrs, and shows
whata lively hunt the committee made for
q witness who had been In the city, stop
ping ct hotel. for upwards Of week, Al
most within the shadow Of the Capitol, and
how little he knew regarding the operations
OF the Board of Public Works, after all.
There are few ideas that are made 10
stand out In most ridiculous light by the
manner In which this investigation Is being
conducted. to which 1t may be well to di.
rect public attention. The first one, which
perhaps Is an outgrowth of the COMPRESSION
al lobby, Is illustrated by the testimony Of
Col. Kirkland. 1t is the enormous price at
which person Of good address and close
mouth may sell his supposed influence, even
to sharp Chicagoan. By carefully culti-
waiting speaking acquaintance with men
known to have intimate social relations or
close business connections with men Of
official position. many an enormous fee has
been obtained for getting claims passed and
contracts awarded, when perhaps not a word
was ever exchanged between the lobbyist
and the man in position upon the subject.
A man who comes here to use corrupt
means deserves little sympathy If he is
bitten by these adrolt lobby counselors.
Another idea that seems to be rapidly OBJ
taining currency in the public mind, and
with which the committee Is also apparently
becoming slightly infected, Is that no resi-
dent of the District has the right to be in
terested In contract under the Board Of
Public Works, and make any profit thereby.
His labors and efforts should be purely pa
triotic. Even his real estate operations are
proper matters of scrutiny The commit
tee has not as yet examined the books Of
the wine and liquor merchants TO learn
whether champagnes, cigars, and liquors
have been freely distributed by contractors
to members of Congress and District
officials holding positions, to infu-
ence awards of public work. It
is not yet known whether this is an over
sight on the part of the committee and the
memorialists, or whether this portion of
the examination is still to come. 1t would,
however, be well for the newspaper offices
to have their files ready for examination in
regard to records of entertainments. The
club-houses should preserve. the bills of
fare and names of guests at all dinners,
suppers and lunches, for some officials are
more easily influenced through their appe-
tiles and stomachs than through their
pockets. Dr.. a--u.....
Another important thing for the commit
tee to learn is what is fair average profit
upon patented articles. It cannot easily
determine whether too much has been
charged for patent pavements unless this
information Is obtained. Would it not be
well, therefore, to inquire into the profits
upon sewing machines and as to whether
the owners of the various patents have COM
bined in order to keep up the prices. Reap
ers and mowers should also be looked after.
And as large counsel fees have been paid or
promised to those lawyers who have been
employed by the contractors, memorialists,
and the Board of Public Works, it might
not be improper for the committee to ascer-
tain how much is good fair average counsel
fee in such cases, and determine also how
much has been charged In each case for
actual service and how much for "cheek"
or pretended influence. Mr.. Storrs might
be examined upon these latter points with
the most beneficial results. His evidence
would enable the committee to determine
the relative value Of such services in this
city and Chicago.
Indeed, the testimony is taking a range
30 wide-from the Choctaw Indian country
to Belgium-that it is difficult to say what
might not be included in it with great ben
eft to the public service. One thing ap-
pears certain, Col. Kirtland's black horses
-mouse-colored when clipped and black |
when in full dress-should be hunted up.
They are said to be very docile, though |
Fast and exceedingly intelligent, and they
might know something which their
owner has forgotten. By all means let
Christy be sent for them with search |
warrant. -
But, seriously, is not this astounding evil
Hence taken with so much parade of Sc
cresy a little too frivolous for anything
yoodH Is not the whole business beginning
% run rather "too thin" for the consump-
ion of so much of the time and expense of
he country and of the grave and rev.
'rend seignors 4" engaged in itf For two
months have they been engaged In win
lowiDg the chaff of the memorialists, and
hey have yet to find the first grain of evil
lence affecting the integrity of the District
'ficials. If they do not strike lead Of
soon, it would be well to take
est or resolve themselves into Commit
zee ofPermanent Safety. 81.