The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-21
WASHING ToN.
Censure Of the Treasury Chiefs for
the Sanborn Scandal.
The Frauds in the District Of
Columbia Government.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

The Proposed Abolition Of the
Electoral College.
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1874.
The Proposed Constitutional Amends
nent Reg ulating tho Presidential Elec-
tions-The Prospect OF Its Adoption Be-
FIRE 1870.
In Q conversation with Senator Morton to-day
your correspondent called his attention to the
proposed amendment OF the constitution for the
simpnncstion OF the n,Odus operandt OF our Pres
Dental elections agreed upon by the Senate select
committee on the subject last summer, OF which
committee MIR. Morton is chairman. Upon asking
the Senator II this amendment had been aDan-
doned, forgotten or laid aside to be called up at
the next session. he answered:-"Oh, no. We
have not abandoned nor forgotten 1t. We have
only been waiting for an opportunity for its con-
alteration, and day or two hence we expect to
have 1t before the Senate for discussion .sYou
expect to get 1t through this session, Of coursef"
I'VE hope to carry 1t through both houses
by the required tw0-thirds vote before the
nnal adjournment Of the present session, in order
that 1t may be acted upon without loss OF time by
the State Legislatures which meet during the
coming winter. Our object is to have the amend
ment part OF the supreme law in season for the
Presidential election OF our national centennial,
ls76. We regard 1t as q matter Of the highest I'M
portance to the country, and we are satisfied that
the great body Of the people desire the proposed
change" IS s A
From some further remarks OF the Senator upon
the subject &c appears that while the committee In
framing their amendment were guided by the great
idea Of making as nearly as possible the election
Of our President ana Vice President an election
b,vy A. Tni<a
people OF one supreme sovereign national govern
ment the individuality OF the States and State
rights and State pride had to be considered and
respected by the committee. Hence their
proposed amendment provides not that
the people Of the States aud Terrific
ries OF the United States en- naasse
shall vote for President and Vice President, and
that majority or plurality Of the popular vote OF
the whole Union shall determine the election; but
that the States and State lines shall be 80 far re-
spected in these national elections as to preserve
substantially the present system, while dispensing
with those middle men, as they may be called, OF
the Electoral College, and avoiding that dangerous
contingency OF an election by the House OF Repre-
sentatives. Hence the proposed constitutional
amendment provides that for President and
Vice President the people shall vote by States
0rst by the State at large for its two Senatorial
votes and next in each Congressional district for
the vote 70 which, under our present general
State ticket system, It IL entitled. The plurality
rule Is to be substituted for the majority rule
throughout. It is too late In the day, however,
We apprehend, for any hope this session OF this
proposed or any other amendment OF the constttu-
tton that viii simplify and bring directly to
the people the election OF President and Vice
President OF the United States; but. doubtless, in
bringing the subject before the Senate Mr.. Morton
win open q discussion which viii 60 far to dis
close the wishes and expectations of Q people
touching the abolition Of these middle men OF the
Electoral College.
Significant Evidence Developed In tho
District OF Columbia Inquiry-A Crude
System OF Dishonesty.
Adolf Cluss Q civil engineer, and member OF
the Board OF Public Works of tho District OF Col
umbia was examined to-day by the committee
who are investigating the af1airs Of that minia-
ture territory, and gave important testimony.
Mr. Cluss said he was never consulted in regard
to the estimates for the execution OF plans Of city
Improvement and that the organization OF the
Board Of Public Works was such rs to impede any
engineer In the performance OF his duty. He dis
claimed all responsibility for the errors which had
been committed. All OF the important contracts
were made without reference to him as an
engineer and without his knowledge as q men,
Der OF the Board OF Public Works. He gave
an idea OF the crude and unsystematic
manner in which the business OF the Board was
transacted Whenever the President sat down to
write contract 1t was considered q meeting Of
the Board, whether any other Of the members were
present or not. When the witness opposed
measure and when he desired to be shown the as
sessment rolls appertaining thereto, he had been
''blufied or" vouchers OF large amounts which
were paid contractors were concealed from him.
Unreliable estimates OF measurements were made
in manner which would prove that they were
founded on no actual measurements and
the contractors were secretly paid on
the vouchers given upon these false cal.
culations. The system OF Keeping accounts
used by the Board was very complicated and diffl-
cult to understand. The witness stated that con-
tracts were usually awarded by Governor Shep-
hero with one stroke OF the pen, and without adj
vlsing or consulting with the Board He did not
know why expensive pavements were laid in I'M
inhabited portions OF the city but knew that there
had been such pavements laid IN places where the
wooden material would utterly decay long before
they were Of any public use. contractor named
Dr.. Gilbert had got final measurements on some
work which was In progress. After being paid the
full amount OF compensation he had left for parts
unknown.
The committee at this point adjourned, and viii
further examine Mr.. Cluss tomorrow. The testi-
mony OF late ELECTED In this investigation has been
very poIntedly indicative OF frauds and knavery or
else OF the most intense stupidity and careless
ness
Modification OF tho Senate Finance Bill
by the Banking and Currency Conn
mfttee OF the House.
The Committee on Banking and Currency, at
meeting to-day, considered the Finance BILL and
struck out that section OF the senate bill which
provides for the retention OF one-iourth Of the