The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-04

Ing. Tie IL now undcr Indictment Nc Wash
ington, and will probably be cleared Try
one of the packed juries which habitu-
ally outrage justice ut the capital
IL would seem extraordinary in view %
these facts, how two such men could exert
such exceptional influence ~ they d,d in
these cases or could be permitted 10 in
tcrfcre in any way with the account ting
officers OF the Treasury. Tho explanation
Ia that they werp extreme Republcnns,
who advocated and supported the most vio-
lent measures; they wer,' also pronounced
third-tcrmcrs. Their relations to the party
md 20 the President were well und erstood,
and operated ~ a passport through the de-
partmeuts. from which thoy should have
been excluded. Timid officials, with tho
fear OF removal before their eyes, were
ready TO yield to such pressure, and the
corrupt ones were too glad OF a seeming
opportunity TO strengthen their hands by
Congressional protection.
DR. BRoDHEAD, the retired Second
Comptroller, had held once for more than
n generation, and had become n mere time
server. Enormous claims were decided by
clerks under him, some of whom have ac-
quired a public notoricty for being pur-
chasable He signed their awards without
scruple. He was also member of the
Board OF Audit 10 settle the accounts Of
the Washington Ring, aud in that capacity
signed whatever papers Boss SuEPnERD's
former clerks presented.
Mr.. RUrnERFORD, the retired Auditor
was carpet-bagger who squatted down
in North Carolina ana who, like his class,
never failed To improve any opportunity
within reach. Tho suspicious methods of
doing business in his Office long ago at
tracted attention, but he was truly loyal
to GRtVr, and that devo ion was shield
until his m sconduct threatened serious
difficulties for the ADMINISTRATION.
The changes now made are useful. mud
may temporarily check the plumber Of the
Treasury. But really they only scratch
the surface. The whole organization, with
honorable exceptions IL demoralizcd and
In many branches utterly 70 ten. COmhi-
nations have lonS existed between CLAIM
agents and lobby ists outside ana officials
INSIDE the Tr,asury, by which bad
claims are not only put through, hut the
best ones are scandalOusly blackmailcd.
The agents who are the Intermediates of
this cxtoriion are "a we'll known NJ Wash
iuGton as the President himself. They
arrange the terms with coufedcrnlcA who
have TO pass upon the accounts, and
who can reject or admit claims az discre-
ton. The praciice is TO suspend action
until Il hargan II made, aud when all the
torr,nlit.oa "re completed, % rush through
lhe award by concert with tho checking
Offices
There 10 no means o. estimating the
amount OF the r;ud, THAI have been com
Inittc in this way, because Il could only be
approXimatrd by thorough exploration
of the claims the testimony, aud the laws
under which awards were made. But there
is n widespread belief that tens OF millions
have been stolen and divided among Rings,
while a considerable margin has been APP
pli~l to party uses IN the States, and TO the
support Of third-torm DREAMS. Like the
machinery of the Whi-key Rlup, this thiev-
| cry was carried on in the namo Of the Re-
| publican cause AMI ComptrOurrs, Auii-
| tons, and clerks either closed their eyes to
the most daring frauds, or colluded to
make them successful for n share Of the
| spoiis