New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-04
FRIENDSHIP THAT PAYS.

There Is no business tnaJ pays Dettcr III
these times than being the friend OF some
official party in Washington. The position OF
the eminent family of Cattel in the admins
tration of the affairs of government has never
been clearly defined, but it has long been
known to he an important Onc so much so
that member of the House Naval Committee
remarked the other day, Everything we
touch seems to turn up a Cattell." And now
it appears that Mr.. Z. G.. Cattell has received
from a contractor who supplies the Navy with
clothing the handsome sum of SlOOOOO, or
four per cent on the contracts, for nothing at
all except Mr.. Cattells influence with Secre-
tary Robson Mr. Cattell is not shown to
have rendered any service for this commission
it is not easy to see how he could honestly
render any under the regulations of the Navy
and the laws of the United States; but he is a
friend of the Secretary of tho Navy, and
Secretary who keeps friend is an expensive
person to deal with.
Secretary Belknap's friends were cheaper,
but they were many. One OF them, to be sure,
charged thousand dollars for simple intro
duction, and the post-trader who paid Tor the
introduction had to pay also for the appoint
ment which followed it but this seems to
have been an exceptional case, and Mt least
Gen. Belknaps friend can plead that he did
something for the money, albeit twas little
Gen. Rice was usually reasonable in his prices
and prompt in his service. He got appoint
ments for several post traders, receiving $1,000
from one, $1,000 from another, half the net
profits from n third, and third OF the net
profits from fourth. Was he connected with
the War Department. Oh no, he was
only n townsman and friend of Belknap's,
and he was allowed the privilege of making
a good thing out of his friendship for the
sake of old associations. Gen. Rice says he
never gave the Secretary anything except
little wine and few cigars, and he does not
seem to understand that there was anything
in his transactions to which n reasonable Com
mittee could take exception. So too the cadet
ship broker Lilly, who charged $4,000 for
introducing young Beardslce to Congressman
HAYS, thinks that it was merely legitimate
business; and when it appears that he has
been in the habit OF dealing in appointments
to West Point, he insists that it was all legitl-
mate business. He had wide circle of friends
in Congress, and he made all he could by the
connection.
The case Of Mr.. Orvil Grant falls in the
same category. Oryil lacks the capacity aud
activity Of a great rascal, and many practical
persons will say that be has neglected his OPP
portunItics; but in stumbling, shiftless way,
he seems TO have turned his connection with
the White House TO profitable account. We
hear Of him every now and then slouching
along the frontier with pocket full of trad
ing licenses, which he peddles among the set
a. ~
he allow, himself to DO put of with few
hundred dollars at another he accepts an un-
substantial partnership But as the Govern
ment supplies him with transportation, he can
travel far Mt small cost TO himself, and striking
every trader on the route he can pick mp III
the course of n season pretty comfortable
living. 1t woud be interesting to know how
many partnerships lie now holds in firms to
which he has contributed neither capital nor
labor, and what is the definition he would give
for the word blackmaiing' if he had to
pass an examination in the dictionary.
But the public functi0nares who supply
these thrifty friends and relatives with facii
ties of course are not bribcd. They would be
shocked mt any imputation upon their own
characters. If none Of the money expended
for the purchase Of privileges finds its way to
their pockets. they flatter themselves they are
honorable men who have done their whole
duty by the public. They have not tlailcked
in Offices themselves; they have only suffered
other people to do it under their protection.
Appointments in their gift are bought and
sold, and when they are blamed for it they
profess q lofty Indignation ut partisan com
mlttee, and vcnal and INSCRIPTIONS news
PAPERS Public officers have something to do
besides keeping their hands from picking and
stealing, and it seems to lis it would be good
idea for most of the members of the Admins
tration to begin reform by revising their
visiting lists.