The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-09-07

iOr tneln. lnelr genius LOT relorm
was too powerfully developed. The
opportunity for Its exercise would lead
to too many unpleasant results, if pow
er was conided to their hands But
Babcock, who stole and published the
intimidating letter, and who was so
quick to demand and procure from the
President a court martial, when he
could thereby thwart the proceedings
of the civil tribunal, is still an officer
of the Army still holds a public pos
ition under the President of the Uni |
ted States and no longer clamors
for early yindication by his military
Court.
POST OFFICE COMMITTEE.
[ was also a member of the Cons
mittee on Post Office and Post Roads
not high on the list. But when not
otherwise engaged 1 paid close atten-
ton to its Investigations. In my
judgment this is a branch of the service
that needs the most complete over
hauling. Governor Jewell succeeded,
as Postmaster General, a man who was
either grossly incompetent or worse.
He found things in a de sperate
condition. He found straw bidding in
full operation. He found rings in pos
session of the department, and in the
control of every important ste amboat
or land route. He began the work of
reform. But no sooner had he laid his
hands upon the pets of power, than he
was advised to ego slow" And he
gradually began to go slower, until he
found himself deprived of the power to
do good. The sentiment of reform that
still fingered in his bosom prompted
the advocacy of Bristow's claims at
Cincinnati. He met his reward by
the request for his resignation.
The testimony before our committee
was voluminous. Many of you have
in your possession its report. I will
not do more than allude to one or two
striking points. Two of the greatest
mail contractors in late years were
Bradley Barlow, and F. P. Sawyer, nov
dead. Barlow still haunts the depart
ment. His testimony was taken. 1t
developed the fact that he annually
paid large sums of money to agents,
from whose hands, there is no doubt,
it went to government employees. He
admitted the contract to pay $4,000
to a former law partner Of Attorney
General Williams, when the Congress
ional Investigating committee then sit
ting, Gin 1879 would make its report,
and advise no action against a particu-
lar route in which he had a heavy. ille-
gal interest. The Republican majority
reported as Mr.. Barlow desired it.
The money was paid Mr.. Barlow was
safe and a Republican congressional
committee had investigated itself with
t the usual result. It reported that
everybody was doing everything in the
r most approved manner The striking
fact is that during this investigation
Bradley Barlow sat at Washington at
the head of his bureau, and was never
called as a witness. Yet the resolution
of inquiry, under which the committee
was sitting, embraced by express refer
ence the mail route in which he had
: so large an interest. l do not say the
committee was purchased. 1t was a
t Presidential year. And it did not
t take much effort to persuade a Repub>
l lican investigating committee to white
wash a Republican administration. But
I. the money was spent. 1t Is not i'm
portant who got it. The fact is the
money bought all that it was intended
to buy-immunity from Investigation.
Another investigating committee sat
:. in 1872 to which I must make a pass
{ ing allusion in this connection. The
military committee was ordered to in
: vestigate the condition of the army.
: And on the 22nd day of March, 1872,
Gen. W. B. Hazen was called as a
: witness. Strange as it may seem to
you, my fellow citizens, he gave a de-
: tailed account of the bargain and
transactions between Evans and Caleb
t p. Marsh, as they we're recently mar:
S rated in the impeachment trial. He
e had the whole story, word for word,
; except in so far as the Secretary oil
t War was concerned. Was Marsh
: called as a witness? Was Evans
e Was anybody? No; the whole story
r stopped with Hazen and was hushed
s up. Gen. Sherman was called as q
witness in regard to army matters il
e general. He denounced the post ira
d dership system, as it then existed, a:
e the "worst possible and a s%candalou:
monopoly. Did Congress heed his
II advice; investigate the system dis
e cover the abuses advise a change il
t the law or attempt it? Oh, MOI L
d was reserved for a Democratic Con
r gress to unearth these fostering cor
t, ruptions which rotted for four years
i after they were brought to the atten
to ton of Congress, in 1872, and tt