The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-29
Another Impeachment Probable.

suffering soldiers.
Another Impeachment Probable.
The Committee on Printing of the House
of Representatives Will report the testi-
mony of their investigation of the Gov
eminent printing Office next week, and
can hardly do less than recommend the
impeachment of A. NJ. CLAP, the Public
Printer, and II criminal prosecution against
him for fragrant violations of law, falsil-
cation of books, and perversion OF ~
public money.
II is not possible TO discover the actual
amount OF money believed to have been
stolen, because the system of bookkeeping
IN practice seems to have been devised to
conceal frauds, nor can the extent of col
fusion with contractors be even approx
matcly traced. But the best experts III
the various branches OF this office and the
most recognized authorities of the trade
estimate that quarter of n million could
easily be grabbed without attracting at
tcntion, while half million was quite
practicable in the absence OF checks.
All through the management of this
office, fraud, corruption, and rascality
stand out boldly, rs If there was no fear
OF detection and no dread of consequences.
The evidence furnished by the permanent
records j. amazing. and can be explained
on no other theory than belief that
power would never pass from the hands
OF the Republican party, and while that
party retained it. honest investigation
would not he attempted. This opinion
was in n manner justified by the expert
ence of Mr.. CLAP. Under Republican
rule the Joint Committee on Printing was
practically controlled by Senator AN
TuoNY. His long connection with the press
aud with the Senate caused him to be re-
garded as the authority for legislation OH
this subject. The Chairman on the part OF
the House was conciliated by the Printing
Ring, anu the others followed Us mere au-
tomato.
In the last Congrc7' two Investigations
OF the Public Printer were ordered, and
both resulted in a heavy coat OF white
wash. 1t was proven conciusivcly before
the Senate Committee that MIR. CLAPP's
figures for the cost of the Congressional
Record were deceptive and false. aud that
in other respects large frauds had been per-
petrated. The evidence OF documents was
produced in hundreds OF volumes to sus-
tain the charges, but Mr.. ANTHONY aud
Mr.. HOWE rejected it and found every
thing lovely. In the House of Representa-
tives Mr.. DoNNER OF Iowa was chairman
of the committee. He started out All
ardent reformer, and, like some OF his pre-
decessors, ended by becoming an extreme
partisan Of the Printing Ring. lie had
seen light, and perhaps something else, in
the progress OF the investigation, for he
withheld his report to the last day possible
aud would not allow the minority TO see it
before presentation TO the House.
The contracts for many millions were
virtually decided by Mr. ANTHONY, though
the forms of the committee were ostensI-
bly, preserved. The paper used for docu-
ments and for other objects bears witness
of itself that various qualities and colors
were often utilized in the same volume
and that the editions furnished to Congress
and the departments are widely different
in cost and appearance. SO OF the leather
for binding. and in fact for every i'm
portant article.
All these facts have long been notorious
They have appeared in variety OF
forms in The SUN during the last three or
four years. They lay right in the path of
any committee that wanted to find out the
truth, and must have been seen if eyes
were not purposely closed. But the infiu-
ences that protected BELKNAP, BABcocK
and other conspicuous robbers, sheltered
CLAP. Besides, he knew too much 10 be
discarded rudcly,
If hc accepted materials outside the con-
tract terms, aud bought IA open market
through coufcdcratcs, he wa. not ignorant
how the contracts were made, and VINO
profted 10y them. The committee AT any
hour could turn screw on him, but he
was prepared to recproclte that compl-
ment If the necessity occurred. SO CLAPP
and the Republican committee thought it
best to whltewash each other.
when the full exposure shall be made of
the rottcnness of this coucern aud of the
enormous stealing, Mr.. ANTHONY cannot
escape from large share of the response
bilty at least for the system, if for moth
ing worse. He has defended it in and out
of season. lie introduced aud carried
through most of the legislation. lie was
the mover OF all the mass of publications,
costing millions, which have passed from
| Congress TO the junk shops and back to the
paper mills from which they originally
came. He has sustained the printer, ana
must expect to answer for his part in this
business, aud 10 be held TO strict account
for the protection which he has habtually
extended TO audacious corruption, Of
which he could by no possibility, as "A sane
man, be ignorant. We shall see what
Rhode Island will say when this yllainy is
turned inside out.
A heavy annuity 10 the Pope ana large
donation to GARInALpI were offered by the
| Italian Government some time after It's seizure
| Of Rome. The Government, bv thus de ling
with His Holiness aud the radical reyolutonist.
gave amusing evidence OF its desire TO be EN-
ilrclN lmnnftinl In thu d-trlhntnn of L. flYnra.