Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-28

Under the Tweed rascalities, the elections
in New York had become worse than
farce The vote of the city depended not at
all on the votes cast but on the way IN
which the Tammany inspectors chose to
count them. At this time the act OF Con-
gress to protect elections was.passed, and 1t
was fortunate that man-John |. Dayen-
port-was appointed Supervisor, who not
only took deep interest in the necessity OF
reform, but who had for its details, says the
Albany Journal, las marked genius as
Vanderbilt has for railroad management. lie
established special and complete regis
try of New York. He made map Of every
election district and every block. lie came
to know every house and its number OF
voters lie did q vast amount Of work to
secure the purity of the ballot box, Of the
value of which there has been no question.
For this he was paid, from the secret service
fund Of the Government, S35 900.
The Attorney General stated to the COM
mittee that, according to his view, the ex-
penditure was legal, and properly made
under the law. 1t is an interesting fact, in
this connection, that in Philadelphia the
same work practically was placed in the
hands Of 200 supervisors, who were paid
s day for FIVE days work each, by the
Department Of Justice, and were aiterward
paid for FIVE additional days, the whole
amounting to 100000. by an extra appro-
priation which was urged by the 'Philadel-
phia delegation in Congress, including Mr..
Randall and the Democrats.
1t j. this payment Of public money to
secure an honest vote in New York city,
that the New York World and other
Democratic papers have been bowling over,
as fastening "malfeasance in Office" on the
President The New York Erening Post,
which i anything but an Administration
laIer, says pertinently in regard to this;
''Of course the Democrats hate the man
VINO organized the system by which their
frauds were stopped and their power check
cd OF course they will denounce the use OF
any public money for this purpose but
honest people will ~ay that had twice a mil
lion been required To insure protection TO the
hallot-box it would have been well spent.
TIE more the Democrats agitate this matter
;he worse Of they viii be-
4 member Of the Committee on Expendi-
tunes, which has been looking into the mat
ter, Las explicitly declared, " there is not
particle of evidence. thus far, to show, even
By inference, any improper or illegal act on
the part Of tie President" Nor is there
any reason to suppose that any Of the money
50 paid was not wisely used. carefully ac-
counted for, and legally appropriated The
secret service fund j. fund provided by law
o. lie expended under the direction Of the
Attorney General in the detection and
IT secution Of crimes against the United
States ." OF course the precise way in
which the fund Is to lie used is not specified.
From the very nature of secret service. it is
impossible that it should be- Fraudulent
voting ha. been defined As crime against
tie United States, and provision was made
p Federal law for its prevention and for the
: ,hment OF persons guilty of it. Dayen
l.rt was appointed a Supervisor Of Elections
for the purpose Of detecting and pEnishing
criminals Of this kind The disbursements
cover period of four years-ls7l, lS-2,
l,-3 and lS74. So the Treasury was
90 drained at the rate OF $3.50 year. 1t
must be admitted tha; If there was con
-firaey to deple;e the United States fnan-
cially, the conspirator- were very consid- !
crate.
Even tie New York Iriblme, bitterly hos
tie d. it is To tie Administration. feels con- |
strained TO say that the cry Of horror /
which the Democratic organs have raised /
lyer ex-Attorncy-General Williams test
nony in relation 80 the secret service fund. |
s ridiculous