Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-03-24
INVESTIGATIONS.

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tnittees actively engaged in the in
yestigatigating business. They arr
as busy at the work of developing
frauds as the miners at Black Hills
are in unearthing gold. How they
will compare in success is not yet de-
termined. But the investigators
pump at a suspicion with all the
eagerness with which the miners
strike at any indication Of big bo'
nanza. Past. present and even III.
ture atfairs-all are in process of in.
vestigation. Officials who have been
in place or who are now in place, and
politicians who have any small show
of getting into place, are all subject
to investigation. A good many pab-
lie individuals are consequently
squirming on the ragged edge of anx-
iety. A good many politicians rep
utation are likely to be damaged; if
they can be. Some promising Presi-
Dental aspirants are as likely to be
laid out quite cold, and there will
probably be no further consideration
Of the third term question. The in
vestigations may be but part Of the
not very noble game Of politics. They
may be malicious and reckless instead
Of being honest endeavors to promote
the public good. But the old maxim
is as true as ever that "the prince OF
liberty is unceasing vigilance. y We
do not wish our government shown
to be map of corruption and fraud
but if it is so, or is in any danger of be-
coming so, as the frantic yells from
Washington would have us believe
the sooner we know the terrible re.
atty the better.
The committee on Expenditures in
The War Department have of course
the "big bonanza" in the line of in.
vestigations, the Belknap bribery
They are not only accommodating new
evidence but it is understood that
Marsh, the abscond:ng witness, will
be allowed to return in safety ard
testify in the impeachment trial. In
the Naval Department investigation
there have been no further develop
ments injurious to the Secretary, al.
though there are whispers of dis
closures yet to be made. The admin
istration Of the Post Master General
Department under Hon. J. A. Ores,
we'll, its former head, is being looked
into. One William A. Sanford, OF
Chicago, has been found, and he tes-
titles to having heard from the lips Of
Mr.. Sanderson, Of the firm Of Barlow
Sanderson Il Co., the statement that
his firm paid large sums of money to
officials under Mr.. Cresswell's admin.
istration to secure valuable Western
mail contracts by means of stra w-bid-
ding devices. The case of Hon. Geo
H. Pendleton who is charged with
collecting a claim Of tho Kentucky
Central railroad amounting to $50, 900,
by corrupt collision with Secretery
Belknap, looks very damaging to
that gentleman and vii. probably
have the effect of taking his name
from the list of democratic Preslden-
tal aspirants. The committee on
military affairs finds work in over
hauling some alleged fraudulent trans
actions connected with soldiers tomb
stone contracts in the national Gene
teries. The legality of Senator Spen-
GERS election to the Senate from Ala
bama is being rigidly investigated,
So are certain matters in our new
territory Of Alaska, which are doubt
less worry tishy The committee on
Congressional Printing are also ex-
aiming into abuses which it is al
legged make tie cost Of printing fully
fifty per cent. too high. A select
committee is hard at work on the
great Freedmen Bank swindle. So
much for the work of investigation.
What it will bring to light is as yet
uncertain. The reports Ct these va
rious committees will be looked for
with interest. We trust, fer the hon
or of our government, that its fair
fame may never again be furnished
by any such black and damning mis-
deed as the Belknap case. Frauds
and theft of less degree are probably
in the vast money and
, Of unyapp.