Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-04-11

6H- are filled with ics' Ncrs and collusiun-
lists, most Of whom were appointed by
Republican Senators and Representa-.
tives, or others high in tn. councils OF
that party The dcys!cy@sut oe,tee
Whiske, Ring Of the mass OF fraudu.
lent claims which passed through the
accounting Office unchallenged, ard OF
the great contracts obtained by false
bidding, proves concIusively that a
system has existed for years whereby
the Treasury has been plundercd OF
millions by the corrupt connivancc
ol trusted officials.
indictments now pending at the Capt.
tai against Negely, Butler and other
former members of Congress, show
their completely in some Of these trans
actions, and the means by which they
were successfully carried on. This
system had attained such perfection,
aud was so ramified m its operations
that when Mr.. Bristow commenced bis
war on the Whiskey Ring, be was
compelled to gooutside the department
for aid because be had not confidence
in the officers who surrounded him.
The recent discovery that. an i'm.
mensc sum Of accrued and unclaimed
interest on United States bonds has
been paid to u Ring Of attorneys ex-
cites no surprise whatever 1t is only
n new feature oi the corrupt system
which brings before the public long
suspected Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury and u number Of confidential
clerks, some of whom Mr.. Boutwell,
sent abroad in connection with the
sale of Government bonds, and who
are believed u have profted by theiI
opportunities in that capacity.
Now the interest account is so kept
in the Treasury that the unclaimed
dividends could not possibly be known
to outside parties without collusiou
on the part Of the clerks in charge OF
the books or others having access to
the records. Nor could payments OF
large sums OF accrued interest be made
upon powers of attorney, representing
multitude OF claimants, without ex-
citing suspicion and inquiry, unless
there was secret understanding be-
tween the insiders and outsiders
The offices OF tho Treasurer, and
Register, and the Secretary Of the
Treasury each had check on this
swindling operation, and each had to
pass through in order TO make ii sue.
cessiul Consequently the rule Of adj
dition, division, and silence must have
included number of officials in these
branches Of the public service, aud in
one OF the auditors offices, where the
interest was adjusted.
Such combination is startling
when the vast interest controlled BY
the same parties are considered l0i
il they would unite to steal in on,
case, Of course they would not scrupl,
TO steal whenever chance offered
The person implicated in these trans
actions hold confidential posts IN tn,
Treasury, and have been trusted will
It's most delicate dealings. They saw
high officials, ut home and abroad, sell
ing their trust to spectators as they
appear to have made that cxampl,
their model of duty.
Here and there sound spots may b,
found in the public service, but it il
generally rotten from the core to tb'
circumference. Nothing short OF /
severe purgation can restore il I,
u healthy condition. But the plan .
the transccndental thcorist AT Wash
inglon Is To cover " the ulcers iron
public view. - Neu York Sun