The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-21

The public departments ut Washington
are filled with jobbcrs and collusonists,
most Of whom were appointed by Ropub-
lican Senators and Representatives, or
others high in the councils OF that marty.
The developments OF the Whskcy Ring, of
the mass Of fraudulent claims which passed
through the accounting offices unchalcngcd,
and OF the great contracts obtained by false
bidding, prove conclusivcly that a system
has existed for years whereby the Treasury
has been plundcred Of millions by the cor
rupt connivance Of trusted officials
Indictments now pending at the capital
against NEGLEY, BUTLER, and other former
members of Congress, show their completely
In some Of these transactions. and the means
by which they were successfully carried on.
This system had attained such perfection
and was SO ramilied In its operations, that
when Mr.. BRisrOw commenced his war ON
the Whiskey Ring, he was compelled To go
outside the department for aid, because he
had no confidence in tho officers who sur
rounded him.
The recent discovery that an immense
sum Of accrued and unclaimed interest on
United States bonds has been paid to n Ring
1t is only "A new feature of the corrupt sys-
TEN which brings before the public long
suspected Assistant Secretary OF the Tr,As-
ury and n number Of confidential clerks,
some Of whom Mr.. boutwell, sent abroad
in connection with the sale Of Government
bonds, and who are believed to have prontcd
by their opportunities in that capacity
Now, the interest account is 80 kept in the
Treasury that the unclaimed dividends
could not possibly be known to outside par
ties without collision 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 inter-
est be made upon powers Of attorney, repre-
senting multitude Of claimants, without
exciting suspicion and inquiry, unless there
was IA secret understanding between the
insiders and outsiders.
The Offices Of the Treasurer. the Register,
and the Secretary Of the Treasury each had
check on this swindling operation, and each
had To be passed through in order TO make
IT successful. Consequently the rule Of adj
dition, division, and silence must have in
clndoda number Of officials in these branches
of the public service, and in one of the au-
ditor's Offices, where the interest was adj
justcd.
Such combination IS startling, when the
vast interests controlled 10y the same parties
are considered; for if they would unite to
steal in one ease. 81 course they would not
scruplc To steal whenever n chance offered.
The persons implicatcdin these transactions
hold confidential posts in the Treasury,
and have been trusted with t- most delicate
dealings They saw high officials, at home
and abroad, selling their trusts to spccu-
latorS. and they appear To have made that
example their model Of duty.
Here and there sound spots may be found
in the public service, but it is generally rot
ten from the core to the circumference
Nothing short Of severe purgation can re-
store it TO a healthy condition. But the
plan of the transccndcntal theorists at Wash
ington is to cover up the ulcers from public
view.