The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-05-09
TREASURY DEPARTMENT THIEVES.

AREASDhI DEEAhIMENI IhlEsES.
The democratic party for years past has
not ceased to impress upon the people of the
United States that the various departments
of the government were dens of thieves
that robbery was the chief employment of
the men who, measured by the radical
standard of merit obtained official positions
under Grant. The investigations that were
commenced and conducted by democratic
congress demonstrated cenclusively the abso-
lutte truth of the declarations of the demo-
cratic party by revealing depth of corrup-
ton that convinced the most skeptical
and astounded the world. While
these investigations were progressing
the radical organs, which without an ex-
ception were defenders of the thieves. and
sought as best they could to break the force
of the revelations, cried out that only par
tisan motives inspired the democratic party
in its efforts to expose radical scoundrelism
and bring thieves to justice. The inve ,tiga-
tons not only developed that the radical
party had matured systems of fraud but re-
vealed also the fact that the depart
ments were overfowingly full with set
of miscreants whose chief employment was
to steal or cover up the tracks of those who
committed the thefts. The democratic par
ty could not dismiss the thieves, but it could
refuse the money necessary to pay them,
and in this way rid the country of a part
of the incubus. As a result hundreds have
been dismissed, and other hundreds are to
follow. The st. Louis GlObe-D Democrat, a
paper whose proprietors have had excep-
tionally favorable opportunities to obtain
accurate knowledge of the interior workings
of the departments, refers to the fact that
good many employees of the treasury depart
ment have been dismissed, but insists that
the work of reform shall reach
further and bring down larger game
than suPeriuous employees, and in urg
ing the matter paints a picture of rad
zeal scoundrelism in the treasury depart
ment which ought to attract attention. The
treasury department. says the Globe-Demo-
crat, lis rotted through with the corruption
of clerks who stand high in the service,
whose positions are essential in the organic
alton, who are efficient and energetic, but
who misuse their ability and their position
ito rob the honest citizens who have business
with the department. and to bring disgrace
and discredit upon the government. They
are the professional black-mailers behind
the counters, who are in league with the
professional black mailers who hang mystic
'riously about the purlieus of public life in
Washington. They are utterly unprinci.
piled scoundreIs, and no reform is of any
value which fails to extirpate them totally.
They rob both the government and the
people indiscriminately, and are always
ready to take all they can get. If citi-
zen has claim against the government
which has been recognized by every public
expression of justice, the chances are that,
Just when he thinks he is in fair way to
have his claim Iiquidated, he is informed
that it will be several years before his
claim will be reached in the REGULAR order
of business, but that he can get the cash
next week if he will only pay percentage
TO some loafer who has no visible connection
with the public service. If the citizen is
liable for any claim incurred as bondsman
VI q ueOOOI W the BONSInhichi III any way,
and wishes to discharge his liability, he is
met by blackmailer of the same class, and
has distractions put in his way until he is
wearied into compliance with the extor-
'tioners"
Here is the declaration that the treasury
department is ''rotted through with corrup
tion," and that the men who have charge of
the business are professional blackmailers"
and utterly unprincipled scoundrels,' who
are ready and willing TO rob govern
'ment and people Unfortunately" What
is true of the treasury department is equally
true of every other department, and since
Hayes, the infamous fraud who accepted the
office of president from the hands of crime
stained scoundrels, proposes to remember
his pals, the indications are that radical
civil service reform means the continuance
of thieves in Office.