National Republican., 1877-10-12

there may be question raised as to the
honesty of his mind and purpose.
We find, in the course of his remarks, an
arraignment Of the Bureau of Printing and
Engraving of the Treasury Department as
being guilty of gross extravaganza. He
says:
Why, fellow-citizens. you do not know-no man
knows who has not looked narrowly into this subject
the extent Of the perverson the danger, that pre-
walls among us. DO speak cxtravagantly? Why,
only within two days was turning over the report
OF an investigating committee, appointed in the
Treasury, after this Administration came into
power, to examine into the state Of the Bureau Of
Printing and Engraving, In Washington, and be-
fore they had carried on their investigation for
two months they discovered that Hfty per cent Of
the employees in that institution might readily be
dispensed with, with an enormous saving to the
public Treasury.
In this unfair onslaught upon a bureau Of
the Government for the purpose of preju-
dicing the late administration, Mr.. CURTIS
forgot to tell his hearers that the work in
that bureau had fallen off under diversion
to private enterprise. But admitting Tor
argument s, ,e that Grty per cent. of the
force wss retained without real need of
| their services, the employees were Of q
class of poor people who must have en-
ployment or starve. We have no idea that
an undue force was kept at work from any
such consideration, but in view of his prac-
ticcs as civil service reformer, Mr.. CURTIS
is the last man, in view of his own record,
to prate so glibly about IAN enormous saw
ing to the public Treasury"
The following from the Utica Observer Of
September 90 will tell the public how sim
cerely how deeply, Mr.. CURTIS is dis
tressed over anything like extravaganza in
Government expenditures, especially when
the money goes into his own pocket:
One Of the declarations of the Republican con-
vention at Rochester demands that compensation
for official service should be fair and Just but IN
no case excessive" BY the light Of this resolution
the following little bill will to plain as
very extraordinary, and will account to some for
Mr. CURTIS anxiety to have the platform amended.
The following is q copy of voucher now on file In
| the Treasury Department.
WASHINGTON, July II, 1871
Tho United States of America
| To GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS: DR..
| For ten days service member Of COM
mission for promoting efficiency In civil
Approved.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, Chairman.
The following are the Endorsements on the
| voucher:
(First Auditors Oaicc. July IL, 1871.
tFirst Comptroller's Office, Juy Il, ISL.
clerk. GEORGE WILLIAM CuRrIS)
Mr.. CURTIS, not willing to await the circumlocu.
ton Of the Department, made over" his bill to the
disbuning clerk, and, receiving the money from
him, went home.
When this was charged In the newspapers Mt the
| time, Mr.. CURTIS explained that he received pay
mcnt IN bulk for ten days services rot only, but
for future service, which, rs chairman Of the com
mission, It would be his duty 10 perform. This /,
fatty cuntradictcd by the accounting officers who
| say the law prohibits them from paying In advanc,
for any service, and that the commission was paid
to date for services rendered They were In session
from the 2d to the llth Of July including one sun
day. Thus their bill was really SIi and Fraction
per working day, unless the rcformer transgrcSsct
the fourth commandment The accounting off
GERS say that the law prohibits them from payinI
in advance even for the services Of single day Il
no man can give assurances that he can live n day
Mr.. CURTIS explanations are unreasonable from
the further fact that JosEPH MEDILI. another re
former, also u member Of the commission, Dire,
| pay at a similar rate on voucher precisely tn
same. Mr.. MEpiLL's voucher is rs follows:
WASHINGTON. July H. 1871.
The United States
To JOSEPH MEDILI: Dr.
l For ten days services us member OF com
mission for promoting the efficiency OF the
civil service. $50
Approved
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, Chairman.
Ind0rsmeRL
FIRsr AUDITORS OFFICE July -, ISL
D. W. MAHON.l
FIRsT CoNPTROLLER's OFFICE July II. ISL
Pay the above sum TO 7. J. lloRRs, dishursir
n | clerk. JoSEPH MEnIII.)
. Such devotion as this to the principles
# economy and reform calls for no furth
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