The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-30

and no longer adorns the columns Of the
Congressional Record
Every committee which has been sent out
from Washington for many years whether
by the Senate or 10y the House. has expcnd-
ed largo sums of money prodigally, be-
cnusc there Is no proper system Of re-
sponsiblity. The Scrscant-at-Arms details
deputy to accompany the committee to
summon witnesses, to pay the hotel and
other bills. and to look after the comforts OF
the individual members. This deputy is
supposed to he respectable and trust
worthy person and the money is placed in
his hands TO dcfray the necessary OK
prnscs without any check whatever. lie
makes his own arrangements settles the
billie takes receipts, and these I'm ninc
cases ont of ten are approved without
knowledge or examination by the Chairman
of the committee. and become "vouchcrs
in closing up the business. When the COM
mttco returns to Washington. this deputy.
who ia the mean time may have drawn ten,
twenty. or forty thousand dollars makes
up a general account for the Sergeant-at-
Arms. who, II honest may be ignorant Of
the whole matter, or. If a knavc, may have a
perfect understanding with his subordinate
for Addition. Division and Silence
This statement is sent to the Committee
on Accounts for approval, not n member ~
which can have had any direct knowledge
Of the expenditures. The best that can be
expected of them Is TO see that no glaring
imposition is practiscd and that the cal
culations are correct, in both of which cx-
ucctatons there is a great disappointment
generally. The committee almost invariably
approve the accounts, aud upon that APP
proval the Clerk Of the House pays whatever
balance may be- due out OF the contingent
fund. When the Clerks accounts go to the
Treasury thoy are passed without ques-
tion on the strength Of the approval
Of the committee endorsed on the So
called vouchers, which may be false,
forged or full Of errors OF calculation
This IS the system in practice to-day, and
II extends back to the time when the Hepub-
licans got entire possession Of Congress.
While some reforms have been introduced.
and the frauds are less daring and extern
sivc than formerly. perhaps from want OF
opportunity. the Democrats have not been
slow to follow in the footpaths OF their illus
triuus predecessors whenever they have had
the chance.
1t is undoubtedly true that shameful i'm
positions, forgcrics, and other rascalitics
were pcrpetratcd 10y the deputies whom Mr..
THOMPSON, Scrgca lt-at-Arms, sent TO Lou
isiana with Mr. MoRRrsoN's committee. s.
X. DoNAvlN, who was the chief deputy and
special friend Of THOMPSON, had bad odor
about him long before hc received that ap-
puintment, and some of the others associ-
atpd with him were nutOriOu-lv destitute of
character. The GLOVER Committee acct
dentally discovered fraudulent vouchers
among the accounts which were filed at the
Treasury in the settlement Of the Louis
lana Committee, and investigation showed
that they involved thousands Of dollars.
MI GLOVER has been blamed for not COW
ering up this scandalous matter, and for
pursuing il when discovered. He is entitled
TO credit rather, for dscharging his duty
icarlessly and impartially.