The New York herald., 1879-08-01


Raiiroad Statistics
January. 1863. 4o sl2l 81 ue4.4sp sloi -
1868. 'osSs s.Sss 1T SO pss.S4e 100 as
January. 1862. ldssss ssss 1853 ass.'7s lOa 4.
.How many persons have received duplicate pay
ments in like ways is an interesting point for future
plains the opposition manifested in some quarters
to scrutiny OF the records.
Considerable space Is devoted to the alleged frsu-
dulent manner in which unclaimed interest is coli
lected in the Treasury, and specifies instances in
which IL alleges parties have been swindling the
government bondholders by the collection OF un-
interest due the bondholders. 1t in con-
nection charges certain government officials with
The CUSTOMS SERVICE.
Referring to the customs service the report states
that it appears from the testimony to be one OF the
The customs revenue. which in 17S9-9S averaged
less than 100000 per annum. has gradually in.
received from that source for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1872. and the force
of employees in that branch has increased from
hundred or so to an army OF more than ten thou
sand officers. laborers and auxiliaries.
While deprecating politics in connection with tho
OF "a person who had been dismissed the con.
sular service for immoral practices and inecieAcy.
and who had been dropped from several subordinate
positions in the Boston Custom House for incom-
potency. was appointed to place Of much respons.
bty requiring intelligence and integrity. on what
appears to be political influence and he appears
be still in the service"
1t describes at length the methods Of appointing
special agents Of the Treasury and says the test.
mOny shows that there is system of examination
for appointments promotions; that appoint-
ments, as q rule, are made through political inhu.
ence. without reference to experience Or qualihca-
ton. The mode of alleged 'blackmziling" by spe-
cia agents also claims the attention OF the commit.
tee. The report mentions the of person who
was removed in 1876 on charges of serious nature
with the stationery division Of the Secretary ofice
and Is now engaged in the duty Of revising
the customs regulations. In this connection II
ssys:-"H the duties pertaining to the customs reve-
nue. were concentrated under single respon-
sible bureau and the personnel Of the service
subjected to system and discipline. the country
would not be edited or the Executive mortified with
the spectacle OF subordinate OF bureau defying the
administration in its efforts make change in his
office. because thst subordinate could WELD tho
organization Of his place great political machine
and the increased efficiency OF the service would. in
our opinion, appear In increased revenues and de-
creased expenses.
In calling attention to the "whoesale removal ot
the most experienced clerks in the Sixth Auditors
office and substitution of inexperienced persons in
their stead, the report says:-"Iour committee
be responsible for the many scandals and frauds
the Treasury herein enumerated now in the ser.
vice in their old or other places OF trust some OF
them having been reinstated after detection and res
nnova.'
CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING.
The report says that comparison OF the annual
reports TO the Senate Of A. M CApp, Congressional
printer with his accounts rendered to and passed by
the accounting officers Of the Treasury reveals the
fact that large amounts obtained by Clxpp from
the Treasury and charged as expended for printing
and binding. were not reported to theSenste noc
known to Congress or the public.
SECRET SERVICE DIVISION
In dealing with the Secret Service branch Of tho
men with whom this division has dealt. and who
have been disposed to expose its objectionable fea-
lures. has. as rule, been such that the COMMITTEES
declined to entertain their complaints. while persons
Of and reputation who have felt the force OF
their methods have as rule. declined to put their
grievances before the committee. preferring rather
to suffer in silence than to the plots they
felt would follow" After detailing the results
OF the committees investigation into the workings
of this department. the report dismsses the subject
as follows:-"It is doubtful the wrong
and mischief done by this organization does
not more than Offset the good. and until it ID
taken out Of partisan ruts and such restrictions inn
posed rs may be necessary to guard against ts use
mailing purposes. in the opinion of the COMMITTEES
the appropriation for its maintenance ought to be
frauds now looked after by this force with the ex.
press stipulation that 1t shall be disbursed through
some other source
ALLEGED FRAUDS IN COTTON.
Regarding the management and disposition of tha
captured and abandoned property fund the report
finds that large lots Of cotton taken In violation
OF the statute by government officials, and also "by
the naval fleet of Admiral Porter while pAtrollng the
says the law by which the Customs divi-
sion of the Treasury Department given
the custody and management OF all records pertain
ing to cotton and other property seized and sold
der its authority has been wholly disregsrded from
1865 to the present time. and special Bureau.
ssts and clerks with salaries ranging from 81 30 to
$1,000. Cases cited in which 1t Is alleged that
thousands of cotton bales seized by the governments
were missed and never recovered.
According to the report the expenditures ~ the
marine hospitals for the year 1877 were considerably
less than the receipts. AT Baltimore" 1t says,
.the charges tor aud maintenance of sick
men were under fifty cents day. but At New York
they eighty cents, and at Phizdelphia ninety
winch leaves margin for profit To some one."
THE GOVERNMENT MINIS.
Going extensively into the management Of the
ment through "wastagcs," detalcations and other
Among the instances of mismznxge-
ment II cites the following I'm March. April and
May, 1859, 3ll,4O bars of imported bullion, tho
value whereof had not been ascertaincd, were
deposited in the Assay Office. New York. and
moneys loaned thereon to Balling a Sanders and
other firms. by III. IL. Van Dyck. Assistant Treasurer
1T New York Under such practice gilded bars Of
lead iron could be used to obtain loans without
interest or security.
The report says the experience of the committee
shows tue necessity OF keeping up the work of in
vostgation from year to year . regular part
of Congress to prevent the secret
growth OF despotism and corruption and the exist
of scores of matters the past which urgently
need scrutiny. 1t concludes ~ foliows:-"The
powers of the government appear to have
received extension that renders pure
impracticable. Only by reducing
those powers the growth of corruption
and despotism and tho approach OF ruin be escaped.
As matters nov stand the executive branch OF the
government is q close corporation. controlled in
nearly all things by subordinate officials whom sue
rcssul intrigue has kept many years In place. whose
rienced superiors dependent upon them, who, IL
turned out. would soon manage to get again, and
who use with utter relen tcssness the of their
places and combinations to overawe crush any
Dne. OF however high character standing, who
may hinder their gaming their ends.