The daily gazette., 1879-06-14

The editor of the New York Sun, was
an assistant to one of the heads Of de-
partment In Washington, under Repub-
lican administrations, for q number OF
years, and, therefore, had opportunities
to know whereof that paper discourses
upon the Irregularities that have crept
into the usages in the official bureaus
since 1861. This gives the declarations
ofthat paper credit wherever fully known
and when connected with the plausibility
OF its assertions, and the fact that they
are permitted to go uncontradicted, and
as the matters made public, are by many
of the Republican papers also complain
ed of, leads the public to the conclusion
that the Sun is truthful in what it asserts
In the following remarks, As in nearly all
its references to the management OF
affairs at the National Capital. 1t says;
"One good effect at least is likely to
result from the controversy over the Ap-
preparation bills. Heretofore the appro-
priation for the Judiciary has usually
been Jumped in the Sundry Civil bill
but experience has proved that, in pro-
portion to the money granted, the De
partment of Justice is capable of as
much fragrant corruption and unscrupu-
lous partisanship as any other. The
secret service fund of hundred or more
thousand dollars year may be said to
have been stolen outright, or applied In
the interest of crimes like the safe burg
larry, or for the benefit Of Rings, or to
reward partisans, as when, without
voucher appearing. on the files of the
Treasury, thirty thousand dollars were
paid to John l. Davenport for his inven-
ton to disfranchise naturalized citizens.
So with the political machinery Of super
visors and deputy marshals, both general
and special, Akerman, Williams, Pierre
pont, Taft, and Devens have openly ex-
pended hundreds of thousands of dol
lars at an election to enlist an army OF
those professional politicians, many OF
them belonging to the worst criminal
classes, on the side of the Administra-
ton. Thus department created to see
justice administered fairly has beer
prostituted into a partisan machine fol
carrying elections.
The present bill processes to itemizt
the branches of this department upor
estimates of the Attorney General. But
though, an improvement, 1t does not g
far enough, by any means; and, in fact
it was shown by the examination Of Mr.
Devens that he was ignorant of the man
ageinent of his own office. For example
it was discovered that the annual repor
of the Attorney-General only covers tn
actual sum expended during that year
If, as has occurred, there should be al
excess of appropriation on hand, say o
quarter or half a million, tapping owe
into the next year, that money woul
, not appear in the accounts at all, as tn
. report only deals with the single yea
y and has no reference to any sum ths
A may have been turned in from the pr
# ceding year. In this way large approl
q riations have constantly been diverte
,r without the knowledge of Congress.
- This false and pernicious system hi
!, been practiced for years, until the ey
Il has taken huge portions, and ii is no
10 nearly impossible to tell what is Il
- yearly cost of this service, owing to Il
manner in which the accounts are kei
II, Congress votes in the dark, and will co
;s tinue so to vote until every item is spe
" fically stated, and any surplus Of apprC
- ration is turned into the Treasury
as the last day Of the fiscal year, SO that
III cannot be misapplied IN the next.
IA The British method, on the otl
,.l hand prevents both deficiencies a
:, scandals. The House of Commons
10 quires every money bill to be given
N, detail. Before the keel of ship Of '
is laid the exact cost is known, and
a. terclaps like those of Robson can
INV possibly occur.
~ This Democratic Congress can accor
,uo lish great good by requiring every
partment to live within the amount V
d, and by voting every dollar fo
INV specific object