Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-08
EAYOR IL. TlYIEHEs.

One OF the worst scandals connected with
the administration of President Grant was
his sympathy for tse whisky thieves and the
active efforts of his sUbordinates to protect
them flom the consequences of their crimes.
So notorious were these efforts that all
decent men were shocked and alienated from
ths support OF the administration, while not
few openly deserted the Republican party
that had in effect become responsible for
these acts. Unless appearances deceive, how
ever, the administration of Mr.. Hayes will
pass into history with record infinitely
worse than that of Grant.
1t has been notorious for years that there
has been systematic robbery of the gov
eminent carried on by the contractors and
government officials concerned in the con-
struction of the Chicago custom house and
postoffice. Over million of dollars have
been stolen outright, officials and contractors
sharing in the plumber on equal
terms. Nothing was done towards bringing
these plunderers to justice until few
months ago, nor were means adopted to stop
their thefts. Finally the matter was given
in charge Of the assistant district attorney.
Fl. W. Thomson, for Investigation. He dis
charged his trust faithfully, and collected suf-
fieient testimony to send the whole gang to
the penitentiary, which he communicated to
the secretary Of the treasury. Still rothing
was done, until Mr.. Thomson appealed to
Mr. Hayes for an order to refer the matter
to the grand jury. After much vexatious
delay the order was given, but it was accom-
panied by instructions to exclude Mr.. Thorn
son from the grand jury room. A man who
had no knowledge of the facts whatever was
placed in charge of the case, but
succeeded in having the criminals indicted
But even after this the secretary of the
treasury refused to suspend Supervising
Architect Hill, the chief of the crew, until
ordered to do SO by Mr.. Hayes at Mr..
Thomson's solicitation. Mr.. Sherman went
out of his way to pronounce an extra
judicial opinion on the matter, declaring his
firm belief in Hills innocence of the CHARGE
and a conviction that he was the victim of
conspiracy. This.m have !incensed Mr..
Thomson, and he may have used some Ian
guage appropriate to the occasion. At any
rate he received letter from ATTORNEY
General Devens few days ago couched in
this language:
1t is stated that since your return to Chica
go from Washington you have openly and with
out reserve declared that the secretary of the
treasury was trying to prevent the prosecution
OF Hill and other indicted custom house officials
in the United States court at Chicago; that the
secretarys desire was that the matter should he
referred to the department at Washington 40
that the thing could be hushed up; and that he
was v, mad because they had been indicted etc.
1t is stated that you have frequently made the
above assertion, as we'll as much stronger dec
laratious as to the difficulty Of bringing about
the conviction of the parties named, and that
you attributed it to the secretary of the treas
ury and to his department.. Please inform me
at once II the assertion made, that you have
expressed yourself as above indicated is true.
MIR. Thomson, it appears, does not care
to hold Office at the cost of his self-respect.
for after receipt of the epistle given above,
he indicted letter to Mr.. Deyens in which
he said:
You are doubtless aware that I was detailed
to assist in the custom-house building investi-
CATION ut tho request of the secretary of the
treasury through the collector of the port. NV
report suggesting investigation by the grand
jury was forwarded to the secretary. It was
responded to by "defenses," so-called. I'm
these was assailed with the bitterness charac
teristic of detected guilt. It seems never to
have occurred to any one IN the treasury depart
menu TO extend to me an opportunity to vindi-
cate myself against these aspersions nor that
every rule of justice and fair play required that.
issue having been taken upon my report. /
should have been called upon to close the case.
or hearing, or whatever it was styled. Then
followed a treasury department. verdict, acquit-
the lines, it convicted me of mischievoug ma
lightly in suggesting an investigation by the