Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-04-14
NEW SERIES--V0L. 81, NO. Is,

The difference and saving to the Gov.
ernment by this bill, therefore, is sl87,-
600 over the House bill 80 that from
any tand-point this is better than the
adoption of the Honse bill
We were asked 10 do two things To
stop fast mails on all the routes west
Of the Mississippi and to ruin contract.
ors who on the faith OF our law admin.
istercd by our agents had spent larco
sums OF money.
Right here, Mr.. President, II is wise
to distinguish between the action Of
the Post-0fiice Department and the
rights of these contractors and the in.
terests of the people. On the one hand
our people want rapid transportation
Of the mail they do not want the mail
carried on rude wagon, but on the
contrary they want it carried just as
rapidly as il can be transported in
every locality.
So, too, in regard to contractors, no
man who has entered into a contract
with the Government on the faith of
its laws, under power given by the
laws to agents Of the Government, in
the absence Of positive proof of eorrup-
ton, of fraud, Of wrong, on the part Of
the man thus contracting, should be
stricken down. 1t is infinitely better
for us TO suffer for time, TO bear these
wrongs temporarily until we can put
our hand upon the wrong, until we can
discover where the corruption is, il it |
exists, and then at once forfeit his con.
tract, make the contractor pay Tor de.
bauching our officials, and punish the
official who is guilty of corrupt con
duct in reference TO their contracts.
This is the view the committee took |
of the subject-matter, and in the alb
sence OF proof Of corrupt conduct on
the part of any contractor we did not
feel warranted in striking down all
these contracts but we believed that
it was wise and just and proper to con.
duct the service upon the basis on
which we find il TO the end OF this
fiscal year, and at the same time await
the action OF the House in its search .
for the thieves and If they find them
the Committee on Appropriations will
be among the first, without distinction
of party, to aid in Furnishing them,
whether they be found in the Depart. |
ment or among the contractors but
we did not feel warranted or justified
in striking down the public seTvice on
suspicion, in lessening the mail service
to the people in the absence Of positive
proof or of any proof, nor did we feel
justified in running men financially who |
are not found to have been guilty of
completely with fraud or tainted with !
corruption. We have guarded this
subject in regard to the future by ad-
ding the proviso | have already read
When wrong is found the Senate, act
ing in its Judicial capacity, will be
ready to try and punish, | have no
doubt but tostrike men before wrong
is found is to punish with passion and
repent when cool
make no defense OF the Post.0 Office
Department for its unreliable figures.
| have no defense of it for the inita.
tion of the expenditure of more money
in the fiscal year than the law author.
lied it TO expend, but have acted upon
what we regarded as requirement
that the service should go on upon its
existing basis for this year, and that
there is not yet sufficient ground either
in law or in fact for stopping that
service This we thought warranted
us in reporting the bill in the form be.
fore the Senate. The fact that there
was no wrong yet found as connected
with any of these contractors war
ranted us in sustaining the contracts
to the end OF the fiscal year and when
we find, if we can, before the bill for
the next fiscal year is completed that
fraud, corruption, or wrong do exist,
that any Of these contractors are con.
nected with them, shall be among
the first to aid IN foreiung any contract
that exists in the hands of any of them
and in Furnishing them in any mode
within our power.
But, sir, Us have already said, it is
better for us to suffer for time than
to lessen the means of business inter.
course, This bill contains these two
ideas, that we wish TO continue this
service to the end Of the fiscal year
upon its existing basis, and that we
will not punish any man for corrupt
practices until they are shown. We
also desire to bring to the notice of the
Senate the fact that these statutes are
full of opportunity for iavoritism and
corruption, and that they ought to be
corrected and amended.