Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-09-15
w AsHINGToN LETTER.
fFrom osr Regular corOspoadntl

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investigation in connection with the Gov
eminent Departments here. For some
time and especially during the last year,
nearly all issues Of the daily papers have
contained advertisements for positions
under the Government, the advertiser
agreeing 10 pay 800 or 5000, more or less,
Nfor the appointment, and percentageo OF
lsalary as long as employed. Some issues
OF certain newspapers contain two or
three OF these advertisements. Here is
a specimen clipped from last evenings
Star:
WANTED-S1OO cash and ten percent
of salary will be paid for position in
any of the Departments. Address in
confidence, QUIET this Office.
From the frequency with which such
advertisements appear, and the continu-
ed use of this method 1t is evident that
they are sometimes, perhaps always,
successful. Senator Plumb alluded to
this state of things on the floor of the
Senate, Just before adjournment last ses-
sion, and from the manner in which his
remarks were received it may be regard.
ed probable that something will be done
about the matter next session. There
certainly should be an investigation. 1t
would be interesting to know who the
individuals are that carry on brokerage
in Government positions and what facili-
ties they have for doing it successfully.
Those who have made the effort in a leg
innate way know how hard it is to OBJ
tain an appointment. Few who apply
have the persistence to pursue their ap-
plications to the end. The majority be-
come weary, heart.sick, and discouraged
after months of waiting, and give 1T up
in disgust. But these brokers are said to
do their business very promptly. or
course it would not be possible to carry
this sort of things on to any extent with
out having confederates on the inside,
and it becomes a subject worthy of at
tention to find out how many of the De.
partments have chief clerks, heads of
bureaus, or other officers who are dis
pensing positions for pay. Ii some action
is not taken by the proper authorities
YOUR correspondent will some of these
days undertake to get at the bottom of it
for the benefit of the public.
The country generally appears to be
well satisfied with Secretary WINDOWS
financial policy and with the general
management of the Treasury Depart
ment under him. While congratulating
the Secretary upon his success want to
express the humble opinion that he
would do an excellent service to the coun-
try, or at least to those citizens having
business with the Treasury, II he would
make few changes in the higher grades
of subordinate offices in his Department,
1t will be remembered that the recent
scandal affecting the Chief Clerk
and Appointment Clerk Lamphere, IN
connection with the contingent fund of
the Office was not disposed of in very
satisfactory manner. The fact that
Lamphere had used his position to sell
the Government a large number of
worthless books compiled by him, and
that by the probable connivance of the
Chief Clerk certain fraud in the purchase
Of supplies had peen committed, was
brought out with such evidence as to be
generally believed. Yet the report on
the subject prepared by commission OF
INQUIRY was pigeoA-holed by Mr.. Win
dom. and Lamphere is still in his posi-
ton. This report is generally understood
to have sustained the charges made, and
. reflect more or less directly upon certain
other officials. Whether this is true or
not the public have no means OF know
ing. But it seems to us the people have
a right to know all about it and that
Secretary Window has not only made a
great mistake but exceeded his rightful
authority. -.
Whatever the conclusion on this point,
it will be pretty generally admitted
among thos who are acquainted with the
facts. that Assistant Secretaries Upton
and French ought to be removed. To
nut it more delicately, they should both
be invited to resign. Nr. Upton IS con.
siderable of politician, but he has not
made very good officer. Before his
promotion to the position OF Assistant
Secretary he was Chief Clerk, and the
irregularities charged in connection with
purchases date back to and are said te
have begun under his administration Of
that office. Assistant Secretery French
is an insolent bureaucrat, with no capac'
ity whatever for the delicate duties oi
his Office, which are to construe the rev
enue laws. Merchants and importers
whose business had brought them in con
tact with him almost unanimously com
platn of the treatment they have received
at his hands. He had even gone 80 far a.
to pronounce that it is his official duty tt
construe the laws so that they shall con-
form to his own preconceived notions O.
what they ought to be. Owing to SOM
of his absurd rulings hundreds of thou
sands of dollars of the capital of suga
importers alone have been tied up onl.
to be released at the bidding of the court
which have withouta an exception decides
the other way. Other interests have suf
fered similarly. Notwithstanding tn
decisions against him he renews his rulinl
in eyery case, and compels every impor
ter to resort to legal prosess. His re
moval has long been demanded by tn
commercial interests Of the country an
it is blot on Secretary Sherman's ad
ministration that French was not dis
missed. This may sound little like vr
necessary faultfinding to easy going pee
ple at a distance, but I must free m
mind once in a while, and like a grea
man whose tomb recently visited dow
the river, cannot tell lie.
From the "cave of gloom" into whic
the Capital was thrown by the late ur
favorable turn in the Presidents case W
have during the last few days experience
a happy change. There is now stron
feeling of hopefulness and a prevailin
belief that the worst has been passed
But the telegraph no doubt keeps yo
better posted than l could hope to do b.
mail.