National Republican., 1881-10-26
The Trcnsnry Investigation.


The report of the committee of Treas
ury officials appointed by Secretary Win
dom TO inquire into alleged abuses in
the expenditures of money in the De-
partmcnt has at last been made public.
1t exhibits state of affairs in which dis
honesty and extravaganza are large ele-
mcnts. The public goose has evidently
been systematically, industriously, and
ingcniously plucked by small ring of
employees, and these have naturally
ondcavored to save themselves from ex-
.posure by explanations tending to incul-
pate others of more consequence.
There is not q word of evidence nor is
there any probability whatever, that John
Sherman knew of the rascalitics which
this report brings to light Any fair
pinded man need but give moments
thought TO the subject to see that the
Secretary of the Treasury cannot in per-
son follow up an old carpet to see that it
is not stolen or that the sale of il is not Il
sham by which it may be dishonesty
converted TO private use. Nor will it be
complained Of him that he'did not per-
sonally attend to the purchases of such
furniture as was from time to time re-
quired in his Department. He had u
right to presume that those of his sub
ordinates who were nearer to these trans
actions than he could be would exercise
the ordinary prudence, and would not
leave the contingent fund at the mercy of
those who would have every temptation
TO favor themselves and the dealers at
the expense of the Government.
Mr.. Upton, who was chief clerk for
three years, says that during that time
the disbursements for contingent 'eX-
penses of the Treasury Department
amounted to $3.50 Mr. Powers, who
has served since April l, 1880, in the same
capacity, does not state what amount has
been expended during his time. Says
Mr.. Upton: O. No voucher was signed by
the chief clerk unless it bore on its face u
certificate of the storekeeper, the ac-
countant, and The custodian" Says Mr..
Power: "The chief clerk has to depend
upon his subordinates for the correctness
of details, and it is not possible for him
to have personal knowledge of the SER
vices rendered under each subdivision of
the fund for contingent expenses"
This is equivalent, on the part of each
one of these gentlemen, to saying that the
Secretary's responsibility, transferred by
him to them, could be in turn transferred
by them respectively to mere errand men
and storekeepers. Such is not the way
in which responsibility is rated in the
ordinary business affairs of life. 1t would
not do for the Architect of the Treasury
TO pay more than the market rates OF
contract price for granite for the public
buildings, and TO pay for more than could
be found in those buildings, and then TO
shield himself behind the men ap
pointed by him to receive, compute, and
pay. The superintendent of railroad
business could not find favor with the
directory if he should allow supply agents
to swinde the company, both as tc
prices and quantity.
IL is not saying that either Mr.. Uptor
or Mr., Power suspected the dishonesty tc
which they were giving sanction every
time they signed voucher; but $l60,OO(
year is too much money to be expended
every year merely for furnishing anC
heating the Treasury Department upon til,
mere say-so of the men who come in direc
contact with the dealers. That mice will
play when the cat is away is fact o
which no well-trained cat has any right t.
be ignorant. Enterprising dealers wh
sell goods TO the Government never AT
tend TO the Government side of the bar
gain. Nobody expects them to. Th
Government should nevertheless be rep
resented. The chief clerk ought not t,
trust TO those below him as the Secretary
trusts in him, He is the Secretary
eyes, hands, and ears. His duties as su
perintendent of the Treasury build
ing are not be performed by under
lings. He, and not they, must b
answerable when the purchasesareo ordereG
He must decide how often the buidin
shall be reCarpeted, and the decision mus
depend on the necessity for the change
and not upon the eagerness of dealers +
sell. That storekeeper, an accountant
and custodian should be so utterly fre
from supervision of and inquiry into thei
work that two firms can be paid for tn
same lot of over six hundred yards G
carpeting is fact which suggests con
siderable room for reform. The publ
business is precisely what public official
are expected TO attend to. The chic
clerk in the Office of the Secretary of tn
Treasury, who is also made superintent
ent of the Treasury building, is the yer
officer TO have personal knowledge Of tn
correctness of details. No purchase
should be made until he has decide
them to be necessary. II is entirely pra
tcable for him to compel all who make
requisition upon him for purchases
make the necessity for them plain 1t
entirely practicable for him to test til
honesty Of his receiving storekeeper, an
to see that he eXacts quantity and qualit
contracted for, And it is easy for him
have correct records kept Of invoices an
of fsales. He can attend the sales. Thel
need be no hugger-mugger by whic
unworn carpets can be sold by his sui
ordinates 10 friends for song and n
placed with new ones at fancy prices
1t is likely that the developments mad