The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-09-10


heart-sick and discouraged after months
Of waiting, and give it mp in disgust.
But these brokers are said to do their
business very promptly. OF course it
would not be possible to carry this sort
of thing on TO any extent without having
con ederates ON the inside, and IL be-
comes a subject worthy of attention to
find out how many of the Departments
have chief clerks, heads of Bureaus, or
other officers who are dispensing posi-
tions for pay. II some action is not TAX
en- by the proper authorities your cores
pondent will sdme of these days under
take 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 humole opinion that be
would do an excellent service TO the
country. or at least to those citizens
having business with the Treasury, ii he
would make few changes in the higher
grades of subordinate officers in his De-
partment. 1t will be remembered that
the recent scandal affecting the Chief
Clerk and appointment Clerk Lampher-,
in connection with the contingent fund
of the Office was not disposed of in a
very satisfactory manner The fact that
Lamphere had used his position to sell
the Government q large number of
worthless books compiled by him, and
that by the probable connivance of the
Chief Clerk certain frauds in the pur-
chase of supplies had been committed,
was brought out with such evidence as
to be generally believed, Yet the re-
port on the subject prepared by CON-
mission Of inquiry was pigeon-holed by
Mr.. Window, and Lamphire is still IN
his position. This report is generally
made, and reflect more or less directly
upon certain other officials. Whether
this is true or not the public Lave no
means of knowing. But it seems to us
the people Lave q right to know all
about it and thai Secretary Window has
not only made great mistake but ex-
ceeded bis rightful authority.
Whatever the conclusion on this point,
it will be pretty generally admitted
among those who are acquainted with
the facts, that Assistant Secretaries Up
ton and French ought to be removed.
To put it more delicately they should
both be invited to resign. Mr.. Upton is
considerable of politician, but h e has
not made very good officer. Before
his promotion to the position of AS
sistant Secretary he was Chief Clerk,
and the irregularities charged in con-
nection with purchases date back to and
are said to have begun under his admin
istration of that Office. Assistant Secre-
tary French is an insolent bureaucrat,
with no capacity whatever for the deli
cate duties of his office, which are to
construe the revenue laws. Merchants
and importers whose business has
brought them in contact with him al
most unanimously complain of the treat.
ment they have received at his hands.
Be has even gone so far as to pronounce
that it is his official duty to construe the
laws so that they shall conform to his
own preconceived notions of what they
ought to be. Owing to some of his alb
surd rulings hundreds of thousands of
dollars of the capital Of sugar importers
alone have been tied up only to be re-
leased at the bidding Of the courts,
which have without an exception de-
cided the other way. Other interests
have suffered similarly. Notwitkstand-
ing the decisions against him he renews
his rulings in every case, and compels
every importer to resort to legal process.
His removal has long been demanded by
the commercial interests of the country
and it is blot on Secretary She1man's
administration that French was not dis
missed, This may sound little like
unnecessary faultfnding to easy going
people at distance, but must free my
mind once in while, and like great
man whose tomb recently visited down
the river, l cannot tell lie.
From the "cave of gloom into which
the Capitol was thrown by the late un-
favorable turn in the Presidents case we
have during the last few days expe-
rienced happy change There is now
a strong feeling of hopefuhess and
prevailing belief that the worst has been
passed. But the telegraph no doubt
keeps you better posted than 1 could
hope to by mail. Dom PEDRO.