The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-07-16

The Corruption in the Public Service.
An investigation has been going on
in the Treasury Department for the
past few weeks, which reveals another
phase OF the prevail ny corruption in
the public service, and shows how IT has
been protected in the highest quarters.
Under reg liar estimates, Congress APP
propriated half million of dollars in
round numbers for i'll n ture, fuel, car
pets, wagons, books. horses, toilet arti-
Giles and other so-called contingencies
tor the Treasury. from 1877 to 1881 IN
elusive. Formerly the practice was Tor
each of the Bureaus to make its own
purchases of these articles. and Il direct
responsibility for any extravaganza or
collision was thus fixed in every case.
This check was abandoned, under the
present management, and a clerk named
D. l.. Pitney, became the General Pur-
chasing Agent, and the custodian of
this pro- erty. His accounts we're SUBJ
ject to the approval of the Chief Clerk.
then j. X. Upton. who was promoted
by John Sherman to be Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury.
After Upton's promotion he retained
the authority to approve Pitneys ac-
counts, and when charges were made
against the latter, he protected him in
the face of testimony showing fraud.
With the power to buy what he pleased
in the limits OF the appropriation, and
practically to verify his own Purchases,
Pitney had full swing, and ring OF
plunderers was organized inside and
outside the Department, consisting OF
officials and of favored contractors.
The old story of jobbery. extravagance,
and corruption was repeated, and the
whole of the appropriations was ex-
hausted in this organized rascality.
Cabinetmakers and other mechanics
are employed regularly in the Depart
ment for this branch of the service. and
! they were utilized in a manner that dis
graces members of the late Fraudulent
Administration, and strengthened the
hands of the thieves.
John Sherman has grown to hand
some fortune upon the economies OF his
salary as a member of Congress and OF
the Cabinet during twenty-five years.
He entered the House of Representa-
tives poor in 1856, and he retired from
the Treasury a millionaire in 1881, hav-
ing in the period between these two ex-
tremes no other vocation but politics.
His prosperity seems to have begun
when he was Chairman of the Finance
Committee of the Senate and Jay Cooke
was the manager OF the public loans.
Mr.. s herman is large owner OF
real estate in Washington. A few
years ago he had built block of some
forty houses, and last year he INDUCED
himself with fine mansion, adjoining
his former residence, in the fashionable
quarter of the capital. With all his
wealth Mr. Sherman is thrifty and
penurious person. He knows that
money is power, and he never parts
from dollar without getting at least a
full equivalent for it.
Mr.. Sherman found 1t cheap and
convenient to make Pitney, the head OF
the purchasing rng of the Treasury,
his agent for the collection of rents and
attention to his property. Pitney was
too glad to hold that relation, and to
have it known in the Department, be-
cause it served rs passport in tho &C
counting offices and silenced the busy
tongue of scandal and of envy among
subordinates who knew of his dealings.
Thus fortified. Pitney detailed cabi.
net makers and other mechanics to
Deautity Mr.. Sherman's new mansion
to do work for Mr.. Eyarts. and tC
adorn his own residence. and charged
their time and the material used to diff
ferent Bureaus of the Treasury. Backed
by the Secretary and the Assistant Sec
rotary, the latter of whom certified the
accounts and is believed to have shared
in the spoils. this custodian of public
property and trusted disburser of con
tingent fund of one hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars per annum pur
sued his vocation openly during the
whole term of Hayes. While the Fraud
ulent Administration was canting abou
Civil-service Reform, this sort OF thiev
cry was encouraged by the highest off
Gals, who themselves we're its benei
Charles. With such examples before
them, it was perhaps natural that {
number of the subordinates should par
ticipate in the common plumber, ant
utilize the opportunity to increase theil
J incomes.
An inquiry made, as this is. by de
} pendents, and without power to get a
the bottom facts. must be limited IN it
scoi g, and is under the control of thu
! Secretary of the Treasury. 1t will
! probably result in the removal of som'
of the inculpated clerks, while thei
superiors, who are responsible to thu
, country, will be allowed to escape
unless Congress shall pursue the in
, vestigation with a resolute purpose.
1t should also be known that Mr.
Sherman is answerable for a preceden
which does not help his reputat on
J While travelling over the country, h
) charged his personal expenses to tn
, fund appropriated for collect on of tn
revenue. No former Secretary use'
public money in that way, even whel
engaged on official duty. The exampl
i was infectious, and Mr.. Evarts foun'
) the practice useful and economical II
D his Department.
I ,,,,~a o1Doo1u ho conduct nf tb