Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-09-02
Howgate, Hodge and Babcock.
IN. Y. SUM-

N. !. sun.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-The new dis
coveries of Capt. Howgate's stealing ex-
cite no surprise whatevar outside the de-
partments. Others are sure to follow,
as at this time no safe estimate can be
made of the amount stolen, which already
is known to exceed 100000 That the
total will swell up into big figures may
be safely inferred from Howgate's con-
duct-who, after giving bail for S4O,O 900
the bondsmen having been the recipi-
ents of his official favor-quickly cast the
dust of Washington from his feet and fled
to parts unknown
When all the facts Of this case are dis
closed to public view, 1t will be found
that the signal office and the accounting
officers were guilty of the most criminal
carelessness, if some of them were not
connivers at the frauds. The treasury
regulations were fagrantly violated IN
repeated instances, while the extravagant
and licentious life of Howgate for years,
which ought at least to have been a
warning, was notorious at Washington
to everybody but to the officials, who
should have been the first to take notice
of his costly display, wholly beyond the
honest means of the spendthrift.
HOwgate's case does not stand alone.
Whenever the Republicans are driven
out of office, the robberies of the treas
ury for the past twelve years will astound
the country, and will implicate many
who now occupy high places in that par
ty. The leaders know full well what
would follow defeat, and hence, rather
than yield possession Of power, they were
ready for the extremity of civil war in
1876 to cOnsHmmate the fraud by which
Hayes was declared President.
Before the era Of Grantism it was the
habit OF Congress to appropriate a GER
tain sum to refit the White house at the
advent of a new President every fourth
year. The injured furniture and fittings
were sold, and formed part of the sum
for this object. But all this was changed
with Grant. Soon the appropriation for
furniture became an annual item, fol-
lowed by another for repairs of the White
house, and by another for the grounds of
Executive mansion.
Hundreds of thousands were drawn
from the treasury for these objects; and
the belief at the time was, and now is,
by those who have given attention to the
subject, that a large part of this money
was stolen outright. The iSun frequent
ly called attention to the appropriations
when exposing the shameful extrava-
gance in the grants for the White house
and its surroundings, but without prac-
tical benefit.
serves his place in the army, notwith-
standing all the exposures of his corrup-
tion was then in power All this money
passed through his hands, which were
never clean; and if the vouchers had been
scrutinized when the facts were fresh,
and the witnesses were on the spot, they
would probably have turned out as those
of Howgate have now done But he was
protected by the President, and the Off
cials who should have scrutlnized his
accounts were the foremost to smooth
over all irregularities"
When Paymaster Hodge stole $4O0, 600
and was sent to the penitentiary, family
and official influence interceded for his
liberation. He could not be expected to
associate with vulgar criminals, nor be
subjected to the discipline of vulgar
small thieves, some of whom were driven
to crime, perhaps, by want of bread.
Hodge was an officer of the army, and
was supposed to be gentleman. He must
be treated as SUCH
But he had been ''misled into specula-
tions," and had "overdrawn his account
when dazed by losses" Ingenious and
easy going, artful brokers in Wall street
had thrown their nets around him
and caught a fresh victim. These
stories and pathetic appeals succeeded
Grant pardoned him, and Hodge returned
to the scene of his financial exploits to
enjoy the investments made for him by
confederate, well known as a successful
member of the Washington ring.
Babcock, Hodge and Hewgate are only
illustrations of the rotten system by which
the government has been carried on, and
which scatters broadcast invitations to
plunder that are always promptly accept
ed. Hence the whole public service is
demoralized, and no real reform is posi-
BILE without change which will cut up
this system by the roots