The Evening critic., 1882-05-24
STUPID, SELFISH, OR CORRUPT
MIR. Cannon's Little scheme 10 Pro-
NitIr IA Ericnd n Soft Place.

MIR. Cannon's Little scheme TO Pro-
vide n Friend n Soft Place.
Representative Cannon, Of Illinois, has
grated on to the Legislative and Executive
Appropriation bill provision for another
division connected with the business OF tho
Postofllce Department. 1t is almost unncces.
sary TO say that there is a motive boneath the
surface for this addition to tho expense OF that
special service. Some time last summer n
favorite friend of Mr.. Cannon's was fired out
of the Postofnce Department, and by this pro-
cess Mr.. Cannon proposes TO fire him In again.
This ia tho scheme. But 1t must have plaus-
ible excuse, and this is the point proposed to
be discussed Mr.. Cannon in favoring tho
measure has taken occasion to characterize
the Inspection Division OF the Postonicc De-
partment as
A Nest Of Corruption
and incompetency. This sort of cheap BON.
bast seems 10 take with members, and as the
victims have no chance to reply, 1t is perfectly
Ifthe Inspection Division, or the Second AS
sistant PostmnsterGeneral, who has charge of
It, had the nerve OF white rabbit, he would
not put up with such ilnputations. But he has
not, and besides, he does not understand the
workings OF his ewn ofllce. It's too bad, but
it's true.
This by way Of parenthesis. Now the In
spection Division OF the Contract ONCE 'ln-
spects" mail service. This is done through
the reports of postmasters along the mail
routes, who note how service is done and re-
port regularly to tho Inspection Division. II 1t
is well performed a certificate is given by the
Inspection Division to the Sixth Auditor, who
thereupon pays the contractor. 1t will thus
be seen that the Second Assistant Postmaster
General, who has the power to make contracts
for mail service, also exercises through this
division tho right to pay contractors. This,
under any circumstances, Is
A Dangerous Privilege
to intrust to an Official, and is not permitted
TO any other ofllcer under the government.
to this difllculty, and similar method has been
suggested for its correction, which is to put the
Inspection Division under the charge OF some
This would be a complete check without
incurring expense or changes OF official
methods. But this would not answer
Mr.. Cannon's purpose. To provide
for a dismissed chief OF division a
section OF the law has been tortured to make
1t appear that the Sixth Auditor must have an
other division to do over again, exactly what
the Inspection Division Of the Postof1ice Do
partment already does, and this Will require
the employment of chief of division and
But 1t may be held that the Auditor Is re.
quired and should "check" tho business OF
the Second Assistant PostmasterGeneral to
see that the service for which he pays is done.
Let the proposition be granted, how will II
stand The postmasters make the original
reports of mail service and can only furnish
duplicates. This will add to their labors, but
the ''duplicate" will add no value to the origi
nal reports. If the Auditor could see these
(the originally he would have all the informa
tion possible to obtain. There is no reason
why he cannot SEQ them II he wants to under
A Mutual Understanding
between the officers. Any one who appre
ciates the business Of this branch Of the mai
service will know that two of1lcials asking tn,
same reports from the Same source will
never get them to agree In the world
The slightest neglect or carelessness on tn
part OF any OF the, say 10000 postmasters
| Will cause a variation, which, multiplied as |
would be under such IA system, would post
pone settlements to the time when all thing;
| are made even. There is yet time for Cor
| gress TO hear from experienced and faith
| ful clerks as to the absurdity of Cannon
| scheme.