Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-19
THE CUSTOM HOUSE WAR.
ssReform" Again Calls Upon the Post
master 90 Speak.

master TO speak.
To The Editor Of The Register.
WHEELING, January 1s.-Not long ago,
certain changes and new furniture were
desired by the Postmaster OF this city In
the portion OF the Custom House building
occupied by him. The government re-
auires all such expenditures to be made
according to certain estimates. An esti-
mate was approved, but was departed from.
No intimation of this was given by the
Postmaster, and when the bills were pre-
sented for payment they were Identical
with the estimate This has been set forth
more az length in an article signed "Fair
Play" which appeared in your paper about
a week ago.
Since that period, the writer has carefully
examined the bills referred TO, and finds
tkey are not the same. He therefore
charges the facts distinctly and explicitly.
They call for explanation; and although
this matter has been shown up before, Col.
Sterling has not seen fit TO deny the
truth of the allegation. While calling at
tention to this inferential admission
and demanding an explanation of his con-
duct in thus obtaining or aiding to obtain
the payment of false bills, the writer, in
order that the public may judge correctly
and intelligently OF the gravity
of the. etiense, desires 70 call atten.
ton to the law as found in the revised
statutes, section 5,43S. 1t reads as follows:
Every person who makes or causes to
be made, or presents or causes to be pre-
scented, for payment or approval, to or by
any person or officer in the civil
military or naval service OF the
United States, any claim upon or against
the government OF the United States, or
any department or officer thereof, knowing
such claim to be false, fictitious or fraudu-
lent, or who, for the purpose OF obtaining
or aiding TO obtain the payment or approval
of such claim, makes uses, or causes To be
made or used, any false bill, receipt,
voucher, roll, account, claim, certificate,
affidavit, or deposition, knowing the same
TO contain any fraudulent or fictitious state
ment or entry shall
be imprisoned at hard labor for not less
than five years. or fined not less than one
thousand nor more than five thousand
dollars"
In addition to this punishment there is
forfeiture declared by section 1890 of two
Thousand dollars for every violation or sec
tion 543S.
Section 249l allows any person to have
the accused arrested and tried.
Section 1892 makes 1t the duty OF the
several district attorneys of the United
States to be diligent in inquiry into any
such offense, and cause the offender to be
proceeded against in due form of law.
Now. in view of all this, what are we to
think, what arc we to say? Here are GER
tain facts alleged and not denied. These
facts, if true, constitute the otiense covered
by the law set forth. Should not then the
law be enforced?
Itwould be unkind as well as ungenerous
to take Col. Sterling's guilt for granted. 1t
would be unjust to the law and unjust to
II IL 70 in a &
picious circumstance. 1t is not nature to
hermit attack and not repel. 1t iSnot nature
foreman silent under accusation, with the
knowledge that there will be sure and
swift condemnation. 1t is not nature to
walk abroad with the brand of infamy upon
ones brow when q word will lift
the veil and save from everlasting shame.
Men value their homes and their honor too
much for this. What said the guilty Cain
when brought before his righteCusly indig-
nant God? Did he justify himself-did he
try to? All, no; he kept silent. And what
has this man now before us done when
called up before an indignant people? Has
he justified himself-has he tried to? All,
no; he too has kept silent.
do not mean to draw any invid0us COM
parison between the guilt OF Cain and the
Seeming guilt of Col. Sterling. | do not
mean To say that the one degree Of Grimm
ality in any way suggests the other Bat
this do mean 10 say that it has been hui
man nature from the time OF Cain down
TO the present day for guilty man TO keep
silent as TO that with which he is charged.
If, then, Col. Sterling is innocent, let
him speak, for there may Yet be time.
The majesty of the law has been offend
ed. Honesty has once more found its
grave The same old story is again repeat
4 a. rl,Nr., in
sitiOns SO weak? Why are we called on to
witness another trayesty upon public SER
vice? Why are not men in position careful
to avoid suspicion and evil report in the
administration and conduct of their affairs?
Why do they seek devious paths?
Our public service civil and judicial, is
responsible. The appgcheIs On and expo
sure of guilty men, and the deserved inliic-
ton of punishment are too much regulated
by influence. 1t has come to pass that
r0gues and rascalS are protected. Those
stay the longest in official position who
have the most friends and the most inlu-
cnce. While it has appeared in more than
one instance that the most Consummate
and astounding knavcry and triCkcry com
manded the greatest following and Sympa-
Thy.
This should not lie so with us. We as
citizens should require u striC. account.
And whatever our finding in the present
case may be, it should 90 abroad and be
cast rs leavcn upon the whole land that
our Union is not 10 be served by men 70
whose face the proof of dishonest actions
brings no blush of shame, to. whose lips
rises no triumphant yindiCation, or from
whose heart comes no manly confession or
evidence of all hum9 Ie and acontrIte spirit.
Reform.