Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-18
CAPTAIN HOwGATE's FLIGHT,

some REFLECTIONS OF A PROMINENT CITIZEN RE-
GaRDING 1.-THE GREAT TEMPTATIONS TO
WHICH OFFICIALS ARE sUBJEcTED-THE DE-
MANDS UPON A CONGREsSMAN-A PROOF OF
PRESIDENT GARFIELD's INTEGRITY.
The disappearance of Captain HOwgate has
naturally been the prevailing topic of converse
ton In all circles. 1t is the town talk, and will
Continue to be the uppermost subject in the
pubic mind until, in the hurrying current of
events, something else Is brought to the surface
ana the mystery of Howgate will glide into OBJ
lVion Naturally, therefore, when STAR re-
porter yesterday fell into conversation with a
prominent citizen and well-known business man
the engrossing topic of the hour was introduced.
Alter the usual inquiries and surmises had been
made on each side the conversation dfifted into
a train OF thought which the prominent features
OF the HOwgate case naturally suggested The
gentleman said that 1t was very difficult to con-
vict anyone that had appropriated government
money. No one felt that the matter was Of any
personal interest," as no one had suffered directly
for the culprt's malfeaSance. Besides, the guilty
persons were generally well connected and in
all their personal dealings had been generous
and were warmly regarded. He remembered
tiat some wit had suggested q few years ago
that the fifth commandment ought to be changed
so az TO read: Thou shalt not steal-except
from the government"
NECESSARY AMENDMENT.
ut seems to me-" he continued. that this
amendment is very necessary one and is, in
fact, the only thing that would vindicate the
honesty and integrity of large proportion of
our public officials and their families In some
way there seems to be a bluntness of the moral
perceptions when the property of the govern
L 6nn't hot 81
these honorable and reputable people that come
here from all parts OF the country and accept
office under the government have any inten-
tlon OF doing wrong, but at the same time the
stress OF circumstances and the ever present on
portunity finds few that are able to resist. Now
don't see. for my part, what right government
OnicialS have to make use of the horses and
carriages purchased with the public money for
Their private business and pleasure. and that of
their families. The entire eQuipare is not ONLY
owned by the government. but driven and cared
Tor by government employees. But to all intents
and purposes it is a private establishment and
used by the official and his family as SUCH They
make their calls, do their shopping, go to the
market and drive out for pleasure and health in
these government eguipages. They are. i'm fact
private carriages. except that they are neither
purchased by nor kept up by their owners"
''Oh! Well everybody does it. 1t is custom
ary," interjected the reporter
''Of course il is customary, but it Is not RIGHT
The habit of getting things and letting other
people pay for them is rather dangerous one
especially when there are no limits except in the
discretion of the recipient. You see their car
rage custom leads to other customs The ser
wants In the private houses of Government Off
Gals are many of them on the rolls of the de-
partments The flowers that adorn their houses
are from government cOnseryatQries and many
things that would entail a personal expense are
done by government emplOyeswit government
time and material. Now you see all this nat
urally creates laxness about property and
confusion OF ideas as to nae1,H and t,tuns."
AN HONEST MANS EMBARRASSMENT
"I0u can perceive" continued the citizen
who had fully revealed himself as an old fOgy on
this subject, 'that there is condition of things
here which makes it almost impossible for even
an honest man to keep himself clear from the
prevailing customs. The suDordinates In the
government are more or less dependent upon
the favor OF their chiefs for the security of their
positions When request Is made, coming
from the head of the department. that a
certain thing should be done, even if false
voucher has to be prepared the subordinate will
prepare such voucher and sign it rather than
dis0bey their chief and run the risk of dis
mlssal. That Is perfectly natural. man must
LOOK out for himself Now in some cases when
the division of the public funds has been fla
grant an investigation is ordered, and the SUBJ
Ordinates being found guilty Of passing false
vouchers. are dismissed. while the chief who
prohted from the act and in fact caused it to be
done Is not Injured. These statements applies
to members of Congress as well as government
officials. At both ends of the avenue the public
money Is used for private purposes and public
custom has endorsed the fraud. Now what is
the cause of this? Why is it that honest and
reputable men lend themselves to such disrepu-
table practices?"
Swell, T" said the reporter who was now con-
WINGED that this man was dangerous innOvator
upon established customs, 81 don't know" and
ne was going to add that he didn't care, but re-
Trained.
THE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS OF OFFICIALS.
Il will tell you the cause" said the cit
izen. "The men who fill these positions
have not the means to support themselves
and their families in the style they think
they ought to live. The salary is not suf-
icient to enable them to live in style, and
they resort to such methods to exc It out
occupy prominent positions and adopt such
means to add to their accumulated savings
They are mean and dishonest enough to get
wealthy In office. But they are the exceptions
Now, take my own case; I have a family and
own my own house and live as economically as I
can. and yet my actual living expenses are
1900 year. / can't live on less. Now look at
the case OF member of Congress. He gets
$40 600 for two years, and ont Of this he has to
pay his election expenses and the other ex-
penSes inci0ent 70 MS position, such as cOntri-
buttons, &C., and at the same time keep ND q
proper establishment here for his family. Unless
man has private means he cannot begin to do
this on the $4,000. How much Is left in the
maj ority Of cases after he has paid his election
expenses? 1t Is evident that such a man Is ex-
posed to great temptation, and must exercise
great self-denial If he would live and be honest.
1t Is my drm belief that II the proposition made
some years ago that the legislature Of each state
be required to erect house In this city for each
OF their Senators and Representatives had been
carried out it would have resulted in the saving
OF millions of dollars to our government. Our
legislations would have been cleaner. and public
morals at a lOftier standard. The strongest
proof, In my mind, Of the honesty and purity of
Garields political career is the fact that he lived
and died poor man. 1t Is not generally
known than when the republican committee
went to Mentor to see him after his nomination.
they were surprised to find how he was living.
and tkax lad *.