South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-03-31
Letter from WASHINGTON.
tFron oar Regular corr,,pondea.l
WAsHrNsroN, d. c., March 81

Since the report of the Senate i'm
vestigating committee there are few
even among the party associates of
Senator Sherman who longer accept
his denials and protestations OF inno-
cence III connection with the Treasu-
ry contingent fund while he was the
head OF that Department. On the
contrary, all the assertions which
were made through the newspapers
IN connection with the investigation,
aud which were calculated at least to
dim the brightness OF his official rep
utation, turn out to be undisputed
facts. The stationery for the Sher-
man bureau was supplied by contrac.
tors for the Treasury and was, by
means of false and fraudulent bills
and vouchers, paid out of the public
money. The rooms occupied by the
bureau were fitted out with gas-fix-
lures in the same way. Dranghtsmen
tradesmen, and laborers in the en-
pioymcnt OF the Government were Gu
gagged for part of their time in the pri-
vate service Of Mr.. Sherman in and
about his dwelling house. stables, and
other constructions in which he was
pcrS onally interested, and these men
were paid, not by himself, but by the
Government. 1t is rather lame en-
cuse for Mr.. Sherman to allegc in
his defence that he was not aware OF
these irregularities. Such explains
tons are entirely unsatisfactory. And
the inevitable impression left by 4
perusal OF the report Of the committee
is, first, that there is no proper systera
of checks by which fraud in the ex-
penditure OF the contingent funds OF
the Departments can be prevented or
discovered and second, that, as Il
rule, the high officials Of this govern
ment are not influenced by that deli
cate sense ofpcrsonal honor and hon
esty which would keep their reputa,
ton untarnishcd, so that even the
breath OF calumny could not dim it,
John Sherman entered the service OF
the Government several years ago a
poor man. During a greater part Of
the time his salary has been bat $5,-
600 per year, and he has lived III u
style costing fully that much, yet to-
day he is worth probably two millions
Comment is Unnecessary.
Everything is still III Il state Of un-
certainty concerning the outcome OF
tie starroutc prosecutions, but Il good
many observant people begin to thinl;
they smell Il mice. There is every
now and then Il fresh assertion or the
pant OF the prosecutors that the cases
are to be pushed vigorously, but this
has ceased TO deceive anybody There
is not much faith in Coli George
Bliss, the Presidents friend, nov in
charge orthe cases, ana n0twithstand-
ing the fact that few indictments
were found, sometime ago, II Is Il
pretty safe calculation that 40 harm
will ever come to Brady and Dorsey
at the hands OF the present Admins,
traton. Or course there must be q
show Of doing something, and the
cases may actually be brought 10 thai,
but that Will be the end Of it, No
body Will be hurt unless il IS some Of
the small fry who were merely the
tools and who didn't get much Of the
swag. Gibson, Cook, and all the ori.
ginul instruments under McVcagh
who were thoroughly IN earnest, have
been frozen out. Col. Cook was re-
g..rded as the strongest practical at
tOruey in the ease because OF bis aUil-
ity and thorough familiarity with the
criminal law practice here, the aver
age Washington jury, and tue local
court procedure. But lie has been
forced to retire, and the ring are iubi-
liant. How cheerf1lly they now car
~ Themselves may be Judged from
the fact that Brady dimes III Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury and several
Congressman, and eS Senator Dorsey
blithely HES him away to his ranges
in New Mexico to grow up with his
cattle.
1t seems that the attempt to sup
press the items of expense incurred
for tie Garfield funeral on the part
of the House OF Representatives has
not succeeded. Two reports, one in
lump, another in items, are likely to
be thc consequence. Claims have been
audited amounting to over $4,000,
while bills 10 more than an equal q.
mount are unadiustcd. One item of
expense is 81 ,7OO for liquors. wines,
and lunches Mt WormIcy's, $500 be-
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