Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-16
MALONE
And the Administration Called to Ac-
count by Ex-Congressman pezeR-
dorf, OF Virginia, in an
Open Letter to President Arthur, in
Which He Lays Bare the Manipu-
lation Of Federal Offices.

WASHINGTON, May 13.-Ex Congressman
Dezeudorf, OF Virginia, last night sent an
open letter 10 the President, in which he at
tscks the Malone management-of politics in
Virginia. He says in the letter that there
have been gross violations of the United
States lava and of the regulations governing
the civil service OF the various departments
OF the government. At Norfolk, Va, and IN
the navy yard at that 81 alton, he says that al
no time in the history Of politics in Virginia
as the open and shameful violation of law
I'D decency been 30 fragrant, as since the
advent, with the unwarranted political power
granted him by the administration of Sena-
tor Malone. Public Office is made the SUBJ
iect Of barter and sale for the control of
power. 10 every section of Virginia the
public business is neglected and the public
money is used to pay political cauvsssers, in
order that the political schemes Of Senator
Malone may be advanced. All this ia done
under guise for friendship for the admins
tratlop, which plea receives Endorsement
from the fact that since the present admins
tration came into power, Malone has been
the role dispenser of the Federal patronage
Of the State, and applies the headmsn's az
as unspsringly as did Robespierre in the
days of the French Revolution.
Mr.. Dezendof goes on to say that he has
addressed letters to several Of the members
OF the Cabinet, in which he calls attention to
numerous violations OF law and Irregular
ties in Virginia, which come under their su-
pervision. He makes particular mention OF
the great cost of repairing the Pinta. gov
errment tug at the Norfolk navy-yard. He
says the cost OF repairing this vessel was over
100000 becsuse men were borne upon the
rolls who did political work, and who for
weeks at time were not in the Norfolk
yard. He points out that on the 24th of this
month an election takes place in the county
in which the navy-yard il located, and tn at
the entire set of Federal officials of the couu-
ty are under Mshone's instructions, using
their power and influence TO beat the Repub.
lican candidates.
Mr.. Dezendorf charges that the postmas-
ter at Norfolk and his chief deputy pay no
attention to the duties of the office, but de-
vote their whole time to political work for
Malone and this, too, notwithstanding the
fact that the business men of the city have
united in petilioning the Postm aster-G Cen
eral 10 correct the evils relating to the office
from which they suffer-
Mr.. Dszendorf takes up the customhouse,
and the Office Of the Internal Revenue col
lector, and the navy yard at Norfolk, one
after the other, and alleges with regard to
all OF them that they are corruptly m managed,
and that the officials in charge of them are
absent the best part of the time; that the
most disgraceful efforts at bribery are made,
and that the entire service at Norfolk is
rotten to the core. Before Malone became
the "boss" in Virginia, Dezsndorf says that
bribery IN elections was unknown; now it is
a very common thing. In order to raise a
corruption fund for the election in Norfolk
county this month the Federal officials have
been assessed two per cent. on their salaries
The letter ia very lengthy, and hits the Pres
ident some pretty hard raps. There seems
to be a solid determination on the part of
the leaders Of the straightout Republicans
in Virginia TO destroy Malone as a 'boss"
and break down the Readjuster party.
There is talk TO the effect that Dezendorfs
letters to the President, Secretaries Folger,
Chandler and Gresham may be the begin.
ming OF war on Malone that will end in
breaking the alliance now existing between
Malone and the administration. 1t is well
known that the Republican Senators, or 5
majority of them, have no love for Malone,
and would be glad Of almost any arrange
ment that would take from him the balance
of power which he holds in the Senate.
Malone, it is said, is determined to make
George @. Gorham secretary of the Senate.
A number of Republican senators are hos
tile TO Gorham, and it is among the posi-
bilities that come SORT of an arrangement
will be effected when Congress meets, by
which the officers OF the Senate will be
divided between the two parties, and Malone
and his candidates left out in the cold.