The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-07-05
The Thieves at Washington.
Econ the Mem York Sun.

| From the NetO York San.
WASHINGTON: June 29.-After the horse has
been stolen, great activity is exhibited at
Washington in double locking the stable door.
This is the official method of doing business.
The Senate Committee on Expenditures Of
Public Money, headed by Mr.. Wilson, OF
Iowa, one of the Credit Mobilier statesmen,
is now engaged in sham investigation OF the
recently discovered frauds in the Navy De-
partment. ~ ~
The resolutions for this inquiry are nothing
but the tricks of politicians, and they will de-
ceive nobody. Senator Hale, who offered the
original resolution, said: ''Some new plan
ought to be adopted in all the departments in
| reference to the purchases here in Washing
| ton. | became convinced of that In an inves-
| tigation that l took part in two years ago. +"
! Although he was possessed of this knowledge,
and convinced that the methods I'm all the
departments were wrong and ought to be
superseded by ''new plan," Mr.. Hale re-
manned silent and never suggested a change
of any kind during these years. According to
criminal practices, and he is, therefore, NOR
ally responsible in part for the stealings and
frauds that have now come to light.
II is not the system of purchases nor the
mode of bookkeeping that is responsible for
these robberies, nor for the rascalities that
preceded them since the close of the civil war
The public service is demoralized and rotten
throughout. The honest men employed in it
are utterly powerless for good. They are
only spokes in a great official wheel which
revolves without their aid or their consent.
Mr.. Chandler, who set the ball in motion to
steal the Presidency in 1876, processes much
zeal in ferreting out the thievery in his de-
partment. He denounces it with severe ad-
Rnf tho Saaratory Of tho NAVY for
gets that his own example, and that of his
colleagues, and that of their Republican pre-
decessors have given positive encouragement
to the thieves.
When Mr.. Chandler organizes a pleasure
party for Fortress Monroe, Mount Vernon,
Philadelphia, New York, or Boston, he orders
the Tallapoosa or the Despatch, both register
ed ships of war, to transport his friends to
their destination. The cost of these excur-
sions is charged to the Treasury, and is paid
by the taxpayers. This charge is as great a
fraud as that perpetrated by the clerks who
are now so sharply pursued by the Secretary.
Members of the Cabinet openly use car
riages for their families that are paid for by
the Treasury. Messengers on the pay roll
figure as servants at their dinners and recep
tions. The Commissary Department furnishes
them with supplies at nominal prices. The
Botanic Garden, the Agricultural Department,
and the nursery and green houses under the
charge of Col. Rockwell provide them with
costly flowers and plants at the expense of
the taxpayers. They receive free passes on
the railroads and use the telegraph without
expense.
When the President, the Secretary of War,
the General of the Army, and their guests
visit the Yellowstone Park, horses, mules,
ambulances, and the best supplies from the
frontier forts, together with guards and guides,
are drawn from the army appropriations and
applied to their personal uses. Again the
Treasury foots the bill.
The heads ofbureaus the chiefs of divisions,
the disbursing officers, and others in authori-
ty, claim their privileges and perquisites.
They, too, must have carriages and servants
at the public expense. The subordinates in
the departments improve their opportunities.
In the general race for plumber, the profess
sional civil service reformers, who publish
documents on the necessity of publication,
get well to the 'front.' Jobbery, collision,
prodigality, corruption, knavery permeate the
public service. Greed of gain is the absorb
ing passion, regardless of the means by which
money may be procured, or the manner in
which the Government may be cheated.
This foul system has been going on and grow
ing for half generation, until it has corrupt
ed our social life, and polluted the currents of
business. Enormous as have been the rob.
berries discovered during the long period of
Republican rule, their full extent will never
be known until the books pass into other
hands. Our politics have reached condi-
ton when heroic treatment alone can do the
work of reform.