Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-02
UrIrgD STATES MA RsHALs..
Severely Arrasgned by tine Majority
0f the Ham ODmmittee.

wAsHINoros, Sept 30--During the
last session OF Congress the committee on
expenditures Ia the department OF Justice
examined large number OF witnesses
relative to the charges against the gov
eminent by Uaited States mArshals,
United States supervisors Of election and
other ficers appointed by or connected
with the department Of Justics.
report based upon the teaiimopy |
taken has been made for submission to |
the House of Representatives upon |
the Resembling OF Congress-. II
Is signed by tho Democratic mem
bers OF the committee. The Republican
members will submit minority report.
In making an observation on tho appoint
meut Of United States I'll ,ials, the reports
says:
"a sire sm never rises above its souros,
and as long as those who possess tne
power OF appointing these ofioers have
| no appreciation Of the true dignity OF
tho public service aud regard the
III lea only ss rewards to be bestowed
upon their most upsorupulOus political
allies, there ia not much reason TO hope
for any great Improvement In the char
aoter OF our appointed ctticials."
The report contit ues THE committee
has not been able to examine all OF the
/ officials OF the class named nor does II
suppose that all the fraudulent and
wicked practices have been discovered,
even In those portions Of the country
where the Offices have been investi-
gated. Enough has been developed how
sver, to give very good Idea
as TO the general character OF the officers
appointed and Of their mode of conduct
Ing the public business. The testimony
before the committee clearly shows that
utter inefficienoy and criminal practices
have prevailed In many parts
Of this branch OF the public
service for many years past and that the
government has been heavy loser
thereby. There ia q sameness 90 also q
variety in the testimony. The invsstiga
tion reveals the wonderful uuanimity
with which these officers Of almost
every grade, and In the several por-
tions Of the country have plundered
the public treasury by false, fraudulent
and fictitious charges, and yet the variety
In the ways aud means by which they
have worked their schemes is equally
curious, and shows that they
have taxed their ingenuity TO
the utmost to find modes Of
accomplishing the one unhallowed pur-
pose OF getting money they were not en-
titled TO- They have charged for arrests
that were not made; for travel that was
not performed; for expenses that were
not incurred; for guards that were moi
emplt yed. They knowingly rendered false
! accounts against the government; misap
propriated public funds; became default
ers to the government and to the courts
) increased accounts after they were mad,
, up; made up accounts In the name Of ficti
tious persons; arrested persons upon falls
9 charges worked up by the nselves
D extorted money from private citizens
9 and In waye without number hRv
o swindled the government and oppreese,
the people,"
y The late marshaI OF South Carolina
charged with illegal acts during an in
9 oumbenoy OF IL or IS months. It.
l. charged that he made report
}, to the government Of only abou
Il one fifth Of the fees and cor
10 missions earned by him In sevel
d GASES, and that he presented for paymer
g. accounts Of deputy marshals when b
81 and 6otitioos items.
1
8. tiop," the report continues, "As exhibi
ing the ingenuity Of the officers In eva
h. ing the law, and the shameful prostitl
n n tion OF the pewerH Of their office for III
ax worthy ends. Frivolous and vex
NJ tious prosecutions had been
no common that an effort was made
- stop It, and an order was Issued that |
n United States commissioners should iss'
/ - tt, f,ta
n cases without an affidavit from an
II ternal revenue officer that
~ examined the case, and th
n prosecution should be had. In O1der
svade this, the deputy marshals seour
'at be able to make the affidavit require,
~ then worked up as deputy marshal sign
70, the affidavit as deputy collector aud |
IN cured the warrant as depu
w. marshal, in this way completely multi
10, the citizen. Many warrants OF this CHI
no scter were signed In blank, the blanks
p, be filled by inserting the names Of
ler persons thereafter to be discovered a
me arrested for the alleged offsnses. O
rs man who was = special deputy marsh
my special deputy collector q
had 80 of these warrants sign
in blank. Armed with these he was p
pared to arrest any person he might
icy fit upon any charge imaginable in VIC
tion Of the revenue laws.
.rs. would be difaoult to dew
, az scheme by which mere 90
Ion pletely to nullify the plain rule Ii
God down for the guidance OF these offiois
ned nor one in which the dearest rights
al the people could be more thorough
18th trampled under foot.
Ialf "The testimony shows that ofths del
,sIs ties appointed and employed by I
.es, marshal in South Carolina the accom-
the Of fully one half have tesn examin
uly and there was not one without flaw, q
In the majority OF cases there was an
has solute Dishonesty. The result of the
and vestigation of the late marshal's offc
this actings and doings show that in abb
the one year and a.half $3.50 Of NOR
advanced him by the government col
ing not be accounted for and the excess
and illegal fees charged amounted
rere 90 524 making a total deficiency OF Gil q
2 sin the western district of North Ca
;.h, lima, the testimony, while not develop
led. such elaring faults, certainly show q
ked Mr.. Robert NJ. Douglas as marshal q
ex- some OF his deputies have run til
offices with the view OF making th
ay. pay all that was possible. During
one months OF the year 1881 one United Sta
ion. commissioner issued In single ooui
"a warrants against persons rssid
the within q radius of 80 miles all nj
end the affidavit Of two deputy
oks lectors who made them at
rom solicitation Of the commissioner and
ex- deputy marshal. OF these defendants,
aau were discharged, Ave tried before
on commissioner and only 26 sent to CO.
,ap- as the result OF the operate
Mr., of the commissioner for six months.
of one county there was q cost to the q
i to eminent OF "a, 276 without furthsring
red any degree the administration OF just
els. An examination of the accounts of /
and deputy marshals reveal that at least
ked pei cent OF them were fraudulent"
t3ey o. +. Fitzsimmons, ex-marshal
loss Georgia, is charged with illegally
row tanning and retaining $23, 900 includi
$11, 800 "unjustly withheld for his del
/ Of ties and appropriated to his own use
the Many other accounts show equal crook
a a ness.