The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-08-22
WASHINGTON LETTRR
From our regular Correspondent.)
WAsnlNorov, Aug. end, 1854.


nation governed best IL tho one that
Is least governed, then the American
people stand to-day on the pinnacle
of Governments! perfection. Neither
the President, tho Vice President, nor
any Member of the Cabinet, except
the Secretary of War, Is In Washing
ton at the present writing. Still the
Government does not seem to suffer
the least disadvantage from their alb
sence. Routine business runs It's we'll
worn grooves as usual, and tho
even tenor OF Departmental life Is
only varied when tho thIevlng OF
some Government official comes to
light.
And this reminds mo OF tho inves-
tlgation OF the Navy frauds now In
progress. and also Of the fact that
despite the boasts OF honest dIsburse-
ments, there are no means In uso Ia
any Of tae Departments by which
frauds can be- detected In their inclp-
iency. When q voucher represents
lawful expenditure, Il Is deemed
correct. Whether or not such expen-
diture was actually made Is not known.
But II Is known that many OF the most
honest looking vouchers sent In for
auditing and daily passed because du-
ly certified, represent purchases that
have not been made, labor that has
been diverted TO private benefir,
and material that has been stolen.
II Is only when some laundering de-.
llniquent falls Ia "Doctoring"accounts
that tho country gets hint Of The
possibilities Of the situation. There
are thousands OF citizens residing ln
the Capital city, who have knowledge
Of more petty frauIs Of .hIs kind then
have ever been dreamed of by tho
outside world. There are costly res
licences here that were erected by
such methods, by using labor and ma
terial belonging TO the Government.
Ant; among the most expensive pieces
Of furniture In some OF these residen-
ees are beautiful articles made at pub
lie expense.
How many ll,ons have been
stolen In this way during tho last
twenty years Of Republican Admin
istratlon, no man knows, nor Is there
any way ofdetermining. But tho sys.
tenn has worked long enough. Il Is
high time that this class Of thieves, and
also that class which Junkets annual
ly at the expense OF the Treasury, as
IL Is now doing, should leave at the
same tlme. They will leave howev-
er, only under a Reform Adminis,ra-
ton.
Republican officials here still have
their heads tsgether In an effort TO
find out just how they can extract
"voluntary contributions from the
Government clerks without violating
the Civil Service law, and no doubt
they viii devise some plan. The COM
mItiee appointed TO collect campaign
funds from Government employees
have fitted up room for their pur-
poses on New York Avenue. The
waits are decked with gay b anners,
portraits OF Blaine & Logan, and green
and white Plumes here and there.
The furnIlurc, at present. consists OF
desk, counter, a water cooler, and
q male attendant. A special circular
appeal to Government clerks has been
prepared, and Is being distributed
among them.
Included In the campaign literature
sent out by the Republicans Is q
speech by Represenativ" Brewer,
which contains James G.. Blaines dis
cusslon of The Tariff question. This,
1t will be remembered, refers to
large portion Of Blaines book, artfully
worked into the Congressional Record
80 that IL could be sent free through
ought the country by franking.
ThtIDemocratic headquarters have
been opened formally here, and CAM
paign work has begun actively. Piles
OF letters lie upon the desks, and Wis
itors crowd the rooms, occupying
themselves In discussing the political
situation in different localities.
Senator German, Mr.. Randall, and
other Members of tho Democratic
campaign committee have arrived
Operations here will be largely under
tho direction from the headquarters
in New York.