The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-02
CORRUPTION.
WHAT THE CONGRESSIONAL COM
MITTEE FOUND BY DELVING
IN THE DRY BONES.
Investigating Affairs of U. s.
Marshals, Charged With
Much CrOOkedness.
Three Instances Cited-AmOng
Them That of Still Rus
sell, Of Texas.
An Illinois Case Mentioned
Alleged Sharp Pre- 2ctices
Among WLarshaIs.
Crave CHARGES.
report of the Democrats of the Springer
Committee on United States Mar
oh r, MT


most INSCRIPTIONS political allies
there is not much reason to hope fol
any great Improvement in the charac
ter of our appointed officers"
The testimony before the committed
clearly shows that utter inefficiency
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 is sameness, as
also variety in the testimony. The
investigation reveals the wonderful
unanimity with which these Off
GERS committed almost every
fraud, and in several portions
of the country have plundered the
public treasury by false, fraudulent
and fictitious charges, and yet the
variety in the ways and means by
which they have worked their schemes
is equally curious and shows they have
taxed their ingenuity to the utmost to
find modes for accomplishing the one
unhallowed getting money
they were not entitled to. They charged
for arrests not made; for travel not
performed; for expenses not incurred:
for guards not employed, and they
knowingly rendered false accounts
against the government: misappropri-
ated funds; became defaulters to the
government and the courts; increased
their accounts after they were made
up; made accounts in the name of
fictitious persons; arrested persons
upon false charges, worked up by
themselves; extorted money from
private citizens; and, in ways without
number, have swindled the govern
ment and oppre ssed the people.
Probably the most remarkable case
of this way of rewarding bad char
acters, was that of Judge Conger, for
merly associate judge of the territory
OF Montana. Charges of such seri-
GUS nature, well-known to the public,
were made against him that he was
suspended from office. There were
two petitions forwarded the president
in connection with this matter. One
asking for the retirement of the judge
was signed by PIG citizens represent
ing 70 per cent. of the taxable prop
eTty of Gallatin county another asking
for his restoration to the bench was
signed by fifty-nine persons, of whom
nine were then under Indictment
in coMt for fraud, and one
for withholding county records.
who had been several times arrested
for larceny; another was being then
and the remainder of the fifty-nine
were saloon keepers and gamblers at
Miles City.
In the face of these facts the presi-
dent of the United States, IN the eXer-
else of the functions OF the high Office
held by him, deemed it his duty to the
people of this great country to restore
Judge Conger to the bench.
The report recommends the abolit-
ion of the corrupting fees system and
the fixing of definite salaries for
U uited States district attorneys and
marshals, and closes with the state
ment that Investigations have diScloS-
ed a wanton waste Of public reve-
nues and criminal disregard Of the
rights and safeguards Of the people.
Numerous illegal acts are cited on
the part of marshalS in the southern
states in proof of the above charges,
and the report calls special attention
to the practices exhibiting the ingenu-
ity of the officers in evading the law
and the shameful prostitution of the
powers of their office for unworthy
ends. Frevolous veXations had
been so common that an order was
made to stop it, and was issued, that
no United States commissioner should
issue warrant of arrest in internal
revenue cases without an affidavit
from an interval revenue officer that
he had examined the case, and that the
oh a
to evade this the deputy marshals
secured the appointments as re-
venue officers, so as to be
able to make the official affi,
davit required. They then worked
up the case, as the deputy marshal
signed the affidavits as deputy collect
ors, and then served the warrants as
deputy marshals, in this way COM
pletely nullifying the order made for
the protection of citizens. 1t would
be difficult to devise a scheme by
which the dearest rights of citizens
could be more thoroughly trampled
under foot.
Continuing, the report says: "Tht
testimony shows that Stillwell II
| Russell as marshal of the western
district of Texas, so managed affairs
in his Office that, in about three years
$4,000 of government funds passet
through his hands in such "a mysteri
Gus manner it could not be accounted
for. Besides amounts Illegally takeI
from his deputies and which w,
cannot ascertain, this marsha
carried off books belonging t,
his office, swindled private citizen
and according ty the testimony
wholesale forgery was committed il
hisloffice for the purpose of defraudini
the government. Russell was indict
ed, tried and convicted, and is nov
serving out his term of sentence i
the southern Ills, penitentiary, a
Chester.
In regard to the partial investigs
tion of the southern district of Ills
during the Wheeler incumhency a
marshal, the report says: there appear
from the testimony to be controyel
sy between marshal Wheeler and hi
former chief deputy, Gen. N. Reec, &
to which of them Is primarily reSpoI
sible TO rthe false and fictitious accour
rendered against the government. "A
to that we have nothing to say, but
is clear marshal Wheeler cannot frS
himself from his just responsibility, /
laying the blame for these illegal &C
on subordinates whom he selected al
appointed to perform the duties of b
Office. Marshal Wheeler admits und,
oath that his administration has bee
rather loose and imperfect, and TIL
false. fraudulent and fictitious charg
have crept into his accounts. u
fortunately for Wheeler and 9th
officers. who make siniiarconfessioT
their offices were never SO loose
managed as to cause them to suff
any loss or the losses operated to s
disadvantage of the government.
. no single instance does it appear tn
ever charged less than they wele c
titled to, and in majority OF cas-
they charged far more than the Ii
lalsowed.
OF John Hall, who was marshal
the western district Of Fennsylvan