Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-18
RIVALS THE ERA OF eRANTlsM.
The Corruption ana sIalfeasance OF
Federal OGice n oiders

AHC NOEIuptIou Emu dlahGhBhnce Oh
Federal OGlce Roiders.
WASHINGTON, April H.-Eyen super
fetal examination of the accounts OF
United States Marshals and their deputies,
especially in the Southern States, reveals
condition Of things quite as bad as existed
in the era of Grantism. Fraudulent &C.
counts for mileage, for expenEes, for the
transportation of prisoners, for telegraph
ing, and for almo9t all the items connec-
ted with the Msrshars office, are found to
be common and almost rule in Alabama,
Georgia end other States.
Most Of these false charges have been
made to fill the pockets OF the offceholders.
But sometimes they have been utilized to
promote the ambition of Republican can
didates for Congress, and for other Off Jes,
who, serving as deputy marshals for q
time, employed all the machinery OF their
places for these ends in q most outrageous
manner. Innocent persons would be
Arrested ON Fabricated Charges
and carried hundred Of miles from home,
past the doors of Commissioners, before
whom the trumped up cases might have
been heard if they had not been absolutely
manufactured, and then were dismissed
without hearing. In multitudes OF such
cases the parties were poor, small farmers
whose families depended upon their daily
labor for support. 1t is alleged that Stro-
bach, a candidate fer Congress in Alabama,
and recently nominated for United States
Marshal, arrested falsely nearly every per-
son in one county while acting as deputy.
The vilest tyranny, combined with bare
faced corruption, has characterized the
conduct Of these and of other officials OF
the government all through the South.
Under Grant they were used TO enforce the
policy OF the administration, and TO keep
up the sham of the Republican party. The
officers OF the internal revenue in the
South are little better than the tribe OF
marsha!s and deputies. They steal and op'
press at every favorable chance. They
have been
Protected at Washington
by professions of political loyalty, and by
the pretence of inauguratiDg independent
movements in the South, after the exam
pie of Malone. By raising cry sgainst
"the Bourbons," these rsscaly oilicehold-
ers have been able to keep their places and
their fet fees.
They have, however, been required to
contribute voluntarily" aud literally ior
the good OF the party. and the inyestiya.
ton which Senator Vance originated in
North Carolina showed that they had paid
So per cent OF their salaries, but not all of the
stealings, to carry that State for the Re-
Iutlicans. These are the officials who 90
smoGg the masses Of the plain people, as
Mr.. Lincoln described them. They are
brought into personal contact with farm |
ers. lsborers mechanics aud other toilsrs,
who, removed from the cities and from the
opportunities Of everyday information,
are easily imposed upon by agents claim.
ing TO represent the power OF the Govern
ment and the terrors OF the law. The Civil
Service act does not touch one of these
officials. They are the creatures Of the
managers at Washington, and the tools
with which William E. Chandler and his
associates work in manufacturing delegates
for the Chicago Convention.