Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-15
small Thefts from Uncle Sam.
From tAe Wasllnqton Crltle.

From the washington critic.
The arrest Of ex-Superintendent of the
Pension Office Dickerson on the charge
OF stealing a twenty-foot United States
flag from the government, has warmed
the honest heart of the country editor
and his pen is forming all the adjectives
in the language in praise Of the action of
the authorities and in condemnation of
the degraded and dismal Dlckerson. 1t
is not the intention of the Critic to defend
Mr.. Dickerson if he is guilty, or to say
aught against the action of the authori-
ties. The Critics motto is: "Justice to
all partiality to nonep' and it will con-
scientiously follow that motto until the
last born blows. But TO persons familiar
with the customs Of government officials
in regard to government property, it
would seem as though Mr.. Dickerson was
being made a scapegoat to draw atten-
ton away from bigger game. II this is
erroneous, then ninety-nine out of every
100 clerks and employees of the govern
ment at Washington or elsewhere are in
danger of being given passage Ia the same
boat with the ex-Superintencent. Nearly
every Senator and member OF Congress-
also, has cause to tremble, lest they will
be dragged from their homes to keep COM
pany with the dampness of dungeon
CELL and the Cabinet officers may well in
terview ticket agents as to the cheapest
and quickest routes to Canada.
1t is notorious fact that men who
would sooner commit suicide than do a
fellow-man dishonest turn have no hes
itancy in helping themselves to govern
ment property, When Mr.. Bright was
Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, Demo-
cratic Senator whose name is SYNONYM
for everything that is high-mlnded and
honorable, had an elegant fire screen sent
from his committeeman TO his house.
and it is there yet. Tie government paid
for it and owns 1t, but it will never get It.
A malachite clock that ticks away the
fleeting hours on the mantel Of a leading
Republican senatorial light, WAS purchas-
ed out Of the contingent fund. Its hands
will 90 around Tor many n long year be-
fore the capitol ever holds that time
piece again. At the end OF every session,
and more particularly every Congress.
the cnmmlttee-rooms OF both houses are
almost cleaned out--clocks, Fl re screens.
rugs, and even desks and chairs are taken
as "mementOs," and every other De-
cember regularly. as soon az the com
mittees are formed. the clerks are kept
busy making out acquisitions for neces-
sary articles.
All through the sessions, TOO, hair
brushes, combs, whisk- broOms, hand
glasses, and even towels and soap arc
carried OUT OF the bronze door never to re.
turn. and IN the departments It IL just as
bad The clerks carry of paper, pens,
mk-erasers, pencils, and like articles by
the gross. IL Is customary, and the prac-
tice has been followed ever since the day
when it was familiar sight to see dig
nifed State Department clerk chasing 4
Kissing goose or gander intent on burgla-
rizing its quilts 70 be fashioned into pens.
Even the writer OF these lines 10 in fact a
receiver OF stolen goods, for the pen, ink,
and paper be IL using all came from the
Treasury Department, and were paid for
BY what some folks love to call "the peo-
ple's money"