New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-12
MIR. BENEDlCT'S BOOKS.
HIS SWORN TESTIMONY NOT VERIFIED BY
INVESTIGATION.
MUDDLED CONDITION OF AFFAIRs-How THE
LAW WAS DISREGARDED-EMPLOY DE-
FRAUDED OF THEIR RIGHTS.
1lY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEEI

fhAUDED OF THEIR RIGHTS.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI
Washington, Aug. 11.-When Mr. Palmer entered
upon his duties as Public Printer it was natural TO
assume that his predecessors claim Of marked i'm
provemen's In the administration of the Government
Printing Office would be self fapparent Mr. Benc-
dicts sworn statements before the Congressional
committee, in the light OF personal inspection, must
appear sublimely ridiculous TO his successor FOR
while, possibly he considered the comforts of certain
iaVontes IL IS notable fact that of the first ana
most Important official acts devOlvng upon Mr. Palner
was the Strengthening of the building 10 remove che
imminent danger of loss of life and property. Tho
depleted appropriations used for this and some
other important Improvements, looking to the health
and comfort Of the thousands Of men and women en-
poyc1 In the building In this respect alone IL Wouu
appear that Ceveland's Public Printer lacked the eS
senal qualifications OF a successful executive olcaL
But while this was possibly an error in Judgment
his claim was based upon his financial ability
to admnster the Office better than anybody else ana
It is upon that record le poses and mainly relies a'
a candidate for the Democratic nomination for state
Treasurer Of the Empire State. 1t may be well TO
examine his testimony and the investigation mane
during the brief lncumbency of Mr.. Palmer indicates
wherein Mr. Bencdlcts twenty-five years experience
In publishing a country newspaper in tho village oi
Elenvle qualified him for administering the audirs
of the largest printing establishment In the world anu
also show how utterly no failed. While on the stand
a witness IN his behalf before the investigating
committee. Mr.. Benedict testified as follows;
One OF th' important division, OF the omce whlch ms
been reoreanled very completely Is the Office OF ume
keeper L must soy thai the books In IN" once "urc
simply system OF accounts To-day they are a compete
AMI cGcent system OF bookkeeping The bookAeephR nc
counts ar. such that can the Office and pay OH
every crnpove I'm thirtyx hours claim for the Gov
prntingonce bookkeeping that 1t * a. perfect
system can be found In any private business es1o
lshment in the country.
Hardly had the coat alls of The refining Public
Printer vanished from the Office before 9lr Palmer
had every reason to question the truth of the fore
going statement. The air was fuil OF rumOr5 as 10
the inefficient manner In which the accounts In me
time department hal been kept. Charges were
freely made that the laws had been violated appo-
prlations misapTlied. certain Democratic POLITICIANS
favored, aud the g. az cause of "Cleveland anu
Reform during the campaign OF 1855 promoted at the
expense OF the funds entrusted to Mr. Benedict for
the printing and binding made by the oper-
ations Of the Cove nment. The new Public Printer
was early induced 10 have the books and accounts In
that branch overhaued and II possible to DrhS OUT
OF The chaotic condition of m.smanaeement an honest
and fair system which should be just both to the
Government and to the employees, aud In every sehse
I'm strict conformity to the laws. 1t was found III
the time department that nstcad OF complete ana
efficient system of bookhecplng' system pre-
VALID the man I'm charge being totally unfit to keep
the accounts OF even country grocery store. I'm
uloyes were paid money in direct violation OF th'
law; others to whom it was due were unable 10
| obtain it, and arr to-day camorng for their just
dues Inst al Of opening LEDGER accounts with the
employees, which wcJd have permitted the statement
which Mr. Benedict asserted under Ca'h'
/ 10 determine the amount Of money or time due an
crulOve il was necessary to examine dozen or more
q. count books and when the inNcsugduOn Was cJi.-
peted 10 assurance could be given that the result
! \
employees, who became noted Tor their Iealou7 "orA
| I'm tIe Democratc cause. hal been permitted TO be
absent from their duties under pay By the authoilN
OF the Public pin cr, and no charGes made against
! tlem on their leave account.
The Jaw expressly required one years service prior
10 permitting absence with pay, but scores ana scores
! 9Irsv from two TO six Gen days each with pay on
poIiiicaI Missions thus literally detIaulng the Gov
! ernment OF hol,2 ,2nds OF dollars 1oice OF cierhS
sfrafcrn out thl, prle'I sy sem" and to-day Public
Primer Palmer cannot for he dare not IN 1usllce 10
himself and 10 The fund II which lie Is the uS'odan
EN-. tho account, according Mr.. Benelicts books
ont cf 1900 accounts examined by the ehlcent
corps of workers. more than 400 were found 70 De
r,o ard fo rtqu.re the application Of new tests
II is doubtu If there is private establishment IN the
/ tinted states which would permit such s'yio VI
In he XIIXh Congress @Rcformer Benedict
asked for a deficiency appropriation ol F-oOo Oh ~
count of leaves of absence with pay, uhder ue ldw,
Cnrc.ress caye him 50 900. In the next Congress ne
arain estimated iOr a deficiency to cover thH SANE
period aud In the meantime he had MADE Ie as.oIil I ~
i,., discovery that he required $4,000 additional 10
! the ~ 600 Considering the style OF bookkeeping
/ adoriad bv Benedict. this is hardly surprising. 49,.
! CONGRESS- each wear makes specific aopfupnauon'
cpti"iv distinct from the usual appropriations for
public prni and binding. Of an ample sum TO cover
ihe amount due emp0yes who arc eniiteI U e2Vt. oI
! absence with pay. Under the Reform aamiristlar
ton of Eencdict the money thus specifically apPro-
rrated was used according 10 his own teS'lmony De,
fore the House Committee for the purchase OF paper
! and other necessary m2teraL -, ..r-,.., =,
| Thi. is the sort of record upon which = %keolinet
pencdfct relies I'm HIS canvass for the Democratic
| nomination 10 one Of tho most important Oulces
within the gift of the people Of tho state oil New
| York.