New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-03
BENEDICT As A "REFORMER.'
SOME "REMINISCENCES Of HIS FORMER
TERM.
PARTISAN ABUSES PROVED AGAINST HIM BY
u, CONGRESSIONAL coMMITTEE-HIs RE-
MOvAL THEN RECOMMENDED.

1
\ CONGRESSIONAL coMMTTEE-HIS RE
MovAL THEN RECOMMENDED.
ny TELEGRAPH To Tit rmRrSEi
Washington. April AN evening paper which
supports the Administration. in commenting upon
the nomination Of Benedict for Public Printer
says:
His record for reforms and good management
as Public Printer in the last term Is given az the
reason for his appointment
This Is indeed cool and refreshing. Mr.. Bene-
diets record as a "reformcr' and his capacity
and efficiency as an administrative officer were
prettv Thoroughly exposed during an inVestiSa-
ton conducted bv the Committee Printing Of
the House Of Representatives in the first session
If the L,th Congress The testimony taken in the
course Of that investigation fully justified and
established the conclusions Of the minority oi
the committee. which were in part as follows
80 The present administration Of the Govern
ment Printing Office is marked by Incompetence
and partisanship. and the condition of the work
is such as 10 Justify grave apprehcnsions on the
part Of Congress.
80 The treatment Of Union soldiers, the widows
and orphans Of soldiers. skilled ana competent
mechanics and other employees Of the ONCE by
Mr. Benedict has been shameful In the extreme
and OF itself Is sufficient to warrant MS SUM
mary removal The claim OF tn" Puhllc lrlh'cr
and the majority of the committee that more
soldiers and widows and orphans OF soldiers are
,,,,, ornnjoved IN the Government Printing Office
than formerly is not sustained 10y the PROOF. 'h
rho contrary the evidence shows that In making
up his rolls Mr. Benedict included multtudes o'
men who never left their desks during the War
and some who did service in the army of the
Corfaderacv while he made utterly erroneous
statements concerning the number employed by
Mr. Rounds which statements were conclusivelN
disnroved by officers Of the Grand Army. Gross
valuations on his part of Section 1''4 OF the Ike
vis.i Statutce were also abundantly proved.
"2 The violations Of the Civil Service act nave
boan 0agrant and notorious. Not only does the
evidence show that the Public Printer tent MS
signature and influence TO p"hucal S'h'i"'
doeiqnated TO prostitute the postoiiices OF the
country IN partisan uses but also that In col
lection and disbursement Of campaign FUNDS III
sums varying from cents to goo. both the Ie''''
and the spirit Of the act We're disregard'd' Inc
testimony proves that not only did supordih'''S
engage in this work. but that forenen ana AZ
si.tant foremcn and the Public Printer hiinS'H
received money for Democratic campHE" '"""'
and forwarded It to its destination.
Il For the first time in the history ~ the Gov
orrmcnt Printing Office that vast workshop mas
turned
DISCHARGED solely because they were Republicans
and others appointed solely because they were
Democrats.
&c, Not only IS incompotency Justly chargeah'e
against the present Public Printer but the evil
.de,ce shows a want OF moral tone on the PaTt /
~ himself and some Of his officials that deserves
the sevcrest condemnation.
&c The evidence is overwhelming that MI
Benedict has cndcavorod Boy false hs"r'S ana III
correct statements 20 impose upon congress "'' |
tho country. not only has he done this as re- .
cards the larger affairs II the Office but has even
descended t. the petty trick ~ claiming ~ pur-
h,so minor articles at prices which his own re- /
norta utterly dlsprovc. And this attempted I'M
nos,t,on. much # which has been thoroughly /
exposcd I'm this report. has been given as S"''" /
evidence Either Mr.. Benedict does h"t c"'''P''- !
hcnd the soIcmnity Of an oath or he IL utterly /
ignorant II many ~ the matters ''''' INNS
which he gave testimony
go Tho evidence shows that rank favoritsm /
&c nractised I'm the matter OF awarding contracts /
~. rho nrcseut Public Printer. careful! exam
t,o,i,, If fine testimony will show a condition ~
things IN connection with paper contracts highly J
discrelitahle t. that official and which should re-
c.jve IN. attention Of a committee constituted as
committees usually are.
IS The present incumbent dId not possess the
practical knowledge required by the statute when
ha assumed charge Of the Got"InIncht lTlhlihS
once and there is nothing IN the admins g"I..,it
Of the Office since which justiies IN" belief mat
he will ever bc able 70 inelliganuy and success
fully direct ifs affairs
go Enough gross violations ~ Ia" andcFii'hcrS
of incnmu.teucv AZ. shown by the testimony To
warrant the immediate removal from Office OF
Thomas f. Benedict. Public Printer
This report was submitted IL IN" h"nS' "i
On August %. lNsS. by N" MI
n0ritv members 81 the committee Representa-
tive IIicstand. Of Pennsylvania and Representa-
tive (now SENATOR Gallingcr, Of New-IIampshn'
Tho third conclusion Of the minority WAS based
upon a scheme IN which Benedict was assoD lated
with Isaac II. Maynard Of unfraErant memory
who was then Assistant Secretary Of the Treas
ury a scheme which was nippei in the bud by
It's exposure I'm these dispatches