The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-22
RAsCAL1TY IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

A good many people were shocked, and
rightfully so, over the systematic peculation
engaged in by the superintendent of the
Poor Farm, as disclosed by recent investi-
cation. Contrary to the assertions of the
cynical, the normally constituted person
feels pain rather than secret satisfaction
in the discovery of wrong-doing on the part
of his fellow-creatures. In particular is he
disturbed when the offense is a breach of
trust, for commercial affairs are so inter
woven that men of necessity must depend
largely on each others good faith and up
rightness in their business transactions.
Even the detection of one man among
thousand whose probity has been above sus-
picion gives q feeling of insecurity and
arouses doubt Of the others. But an act Of
dishonesty by a public official involves an
additional element. Every citizen has
personal interest in the proper management
of public affairs, but is especially concerned
over any dishonorable proceedings because
of the reflection they cast upon our forms
OF government. If we cannot find men who
will deal fairly and squarely with the public
interests confided to them, which way lies
reform? The curious feature Of most Of
fetal dishonesty of the kind of which the
Poor Farm case is an example is that the
guilty persons, as a rule, look upon their
acts in quite different light from acts of
the same sort when private individuals are
involved. Probably few of those who con-
vert public property to their own use would
even be tempted to steal private property.
And the misrepresentation by the Poor Farm
superintendent of boots, shoes and other
supplies belonging to the county is only one
development of a laxity of moral sense in
regard to such matters that is more general
than every one knows. But every one IA
miliar with the workings of public offices is
aware of the loose ideas that
prevail concerning public property.
II is not matter of party or of individuals.
Members of both parties are equal Offend
ers, and some are more strict than others,
but congressman, state legislators, heads of
Washington bureaus. state and county and
township officers, all are more or less af-
feeted by the feeling that public property
under their control is not the sacred trust
that individual possessions would be. The
most OF Inelr pSCuldllOnS COuic uhuSA ehc
head of stationery" but stationery in
public office is made to cover multitude OF
articles never classified under that head
elsewhere A man who would not under
any circumstances touch a dollar of money
rot his own will supply himself, his relatives
and friends with fine paper, pocket knives,
pocketbooks. travelling bags, bric-a-brac in
variety and a host Of things, useful and or
namental, for which the public treasury
pays. He calls these things "perquisites'
and smothers his conscience and deceives
himself into thinking he has right to them,
or that no one is harmed by his appropria-
ton of few trihes. He would be Mortified
IL any one were to call him a thief, yet the
difference between Russia leather shop
ping bag and pair of calfskin boots when
paid for by the public treasury and applied