The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-13

lie Crib-One Man Drew Three Sal
aries - Sinecures For Job Lot OF
G. O. p. Henchmen-AbIe Men From
the Lone Star Stnte-Two Republic
nm "Goyernors's-The Paper Trust.
Especial Washington Letter!
Scandal, larceny and peculation.
That story increases as the days go by.
IL the Democrats had had a working
majority in this house, we would have
unearthed enough Republican rascality
and corruption to have carried the pres
idential election by at least 100 major
ity in the electoral college. Such
sweep would have given US the senate
also. AS for the house, there would
not have been enough Republicans in
the Fifty-seventh congress to have
called for the yeas and nays. No ques-
ton that Lyman j. Gage, secretary Of
the treasury, could have been impeach-
ed and convicted for hign crimes and
1nisdemeanors in connection with the
Hepburn bank ring.
Many persons have been hugging to
their hearts the pleasant delusion that
all the corruption is confined to Repub-
lican officials in Cuba and other out
lying provinces, but it appears that all
such fond and patriotic hopes are to be
blasted. 1t seems that the postofice
department, especially the Washington
city postofce, has been and is the
nesting place Of the corrupt parasites
of certain high and mighty Republican
statesmen, a place to quarter their un-
savory retainers upon the government
where they can feed at the public crib
until they are as obese as Dickens
fat boy, although not so sleepy as
was that drowsy youth. No intention
is entertained Of casting any reflection
herein upon the character or honesty
Of Hon. Charles Emory Smith, post
master general. In my judgment he is
an honorable and brilliant man, but
unless the Washington Post is the
most shameless liar since Ananias and
Sapphira had that i'll starred land
transaction not only should q congress
sional Investigation committee get ii
its work OF the Washington city post
Office, but the grand jury would find
Slots of materials OF which to base III
dictments for felony. The postofice
scandals are likely to rival the Star
Route scandals in cdoriferousncss Now,
Republican swashbucklers and organ
grinders, with Mark Hanna,s Doodle
jingling in their pockets. need not rash
" cry out that all this is campaign
lie, cooked up by free silver anarchists
for election purposes.
: Feeders at the Public Crib.
The Washington Post makes the
charges. and it is by long odds the
most ably edited paper in America
friendly to the Mckinley administra-
ton. It says:
Following are some of the allegations that call
for inquiry:
Funds Of the Washington city postoiice have
been improperly disbursed for over two years, the
irregularities for the quarter ending Sept. so,
1895. amounting to $4,000 TO s3oooo, according
to an experts report TO Comptroller Tracewell.
Numerous farorites have been carried on two
and even three pay rolls al the same time at the
Washington city postofEce and at other postofces
in the country. Oliver II. Smith OF Indiana. now
superintendent IN the local service, for about
year simultaneously auditor OF local postal sta
tons. laborc- and painter OF street letter boxes
He drew three salaries. Nathan r. - Baker OF
Indiana succeeded TO AZ. Smiths eIloluments.
Six women have long been carried on the rolls
OF the city postotfce as cleaners aC 5000 year,
performing no work whatever and being paid on
separate vouchers Four were for many
months paid at TIE local postoice apparently to
investigate claims OF letter carriers, all tie posi-
tons being sinecu-eS.
John f. Jones, a newspaper reporter, was car
ried for many months 2s physician 10 the Wash
incton city postot.ice ct sl,709 a year
Travelling expenses OF department officials who
were not public business, trips fer private cit-
zeas only noniinaly connected with the govern
rneat ser-ice, have been paid 10 the extent OF
tens OF thousands OF dollars oct Of funds strictly
belonging TO the Washington postotice and out OF
the military postal fund.
II the postmaster general wishes to thoroughly
investigate the affairs here referred to, The Post
suggests that be secure the testimony OF the fol-
lowing witnesses among others:
Joseph I. Br;stov.. fourth assistant postU.as:c-
general.
Chief Inspector Cochran of the postosace de-
pa1szneat-
George ". Beavers, Chief .: the sal@ry sna al
lowa2ce division.
A. II scot,, now in this city. who was the
former chief Of that division.
Seymour W Tulioci. formerly cashier of the
Washington city postoGce, but suddenly dis
charged after many years OF faithful service
Mr. J. Edwin wilson, formerly assistant post
master Of Washington. but no" an euployee in
the ccnsus bureau
Thomas W Gilmer. resident Of this city.
There is nothing mealy mouthed OR
equiyocal about tlat excerpt from The
Post. The charges are direct and spe-
cifc. Tie witnesses are named. Shall
we have an Investigation that VIII in
ycstigate or one that Will bring forth
an exquisite and artistic piece of white
wash:
Serious Charges Made.
Again The Post makes this serious
charge:
Political influence and the craft Of political
leaders have fashioned matters 50 t5at the system