The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Revealing Republican Rottenness

tration is seeking to make a record for
Investigation and reform, the most
strenuous efforts, efforts little short of
scandalous, are being made to save
from the consequences of his own acts
the man whom President Roosevelt
has described as "My dearest friend
and closest political adviser" Lucius
N. Littauer, representative from
New York. The evidence in the
bankruptcy case of one E. R. Lyon
disclosed the fact that Lyon entered
into partnership with Littauer,
that Littauer procured for the part
nership so formed contract to sell to
the war department, for the use of
the soldiers, $50, ZOO pairs of gauntlets
and that Littauer's snare of the prof
it's on the sic of 50, ,o61 pairs of these
gloves amounted to 81, 700 all this
being set forth in Littaeur's own
handwriting, in statement written
on the stationery of the House COM
mittee on Manufacturers, and in ex-
press violation of the statute which
expressly says, "No member of Con-
gress shall directly or indirectly
hold or enjoy, in whole or in
part, any contract made or entered
into in behalf of the United States or
by any officer or person authorized
to make contracts ON the part of the
United States Z
The evidence, being Littauer's own
statement, made in his own handwrit-
ing, must be regarded as unimpeach-
able and it proves that Littauer has
been guilty of the same violation OF
the United States statute for which
ex-Congressman Edmunds 81. briggs
has been indicted by the Brooklyn
grand jury. When the facts in this
case were made public Secretary Root
ordered an investigation but in is
suing instructions to the officer charg-
ed with the investigation, Mr.. Root
merely instructed him to ascertain If
the contract was awarded to the low
est bidder. The President promised a
.tfull and fair investigation" of this
case and Colonel Darlington has
made an investigation believed to be
anything but "full and fair'', not Of
his own volition but because his
powers were limited by Secretary
Root, his superior. Lawyers have ap-
peared before the Secretary to plead
leniency for Littauer and it is feared
that their clients close association
with the President will affect the Sec.
retary's decision. The public is
awaiting Mr.. Roots decision with in
terest, but it cannot avoid rejecting
that in the case of briggs the investi-
CATION was conducted by the grand
jury and that Mr.. briggs, on less pos
tive evidence, will be compelled to
stand trial in a court Of justice.
A development in the Postoffice in
vestigation regarded by the officials
as the most sensational they have as
yet unearthed has Just come to light
through the Indictment by the District
of Columbia grand jury of August W..
Machen, former superintendent of free
deivery, on several new counts and the
Simultaneous indictment of seven of his
eonfederates, the evidence presented to
the jury showing that Machen and
his partners in crime had eLtered into
four contracts whereby the government
was swinded out Of a s1m estimated at
s75, 600. In two instances Machen
awarded contracts for carriers satcheas,
or bags. The specifications called for
shoulder straps and the price was made
to include them. Machen then pur-
chased the shoulder straps from an
other source, paid sor them with gov
ernment funds and furnished them to
the manufacturers of the satchels,
securing from the latter the amount
thus saved them, approximately 25
cents per strap, which he and his
confederates divided between them
selves. In another instance, Machen
placed a contract for small leather
cases used by careers, withcut asking
for bids, and caused the government
to pay 80 cents each for the cases, but
secured a refund to himseif and his
pals of 60 cents On each case. In the
last instance, Maehen awarded to the
Mayor of Lockha@en, Pa, a contract
for painting mail boxes which the
manufacturers were required to paint.
In this instance he and his associates
divided profits of sEs, 600. In addition
to officials and others who had already
been indicted the grand jury return
ed true bills against William C. Long,
Westinghouse wdo comes from Ohio
and who claims to be potege of