The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-22
ELL OF FRAUD.

The developments in the cases OF
fraud unearthed in the departments at
washington are something astounding.
The facts brought out by the 1nvest1-
CATION that resulted in the indictments
against Machen show systematic rob-
berry of the government after the most
daring fashion. Here is a statement of
the details of one infamy, as given by
Harper's Weekly:
Machen is charged with entering into
a conspiracy with one Maurice Runkle, ol
New York in connection with contract
for furnishing Tea ther book4coyerS Tor de-
livery carrierS-coverS that the carriers
did not need and will not use. According
to Fourth Assistant PostmaeSaler 9e tiasn
leather book-covers were ordered iof
some 1S, 900 letter-carriers, most OF which
covers remain to this day in bins In one
Of the buildings OF tne p0s ,n deiiYered
TO Machen a sum of 81. 23113, which was
accepted by that official In the raw
ford case Machen approved a Dill OF
SIS, 800 for 5000 satchels at $316 each.
Crawford, having received warrant TOT
the amount sent soon afterwards a cneck
for $5441.35 to go-betWeen named
Laurenz, at Toledo, Ohio, VINO o. s 81 tbe
money payable to the order OF A. w.
Machen. Crawford and. Machen seem
to have found the satchel business quite
lucrative. 49,,
The treasury department fares no
better. It appears to be a favorite
dodge, in the erection of public build
ings. to submit two sets of specif1ca-
lions, one covering the materials that
are to be used and the. other quite
different set of articles. The favored
bidder has knowledge Of this. He puts
in bid at extravagantly high figures
for the higher grade Of work, and one
inordinately low for the inferior OF
course the latter is the lowest bid on
the list and it's acceptance complies
technically with the law. Then, after
the award Is made, the department
must be- substituted, and the contractor
who is in on the game gets the work
at his own price. 1t is asserted that al
least $1,OOO,OOO dollars will be paid
out in this way, over the supposed
contract price, to the contractor for
the new federal building in Chicago.
Meantime the ayenging hand of pub
licity is moving toward the Indian
bureau. The secretary of the interior
is nom committal, but the Indian COM
missioner has stated that an investiga-
ton will follow. We are advised that
the hand of these officials has been
forced by the Indian Rights associa-
ton. which became possessed of facts
that could not be ignored. Here. as in
the treasury, operations appear to have
been SO skillfuily covered that it may
be a question whether or not the law
can reach the parties actually Offend
ing; but that persons representing the
government have used their places for
the purpose of making fortunes
through dealing with Indian lands does
not seem open to doubt
The whole public service at Wash
ington is honeycombed with fraud.
These revelations come not in the heat
of a campaign, when they might be
discredited, but at a time when poll
tics are unusually. dull Part of them
were furthered by one honest official
in the postoffice, whom his superiors
cannot quiet and dare not get rid Of.
Part of them are vouched for by the
indictments Of grand jury. Before
all of them the administration stands
helpless, unable to disc1aim and I'M
able to punish because Of the eminent
shameful condition of affairs, which is
making more profound and unpleas-
ant impression upon the public with
every day that passes.