The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-30

Beavers. The friends of Tyner have adj
vanced the theory that in his case the chief
offender was really his nephew by mar
riage, Barrett. who was his assistant in
the office for a part of the time. and that
Tyner's offenses are due to his falling bod
ilyand mental powers. The facts set forth
In Mr.. Bristow's report do not tend to SUBJ
stantiate the validity of these excuses for
Tyner. while they show literally astounding
misconduct in Barrett For Machen and
Beavers no excuse of any kind has been
alleged. In the case of Metcalf, the super
intendent of the money-order system, the
most vigorous protests were at first made
on his behalf by a large number of reputable
citizens and also by others who were at
the time deemed reputable, but who il has
since been discovered were profiting by
Metcalf's misconduct. One of them has
been indicted in connection with him.
OFFENDERS DISMISSED.
when these Investigations were begun,
some nine months ago. many of the chief
offenders who have been indicted or dis
missed, or both, as above enumerated. were
considered to have excellent regulations.
A number of the most respectable people in
the land offered voluntary testimony on be-
half of Mr.. Tyner. So highly were Messrs.
Beavers and Machen thought of by those
who had been brought into close connection
with them that the Congress actually pro-
vided, at it's last session, for raising the
salaries of both, the salary I'm each case
being increased $500, to take effect at the
beginning of the fiscal year on July / last.
By that date they were both out of office
and the Department of Justice was taking
steps TO have them indicted. During Mach
ems term of service he was twice investigat-
ed by the Congress, once by n of
the Senate and once by a committee of the
House, but cleared on each occasion. Yet.
at that very period. as has been shown in
the present Investigation, he was engaged
in the corrupt business for which he has
now been removed and indicted. This is no
reflection upon the committees who con-
n tho Hon. e.. -
had Machen concealed his wrongdoing
that 1t was only revealed after months of
laborious and exhaustive work by trained
inspectors.
1.-THE details of the corruption are SET
forth in full in Mr.. Bristow's report and
need not be recapitulated by me. As re-
CARDS Messrs. Beavers and Machen the cor
ruption took the form of bribery and black
mail in connection with the purchase of
government supplies. In the office of the
assistant attorney general for the POST
office Department, under Tyner and Bar
rett, far greater wrong was inflicted UPON
the public than could be measured by a
pecuniary standard, for in this Office the
corruption of the government officials took
the form of f~avoring get-rich-quick con-
| Germs and similar swindling schemes; in
other words, the criminals, whom il was
the sworn duty of these government Off
Gals to prosecute, paid them for permission
to fleece the public unmolested.
81 heartily approve of the recommended
ton of Messrs: Conrad and Bonaparte that
the statute of limitations be extended in
the case of government servants to a
period of at least five years; for the per-
sons who in such positions of trust engage
in corrupt practices can ordinarily conceal
their guilt for a longer time than is covered
by the present short statute of limitations.
This recommendation has been laid before
the Congress in the report of the attorney
general, and it is earnestly hoped that it
will be acted upon fayorably. Moreover,
our experience shows that outsiders claim
ing political influence sometimes sell their
L infll1Qnna IN n a n6id0fpo for nfHna mr. in
other words blackmail these candidates.
| There should be legislation which will per-
NIT OF summary dealing with such Offend
ers.
However, the prime need is not new
legislation, but the punishment of those
who offend against existing laws. The
Postoffice Department is making certain
changes in the methods of administration
notably in the method OF inspection, by
which the service will be improved and the
chance of corruption existing without dis
covery be minimized; but the only way to
meet the real evil is to punish the offend
ers. by removal in any event. and where
statutes. In any great business. public OF
private, wrongdoing is certain at times to
occur. The way to guard against 1T is rig
orOuSly to ScrutiniZe the character of those
appointed, carefully to supervise their ac-
tions after appointment, and finally, tC
punish with relentless severity those who
go wrong. All this is being done.
The immediate eformation of the serv-
ice by the turning out of the offenders is
not in itself enough to meet the demands
of justice. The case against both those
within and without the Postoffice Depart
ment, who by their acts have brough,
themselves within the grasp of the law
Every effort must be made to see tina
both the delinquent official and the out
slider who shares his guilt are punished tc
the limit of the law. In pursuance of this
policy the individuals above enumerated
nave been indicted. In no case has the in
dictment been sought save. where the ofi.
of the mans guilt; and in every case the
government will exhaust every expedient
in its power in the effort 10 see that JUS
tice is melted out to the offenders. Those
in the public service whose duty it is must
ever De vigilant in the detection of wrong
doing, fearless in its exposure, relentless
in its prosecution; but in the last resort
when everything which the public official
whether legislator, Judge, or executive of
ficer, can do has been done, ii remains fol
the jury, drawn from the people and rep
resenting the people, to do even-handed JUS
tice, shielding the innocent, but declining
to be misled by any plea into refrainine
from punishment of the guilty.
mo crime calls for sterner reprobatioI
than the crime of the corruptionist in public
life, and Of the man who seeks to corrup
him. The bride giver and the bride takel
are equally guilty. Both alike sin againsr
the primary law of the states safety. Al
questions of difference in party policy sinh
into insignifcance when the people of thi:
country are brought face to face with
question like this, which lies at the root o.
honest and decent government. On thi.
question, and on all others like 1t, W. cal
afford to have no division among goot
citizens. In the last resort good laws ant
good administrator alike must rest upor
the broad basis of sound public opinion
A dull public conscience, an easy-goint
acquiescence in corruption. infallibly means
debasement in public life, and such debase
ment in the end means the ruin of free in
situations. Self-government becomes a farce
If the representatives of the people corrup
others or are themselves corrupted. Free
dom is not a gift which will tarry long il
the hands of the dishonest or of those 81
honesty in their public servants. Undel
our system all power comes from the people
and all punishment rests ultimately will
the people. The liberation of the wrong
not the exposure of the wrong, is the rea
offense."