The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-29

According TO the statement Of some OF
his friends. d. v. Miller, one of the persons
recently dismissed from the law Office Of
the Postofice Department on the charge Of
having accepted brides. which the depart
ment officials say will be proved beyond
doubt. seems to have accepted the position
with the understanding that there were
chances to make money outside of the sal
airy attached to it, Ryan, the manager Of
the "get-rich-quick'' turf investment con-
Germ. who paid money for favorable de-
cisions. says in his confession that Attorney
Johns, who managed the bribery negotia-
tion, said he was very close TO Miller and
that Miller had accepted 5000 job in the
Postofhoe Department at Washington with
the idea that the job had certain trim
mings.'" This is new use of an old word,
unless II has been common among boodlers.
BY trimmings" is meant. Of course. brides.
Official blackmail or other corrupt per-
how Miller. who had never held office be-
fore. got the idea that the 5000 position
which was offered him in the Postoffice De-
partment had trimmings" connected with
1t. The information could only have come
from some person familiar with the organ
had personal experience Of its trim
mings." Unless Miller accepted the office
with that understanding. why did his con-
fidential friend Johns say so and use it as
an argument to convince Ryan that he
would be safe in proceeding on that hypoth-
esis? Before Johns could expect to get a
corrupt fee from Ryan he had TO convince
the latter that Johns had influence enough
to obtain the desired decision, and SO he
assured Ryan that Miller had taken the
Office with the understanding that 1t had
certain trimmings" of the kind he was
talking about. 1t would be very interest
ing to know how Miller got the idea that
the office offered facilities for making
money dishonesty.
The case of Machen, the dismissed super
intendent Of the free delivery division, pre-
sents another phase of an office with
trimmings" One Of his duties was tc
supply street letter boxes and other equip
ment in connection with the free delivery
service. and the postoffice officials claim tc
have discovered that for some years pas,
he has been sharing to the amount of over
$4,000 In the profits Of a contract which
he awarded to certain parties. The two
cases differ in details and mode of operat-
ing. but they are both hagrantly corrupt.
The moral Of these developments IL that
any man who seeks or accepts a position
In the government service with the idea OF
adding to his salary by perquisites OF
trimming is a thief at heart. and pretty
sure to become one If opportunity offers
There is not a salaried Office in the govern
ment out Of which dollar more than the
salary can be made honestly. There are
some offices in which the incumbent, under
| favorable circumstances and with stric
economy, can save something out Of the
salary. but there Is none in which he car
use his position to make money out OF con
| tractors. Of the public or the government
without fragrant dishonesty and violation
of law. There are no trimmings con
| nected with any government Office. and tn,
man who bats his hook for them is al
| ready dishonest.