The Washington times., 1903-12-01
The PoStoffiCe Report.
One Of the Remarkable Public Docu-
meEts of the Year.

meEts of the Year.
The Bristow report may justly be
called one of the most remarkable
documents IN recent history. To many
innocent Americans it viii seem sim
ply amazing that so consistent and
profitable system of graft could
have been developed under the very
loses of the authorities. To other and
less innocent citizens it viii appear no
less amazing that the system should
ever have been unearthed and laid
bare to public view.
A part of this report which will set
people thinking all over the country
is that which deals with the forcing
Of expensive apparatus on postoflees
IL order to benefit dealers who "stood
IL" with the dishonest officials. These
transactions are significant because
it Is sad to be obliged TO say it-they
are in a manner typical. This form
of graft" Is one Of the easiest with
in the reach of any dishonest person
in authority under the Government.
The public, he reasons, knows moth
ing of the comparative merits Of
typewriters; why cannot he require
the postoffices to use a particular kind
OF typewriter at 500 rather than one
exactly as good at S1O02 He may as
sert, if he likes, that the higher-priced
typewriter is better adapted for the
work of the Office; the employees who
use it dare not contradict him, and
the general public does not know
enough 70 do SO. 1t i beautifully
simple
There Is probably not an American
citizen of intelligence who reads the
Bristow report who cannot recall In
his own experience some similar bit Of
business which he cannot positively
say was dishonest, but which looked
As if It was. lie may have been re-
quired to buy some article for The use
IF his children. IN school, which, so
far as Re can see, did not in the least
ala them to acquire knowledge. He
may find himself commanded to buy
$ particular kind of ash-can, which
can only be supplied by a certain
firm; or IN some other matter IL which
the Government controls his expendi-
lures, he /; ordered to purchase some
particular thing, which, as he can see
very easily, Is TO the advantage of the
manufacturer Of that article, but not,
50 far as he can see, to the advantage
Of the consumer.
OF course, IN some cases, there Is
reason for such requirements. That
Is what makes the scheme so easy.
But II Is obvious that, with the grow
ing tendency to enforce sanitary and
other laws which demand expenditure
for special apparatus, unless strict
care is taken to save the public money,
II will be squandered by every dis
honest politician who can get his
fingers into the treasury.
It all comes to this, that from this
time on, Americans must be contin-
ually vigilant and determined 10 sc
cure honest men In public Office; that
we can no longer tolerate even small
thefts, because they win inevitably
grow INTO large ones; that systems Of
graft which were unsafe and diff
cult In an earlier stage of our develop
ment when the Government was more
simple are becoming dangerously
safe and easy. Civic honesty must
from this lime on lie the Fatchword
Of every American who cares a snap
for the honor of his country or the
prosperity Of his children and grand
children.