The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-21
Graft ana It's Cure.

Graft and It's Cure.
The source of graft is excellent! as -
cussed by the Hon Robert Baker mem
her OF Congress from the Sixth New y ork
District, In tile Arena for september. Mr.
j Baker begins by saying that 1t is all wrong
10 think that graft in the Federal gov
81 eminent or in private business Is limited
TO the petty offerings BY a few postoi-
flee clerks, for graft Is no new disease
in the body polite; nor were the post
office scandals a sudden eruption OF IN
old but dormant one; nor can il be eradl -
Gated By superficial measures, nor by
holding up certain bureau chiefs or bribe-
giving contractors. The cure Tor graft
SIS to go to the wel-spring of public HE
and inculcate into eacl: man, woman and
~ child righteous and earnest adherence
St of graft" which is in its last analysis a
taxing something for nothingZthrough
COLLISION.
s I'm denouncing graft" said Mr. Ra-
ker, .let us maintain some sense OF pro
portion. Let our demand for punish
sment fit the crime While expressing
hostility to the methods shown to have
existed in the Postoffice Department. con-
factors and bureau ohiefs, who have de-
frauded the people Of some hundreds Of,
thousands Of dollars. let us reserve some
of our condemnation for these greater
criminals who through collusion with
higher officials and party chiefs have
taken from the treasury millions every
wear in excessive NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. pay
ments The graft to the railroads In the
;hirty-nine millions appropriated for In
land ra ilroad mail transportation IS many
lines the total of the piclings OF bureau
chiefs and petty contractors Some six
millions are also appropriated for rental
II OF nail-cars at a cost equal to the origi-
nal cost Of the cars. many being over
twenty years old and IN the opinion Of
the railway mail-clerks are constant
menace to their lives"
What is it but graft, wien congress-
men and senators accept (where they do
not solciD passes and telegraph franks
some not only asking for themselves, but
constantly applying for them for friends?
Their conduct is different only in de-
gree from that Of the purchasing agent
OF department. who divides with the
contractor thG increased price charged
for his gooHs-eath uses his official posi-
I'd ton to get something for nothing When
the ablest judge Of the Supreme Court Of
the State Of New York Civilian j. Gay
nor) describes favoritism In railroad
freight rates as the greatest crime of
v our day and generation and says that
more wrong has been done by it than
by all the crimes defined by our statutes,
and that 1t has crushed and beggared
thousands all over the land 1t can be
readily seen that the most effective SER
vice a legislator can render to these Grim
nal corporations is TO quietly put to sleep
what the companies are pleased to call
hostile legislation; to put off all con-
sideration by the Judiciary Committee;
by the Committee on Postoffices and
Post Roads, always so liberal in It's APP
proprlations for railway mall-transporta-
ton; by the Committee on the District OF
Columbia. where the two great railway
systems having depots there were aided
out OF the joint treasures of the Dis
trict and of the United States TO an
amount variously estimated at from ST.
10000 to 100000 during the l'ifty-sevcnti
Congress; by the Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee where bills to ex-
tend the powers OF the Interstate Com
incrce Commission so that they could en-.
force their DEGREES instead Of MS now
having them set at naught by the rail-
reads. are quietly slumberng."
What Is it but graft when United
States senator. the head of an express
company. not only uses his position t
protect his own and allied compane,
from legislative attacks insuring then
in the continuation OF their extremely val
liable privileges. but secures TO the rail
reads from whom these valuable priv
lescs are derived extortionale prices To-
transporting the malsg"
What is 1t but graft when the control
ling forces Of railroad system organic
an express or dispatch company 10 whicl
valuable privileges are granted on ia
lower terms than II could, or would. OBJ
tain IL the grantee company were not Ii
effect themselves?"
FL what is II hut graft when the direc
tors of railroad company organize az
industrial company locate II along III,
line OF their road then accord II lower
freight rates Than are charged 10 com,
petltors In the same business?n
what Is it but graft when the Presi-