The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-04
TOO MUCH GRAFT IN MUNICH
PAL GOVERNMENT.

PAL GOVERNMENT.
Probably the worst curse that the
cities and towns of the United States
have suffered from for the past half
century has been the dishonesty that
has permeated municipal government.
So almost universal has graft be-
come that bribery and corruption
have become the subject of levity in
the columns of the newspapers. Men
in this day often seek the office of
alderman" because of the rake off,
that is generally accepted as a perqui-
site of the position. Some men seek
these places for the purpose of
.feathering their nests out of the
public treasury. They secure Juicy
contracts that they could not secure
that would not be made at all-but
for the pull that enables them to
couple up to the treasury.
The corruption that honeycombs
the public affairs of Philadelphia
the city of "brotherly love"-has be-
come so shameless that every boy in
the land regards an alderman of that
city as dishonest until the contrary
appears by evidence ''clear. cogent
and convincing"
In the city of st. Louis the graft
ers" that infrst that city attained
great boldness until a conscientious
Democratic prosecuting officer sent
CONSERVATION into the ranks of the
Al 1,,,;lA lob
These men saw the perfect immunity
that these fellows of the baser sort
enjoyed in the great Republican State
of Pennsylvania, and they applied
Republican logic to Democratic
officer, to their sorrow.
The spirit of corruption and graft
is permeating many avenues-it is
coloring the thought of many honest
men. PeopI. see the officers elected
as their servants using the positions
OF trust AID responsibility in which
they have been placed, for their per-
sonaI gain at the expense of the peo-
pie VIII have elevated them to office,
until they accept this sort of corrup-
ton ffor it is nothing else) as mat
ter Of course, and the danger is that
they will cease to expect integrity and
fidelity at the hands of their officers,
their servants.
The people of North Carolina have
been singularIy free from grating"
Our officers with rare exceptionally
have been true to the trust reposed IN
them, and have faithfully guarded
the interest of their masters-the peo-
pie who elected them. 1t is the de-
sire of every man who loves his State,
to maintain this high standard; to so
frame our laws as to eliminate, in so
far as possible, the opportunity and
the temptation to make merchandise
of a sacred trust
AS a means of accomplishing this
desirable end d thoughtful citizen in
a private letter, suggests for the con-
sideration of the public, and especially
of our legislators, who meet in Raj
eigh next month, the passage of a
law providing. for greater publicity
and better system of auditing the
receipts and expenditures of the
counties, cities and towns of The
state. 1t is important, in his view,
that such q law should provide:
First. That the accounts of each
county and of every city and town in
each county shall be audited by some
person or persons appointed for that
purpose by the Corporation Commits
sioners, the clerk of the Superior
Court or some other officer other than
those whose accounts are to DO
audited.
Second. That the person or per-
sons who audit these accounts ascer-
ed and from What sources; CD the
amount of money that should have
been collected, but has not been col
lected and such information as will
enable the same 20 be collected; CD
whether or not any purchases have
been made from any officer of the
county. city or town, the character
and amount of same; (4) whether or
not said county. city or town has en-
tered into any contract, if SO, with
whom, and terms of same; CD the
amount of money paid out, TO whom
paid and for what purpose.
Third. That the facts SO ascer-
tanned be reported in detail TO the
clerk of the Superior Court; that a
copy of said reports be delivered to
the foreman of the grand jury at the
next ensuing term of the Superior
Court held in that county; that q
summary of the facts contained in
said reports be published in some
newspaper published i'll the county;
that said reports be filed in the office