New-York tribune., 1905-07-09
THE TRAIL or TIE "GRAFTER."

The Machen-B Beavers prosecutions did a good
deal to discourage grating in the federal ser
vice: but the evil of which the postofflce scan
dals were an ominOus symptom was Widespread
and we are not unlikely 10 encounter from time
TO time fresh evidences of the persistence in
government circles of the grating spirit
Last week United States Senator was con-
victed in Portland Ore, of taking attorney S
fees for work done-in violation of law-before
the federal departments. Less than month
ago a trusted employe of the Smithsonian In
stitution was arrested on the charge of en-
bezzlng the institutions funds, this embezzle-
ment having continued for long period unde-
tected Now an important official in the Depart
ment of Agriculture is dismissed for 'doctoring"
the departments cotton reports and giving ad-
vance information 10 Cotton Exchange brokers
and spectators.
This latest breach Of trust, though perhaps not
punishable under the federal statutes, is of
particularly OdiOus character. 1t was commit
ted by an official holding peculiarly conflden-
tial post under the government and assuming
toward it an exceptional fiduciary relation. 1t
was the act of functionary thoroughly alive
TO his responsibilities TO the government and
TO the public The value of the Department of
AgricultUre's crop report depends entirely on
public confidence in its integrity. The officials
I'm the statisticans ONCE knew that they must
hold themselves above suspicion, that the gov
ernments good name in their keeping, and
that vast business interests would be injuriously
affected by any detection on their part from
honor good faith.
A Senator who secretly accepted illicit fees
for practising before the departments might
plead that he committed no serious moral wrong
in taking compensation which any lawyer not
member of the House or Senate might honor
ably have accepted. He might contend that he
only did work which another lawyer would have
done, and that neither the government nor the
public suffered loss or injury through his ac-
ton. \ vulgar bribe taker like Machen might
say that his pilferings were petty and did no
serious damage TO private public interests.
But the dismissed associate statistician of the
Agricultural Department if the charges against
him are fully sustained, make no plea in
mitigation of the moral enormty of his conduct;
for he deliberately betrayed public trust whose
Importance he fully understood, and sought to
profit through market manipulations which in
volved the property interests-directly and indi-
rectly-of millions Of American citizens.
1t is reported from Washington that a crimi-
nal action cannot be brought against this recre-
ant official. This Is regrettable, if true; for
offences of this sort deserve the severest pun
ishment The spirit which prompts such
breaches Of trust-either in public or in private
life-cannot be compromised with 1t is the
most destructive force against which our pres
ent political and social order has to war; and
we should make an example Of each and every
offender who turns a trust to private gain. The
federal government is gradually discovering and
roofing out its "grafters." The process is a
slow one perhaps. yet the results achieved so
far have been eminently wholesome. The war
must go On-and will go on-til the public SER
vice is purified; and the moral energy this war
fare generates may be sufficient to drive the
CRATER eventually not only from public but
from private and business life.