“GRAFT” IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 13

“GRAFT” IN AMERICA.

In the Australasian colonics graft, an old word meaning to dig and secondarily to work hard, is in common colloquial use. In America graft means something very different. It is a comprehensive term for abuse of official position for tho sako of illegal gain. Chargees of “graft” aro never absent from tho columns of tho American press, and very frequently there is but too much ground for them. Ono of' the latest has to do with the administration of the Federal printing department at Washington. On this subject a Now York paper says:—

Some of tho officials who have tho purchasing power are charged with demanding a commission on tho -sales of supplies. Machinery which would bo useful for many years was condemned, purchased by those who condemned it, and sold by thorn to private business concerns at a large profit. Superfluous positions exist and persons aro on tho government payroll who perform practically no service. Immorality exists, and to favourites of ohiefs arc given posisions which involve no labour. Positions aro sold on tho commission basis and corruption of almost every conceivable character exists.

As to the sale of positions thoro is evidence in official reports.. Tho last report of tho Civil Service Commission contains a statement of tho caso of a woman who declared under oath that she had promised to pay an attorney of this city §l5O for securing her a position in tho ' printing office. She got the position, and actually paid 37.50 del. on account of her' agreement. She made a confession and was dismissed. Before sho was dismissed she offered to pay Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Ailes a sum of money for tho appointment of her father to a government position. Tho offer was declined, hut sho was reinstated by recommendation of Mr Ailes on the ground that the government 'would not bo able to secure ovidcnco of such practices if persons who gave the evidence were pmnished.

There is a case of a coloured labourer who resigned because he could not live on a dollar a day. His pay was Sdo!., but before giving up his position ho stated that' ho gave half of his pay to the man who got him the appointment.

Another part of the scandal is the action of an assistant foreman who was an editor of a labour publication. It is asserted that this official conducted the paper for his own advantage, and the business houses which advertised in it were successful in selling their supplies to tho Government Printing Office. Tho paper was taken from the control of this 1 official, and is now conducted by the labour organisation it was supposed to be devoted to. The organisation of a co-epcrativo grocery company is another element of the 'scandal. The officers of the company were officials of the Government Printing Office. They went about the office collecting Sodol. from their subordinates. In consideration of these payments tho subordinates were promised that _ they would bo able to purchase their groceries at a small advance on the cost, and wejo promised a dividend on their investment. Tho store was opened and conducted for three months. Then there was a failure, whether bona fide is not disclosed, and those who advanced .the funds have never been reimbursed/ One official of the printing office charged with conducting a disorderly place was dismissed by a former Public Printer, but was reinstated, and is now a foreman in the printing office. He has thirty-five women under his direction, and they have protested against the retention of such a character, and have protested because they are required to work under this man.

There are numerous instances where favourites have been given positions paying sdol. a day who do practically no work, and it is declared without equivocation that disorderly women are on the payrolls. They report for duty, but perform practically no service. Other persons with political influence are given employment at a high rate of pay, but perform no service. It has developed that the investigation into tho order for the purchase of seventy-two Xauiston typesetting machines is only the beginning of a general investigation of the Government Printing Office.