Corruption in Gilded Age?

Basically because there was very little regulation by government, state and national. The country was expanding and the railroads were in bitter competition with each other and the consumer paid the bill. Big cities were run by political machines, like the Boss Tweed Ring in NYC. Government on many levels took bribes, mis-counted ballots, paid people to vote, and demanded kickbacks and bribes from business, political groups, and any other group wanting to operate in their city or town. Immigrants were cheated and paid low wages. There was no protection against the food being produced, the health of the people, or any zoning restrictions to protect the citizen. Most people looked the other way.