ERIE CANAL JOBBERY

 

Thomas C. Platt.

Frank S. Black.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August 26, 1898.

WHERE THE MONEY WENT.

More Press Comments of the Republican Party's Great Disgrace.

   It cannot be said that there are any surprises in the report of the canal commission. The wholesale prodigality and reckless ineptitude of expenditure are such as were to have been expected from an official so given over to regard public works as political jobs as Superintendent Aldridge. The record of his accomplishment, with its million of waste, is a monumental revelation of what a thoroughbred contempt of civil service reform will bring a man to.—New York Press (Rep.)

   As to the men who run the party in the State, the men who under Mr. Platt do with it very much as they please, it is perhaps enough to say that their regret is not at all that the swindle was committed, but only that it was found out. To prevent any repetition of the iniquity, it is first of all necessary to deprive them of power, and the way to do this is to expel the party from power and keep it out in the cold until some evidence is forthcoming that Republicanism and Plattism do not mean one and the same thing.—Brooklyn Citizen.

   The report of the canal investigating commission amounts to a writ compelling the renomination of Frank S. Black. The Republican party cannot afford to desert the Governor whilst his administration is under fire. It must place him again in the field and put up the best bluff it can that his administration is just the kind of an administration the people want.—Elmira Gazette.

   We cited one class of "rock" classification in the report on Aldridge's canal operations in which an agent of Platt's Family Surety Company appeared as the possessor of a very valuable "pull." As a matter of fact his "pull" transformed about 6,000 cubic yards of earth to be excavated at 24 cents a yard, into "rock," for which the State paid him $1.25 a cubic yard for excavating. He thus made a clear and quick profit of $6,000, because he had an agent of the "old man's" company to plead for him. A no less significant case is cited in the report on pages 79 and 80. The holder of a contract in this instance made an unbalanced bid of $3 a cubic yard for "rock ' and 23 3/4 cents for earth. The amount of "rock" included in the bidding sheet made up by the engineer was 100 cubic yards. By May 1 last the contractor had charged the State for 19,880 cubic yards of rock, receiving $58,140 in place of the $800 contemplated in his bid. There was still said to be 15,000 cubic yards of "rock" to be excavated, making the total 85,000 cubic yards, and the ultimate cost to the State $105,000. In his testimony before the commission the contractor said he had taken out his bond from the Platt family Company, and had received the consent of that company to the extension of the contract, that his agreement was a "private" one which he preferred not to disclose. He also said that he had figured to make a profit in his original bid, going "high on rock and low on earth." The bid was not the lowest, because another contractor had bid $1 a cubic yard for rock, but it was made to appear lowest by being unbalanced. The price paid was the highest paid for "rock" on the canal. Did the Platt "pull" secure the rich prize?—N. Y. Evening Post (Mugwump.)

   The canal commission, in its report, says that of the $92,000 expended for advertising, "$80,000 was improperly expended." Governor Black reads this and then has to go to the attorney general to ask what shall be done about it. Let the governor do his duty and fire the delinquent superintendent, and then the responsibility for prosecution will be on the attorney general.— Watertown Re-Union.

   The official report of Governor Black's own canal investigation commission was read on Thursday last. Yet the men whom it convicts of "diverting" $2,500,000 of the people's money are still in office, are still in a position to tap the public till. And they are there by grace of Governor Black!—N. Y. World, (Ind.)

   Engineers Cooley and North found that in the canal construction work, "In those cases where the alignment and surface were poor, the material at hand would work under more intelligent inspection." In some instances "the wall has been taken down and rebuilt, the poor work having been due to negligence or incompetence of the inspection." But the bill for inspection was one of the heaviest the taxpayers incurred. The State paid for a small army of inspectors, open and closed season alike. It paid, as the canal commissioner states, for "three or four inspectors stationed on a dredge on each contract watching excavation." It paid for the services of a number of Aldridge's lieutenants who were thrown out of a job in the city of Rochester. No wonder the commission remarks that "the evidence indicates that competency was not made the test in selecting inspectors." and that of the funds paid out for inspection fully $40,000 was worse than wasted.—Albany Argus, (Dem.)

   All the assertions which Governor Black may make to the effect that the Republican party is not responsible for the canal jobbery do not alter the facts in the case. If the Republicans in office at the time the money was expended had done their whole duty as office-holders, or if the men appointed by those office-holders had been men imbued with the spirit of patriotism for their State there would have been no canal jobbery, and all the logic in all the universe cannot gainsay the truth of that statement. We have long contended that the Republican party in the State of New York under the domination of Thomas C. Platt is corrupt, and that its rule takes away from the best interests of the State, and for our utterances we have been abused by men calling themselves "honest men" and "good Republicans."—Binghamton Herald, (Ind. Rep.)

   While the commissioners do not by name charge any one with dishonesty or corruption, they do represent that the interests of the State have been shamefully neglected. They show that many matters that should have been referred to the canal board were settled by Superintendent Aldridge and State Engineer Adams without submission to the board. They report that not sufficient care was taken in studying the conditions and the nature of the work before the plans and specifications were prepared. They represent that there have been marked looseness and irregularities in the manner of carrying on the work, with resulting wastefulness and loss.—Syracuse Post (Rep.)

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   Platt's program was carried out at the meeting of the Republican state committee in New York last Saturday.. His complete control of affairs is shown by the fact that the session lasted only four minutes. This shows excellent management on the part of the boss. The place of holding the convention is Saratoga and the date Sept. 27.

   The official report of Gov. Black's own canal investigation commission was read by Gov. Black some weeks ago. Yet the men whom it convicts of "diverting" $2,500,000 of the people's money are still in office, are still in a position to tap the public till. And they are there by grace of Governor Black.

   Governor Black's intimate friends are quoted as saying that the governor "is not a wealthy man, and he left a good law practice, which has cost him years of hard work to build up, when he became governor. He feels that his duty is to provide for his family, which he would have the greatest difficulty in doing out of the emoluments of office." Governor Black knew all this when he allowed himself to be boosted into office by Lou Payn two years ago. It is astonishing how many office holding patriots suddenly arrive at the conclusion, they cannot afford, in duty to their families, to hold office after the people have done with them.—Syracuse Courier.

   As Cervera's battleships emerged from Santiago harbor, and the Maria Teresa opened fire on the American fleet, Chaplain Jones went among the gunners of the Texas and shouted to them "Remember Cuba second, the Maine first, then fight." And fight they did with marvelous effect. Chaplain Jones, despite his calling, does not seem to be afflicted with the silly notion that there is something to be ashamed of in acknowledging the truth, that is, that the avenging of the Maine has at all times been our first and best cause of war. It is a pity that the same has not been officially acknowledged from the start. Frankness would have lost us nothing, and might have gained the avoidance of several difficulties—Albany Argus.

   When it was discovered early last winter that the crookedness of the canal ring could no longer be concealed, the Republicans sought to soften the effects of the inevitable exposure by making it themselves, hoping that by selecting those who were to make the investigation they might secure a whitewashing report. But the iniquities brought to light were so gross that no body of men no matter how hard the pressure brought to bear, could conceal or extenuate them. The result is a report showing the grossest incompetency and dishonesty ever known in politics. Millions fooled away and millions more needed to complete a work for which Republican State officials are solely responsible go to make up the history of this mammoth steal. In every way conceivable corruption and incompetency reigned supreme. The Republican party has a terrible reckoning to meet at the hands of the plundered people of the State, and no amount of falsifying will avail it to avert the certain rebuke that will be administered this fall—Kingston Leader.

 

McGRAWVILLE.

   MCGRAWVILLE, N. Y., Aug. 23.—Miss Belle Moore and Josie Limberger of Lestershire are visiting friends in town.

   Bert Brooks of New York City is visiting his parents Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Brooks.

   Mrs. Patrick Cammill and son Johnnie, were guests over Sunday of F. B. Graves.

   Mrs. Hattie Carpenter and daughter of Elbridge, N. Y., are guests of Mrs. Mary Phillips.

   Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Baum of Hamilton visited Rev. N. S. Burd the fore part of the week.

   Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Kent of Elmira visited James A. Brooks the fore part of the week.

   Berry picking is the order of the day here, and the one that can tell the biggest story gets the most berries.

   Lieutenant Will Davis of the U. S. A., is spending a few days with his mother, Mrs. Samuel Davis, in Solon.

   Mr. and Mrs. Merton Hammond and little son, of Bridgeport, Conn., are spending a couple of weeks with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hammond.

   H. K. Alexander, H. C. Chaffee and Leon Holmes, went to New York Friday night and viewed the naval parade on Saturday, returning home on Sunday morning.

   Two family picnics were held here on Friday. The Hammond picnic on account of the rain was held at Hammond's Hall, and the Hillsinger picnic was held at the residence of W. H. Ensign. Both were largely attended.

   Samuel McGuire, a member of the 10^th New York Cavalry, and for many years a resident of Solon, died at the Soldiers' Home at Bath on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The remains were brought here on Friday and the funeral was held at the residence of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Chas. Euson,  on Saturday at 2 o'clock, P. M. Interment in the McGrawville Rural cemetery.

 

Traction Company Officers.

   The meeting of the board of directors of the Cortland & Homer Traction Company was held last Monday, and officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:

   President—P. H. Page of Scranton, Pa.

   Vice President—Herman Bergholtz of Ithaca, N. Y.

   Secretary and Treasurer—G. Harry Garrison of Cortland.

   Mr. Garrison succeeds Mr. H. P. Simpson of Scranton as treasurer, and the promotion from bookkeeper, which office Mr. Garrison has held for several years, is well-deserved.

  

Firm Changed.

   The firm of Case & Ruggles, who have for several years conducted a dry goods business in Cortland and Athens, Pa., has been dissolved, Mr. Ruggles continuing the Athens store and Mr. Case the Cortland store. During his residence in Cortland Mr. Case has won the confidence and approval of the public and well merits the generous patronage he has received, and it will doubtless be continued.

 

Cortland Opera House on Groton Avenue, Cortland, N. Y.

"The Devil's Auction."

   On Friday evening, Sept. 2nd, that favorite show piece, Chas. H. Yale's forever "Devil's Auction" will be presented at Cortland Opera House. It is customary with this popular spectacle each year to inject such a vast amount of new matter, novel and timely ideas into this performance as to render it comparatively new to the eye and ear. This year the management claim to have exceeded by far any previous production of "The Devil's Auction" in the introduction of newly created features, scenes, costumes, ballets, specialties and ensemble which go towards making a great performance of spectacle.

   John R. Wilkins and Ralph M. Bechtel, Manager Yale's special artists have, with a large corps of assistants, devoted the entire summer creating and originating new scenic effects and have so changed and elaborated his former ideas that the new scenic effects may be aptly termed "The Devil's Auction from a new point of view." Prominent among artist Wilkin's and Bechtel's latest efforts are "The Cavern of Gigantic Heads;" "The Garden of the Blue Dragon;" "The Golden Palace of Flowers," and the new transformation entitled "The Flight of Time," which is one of the most magnificent illusions of fairyland ever conceived by this famous painter.

   The dramatic cast of this season sees quite a number of changes. Ben F. Grinnell, a clever singing and dancing comedian, has been engaged for the part of Toby; while Miss Mayme Mayo, who combines excellent musical qualities with the most taking kind of soubrette work, has been reengaged as Janet, the milkmaid; also a most notable engagement has been made in that of Miss Phyllis Allen, the phenomenal contralto singer, who will appear as the hero Carlos.  Miss Ella Gardiner, a clever ingénue, will appear as the heroine Madeline, Miss Madge Torrance, a statuesque English beauty as Chystaline, the Good Fairy, and Mildred Holden as the wicked Count Fortuno. Eight strong vaudeville features will add zest to the performance and as a special feature "Little Miss Columbia," a phenomenal little dancer, has been added to the already overcrowded list of novelties.

 

HERE AND THERE.

   Joiners' Business school in the Democrat building opens for the fall term on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

   The Virgil M. E. Sunday school will hold a picnic at Elysium park to-morrow. The Virgil band will accompany them.

   The ninth annual Scotch picnic will be held at Riverside park, Freeville, next Friday, Sept. 2. Note the change in date.

   Some hunters got the idea that the season on partridges, woodcock and squirrels opened August 15th. September 1st is the lawful date.

   Patsey Conway's Ithaca band of thirty-seven pieces won the first prize of $300 at the Firemen's convention at Binghamton last week. Congratulations, Patsey.

   The Ithaca news says "The ice men in the city are running short of their stock in trade, and ice from out of town may be shipped here to supply the demand.

   Nearly 100 members of the Beebe family attended the tenth annual reunion at the old homestead in Taylor now occupied by Garret P. Rockwell. It will be held at the same place August 17, 1899.

   Dr. C. H. Jones, the well known dentist of Cortland, has just completed a course of special instruction in crown and bridgework under the tutelage of Dr. F. M. Willis of this city.—Ithaca Journal.

   The Spencer family held their annual reunion with Mrs. Thankful A. Price on Railroad-st. last week, Thursday, nearly fifty members being present. Next year they will meet on the Broome county fair grounds, Aug. 17.

   The twenty-third annual Hammond family reunion was held with Henry Hammond of McGrawville as host last Friday. About seventy-five were present. Next year they will be entertained by Dr. Lydia A. Strowbridge in Cortland.

   Mrs. Wells Watkins, mother of Wayne Watkins of Cortland, died last Friday morning at her home in Potter Brook. Pa. The regains were brought to Cortland Saturday afternoon and on Sunday were taken to Cincinnatus, her former home, for burial.

   The storm which reached Cortland soon after 6 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, did great damage in Syracuse, where poles and trees were blown down and many plate glass fronts broken.

   The large grain barn of Horace Hiscock, just this side of Preble on the west road was struck by lightning late Tuesday afternoon and burned. It was full of hay and grain and insured for $1,000.

   Hon. Sereno E. Payne will address a farmers' picnic in Wight Brothers grove near Cincinnatus next Tuesday. A special train over the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. will leave Cortland at 9:25, round trip 75 cents.

   You people who have been crying "Remember the Maine," now that the war is over, can change your cry, and if you owe the printer, let it be—"Remember the printer." There's a lot on our subscription books who we hope will not only remember the printer, but do it substantially by settling up—paying what they owe us.—Greene American.