Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-06-02

supposed 10 exist there. There was preVa
lent opinion among the people that the Canal
Commissioners, dependent Immediately on the
Executive, had prostituted their high functions
and had bestowed on personal and political Ia
vorites large share of the patronage which
unhappily for the people, they are authorized to
dispense. The public has been startled from
its confidence by the astonishing disclosure that
the public works during the last two years un'
der the care of the present Canal Board have
cost for management and repair, the sum OF t'0t
millions one hundred and tIttyJtFUe thousand ana
cighty-one dollarS-or an average OF one million
and seventy-fve thousand forty dollars for each
wear of Gov Porier's administration, while dur
ing the late administration, the average even al
periods of extraordinary accidentnever exceeded
eight hundred and six thousand six hundred and
ninety-six dolls. Unable to account for this by
any theory but that which is founded on a convic-
lion of The want ofintegrity ofthe public agents
and earnestly desiring 10 restore public conf
dence TO the magnificent system of improve
ments for which so much has been expended
and in the success of which the best hopes of
The people are centered, the House of Repre-
senlatiyes soon after lis organization instituted
thorough investigation into the conduct OF the
Canal Board. It's results viii soon be before
the world and to those results we direct your
early attention. They justify susplclon--ihey
authorize and demand the strongest reprobailon
they are the results of calm and deliberate
inquiry in which Justice was fairly done, ample
opportunity of exculpaiion afforded, witnesses
were publicly examined and cross examined,
and the Canal Commissioners will stand before
the public, convicted on unquesiioned evidence
of gross and palpable abuse of power Who
can wonder at the increasing expenditure on
our public works, when they read and hear of
such instances as one or two, which taken a:
random from the report Of the Investigating
Committee, are but specimens of worse and
more startling Developments hereafter.
1t became necessary to purchase ropes for
the inclined planes. The best article was Of
fered by manufacturers of unquestioned merit
and could have been procured for the aggregate
amount of SYST: political parizan offered
]. 10 the disposers of the public bounty for So,
049. The competitor was no longer equal, the
parlizan obtained ;he contract, and on this one
article The Commonwealth lost eleven hundred
and seveu;y-one dollars.
Il became necessary TO relay eleven miles Of
railroad near the city Of Philadelphia. Ii was
in unquestioned proof that this work might have
been done and well done for thirty-siX thous
and dollars. 1t was done and cost the Com
monwealih filiy-four thousand FIVE hundred and
eighty-six dollars, causing loss Of more than
eighteen thousand dollars, for reasons no doubt
as patriotic as those which regulated the pur-
chase of ropes.
Among The largest and most important work
on our Canal line is the construction of the
Reservoir near Hollidaysburg. For this work
three offers were made and the contract given
10 political friend-ai what cost to you fellow
cirizens, will thus appear:
For grubbing and clearing, two contractors
offered TO do ii for $3.50; John Mitchell charged
500, and has the contract.
For rock excavation, two contractors offered
thirty-nine cents, and Mr.. Mitchell has ii for
foTty-eigkt cents.
For common excavation below water-two
contractors offered one twcnty and one toen-
toslr cents, but Mr.. Mitchell offered thirty-three
cents, and he has The contract too.
For good earth embankment one contractor
offered seventeen cents and one Is cents, but
Mr. Mitchell has done il for 25 cents.
For coarse stuff embankment one contractor
offered nlneteea cents, another seventeen cents,
and Mr.. Mitchell has il for thirty cents, and so
il will appear throughout Till it is demonstrable
that The loss 10 the Commonwealth in this work
will no; be less than twenty thousand dollars.
On the western reservoir it was ascertained
that II cos; the State upward Of twenty ihous-
and dollars 10 clear from timber about four hun
dred acres
Had no other inducement existed, there would
have been in these disclosures, enough to justify
immediate action and change in the tenure of
those Canal Commissioners. Bill was imme-
diately natured TO that effect, with the design Of
changing the tenure and giving to the Legislature
and the Governor a concurrent power of appoint
merit But the tenaciousness with which power
holds on 10 patronage, was not TO be relaxed, and
this measure adapted to the wishes Of the people
and their necessities fell before the veto power.
The Executive suggested reference 10 vote of
the people, 10 that suggestion we have acceded,
and there is now in his hands Bill TO carry it
into effect Its fate we do not pretend to conJec-
iure Let the people wait on the Executive de-