Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-03-01

a fraudulent understanding with contractors. To
these two causes Mr.. Woudburn attributes hs over
lettings. These excuses If true, your committee
deem good ones but as they are constrained to de-
eide against Mr.. WOODBURY. IN another matter Of
some moment they deem IT important that this item
should be strictly enquired into by the attor-
ney for the State. The time OF your committee
has been so engrossed with other and weigh,ier
matters, that they have had no leisure TO enquire
INTO the correctness of these statements. II is well
known that one l.. u. Beckwith, employed
resident engineer this road for some wears, while
Mr. Woodburn was Commissioner. The particu-
lars of his fraudulent estimates are well known
to the public.
The losses sustained by the State from these
fraudulent estimates were very large; so large IN
deck were they, 1t is matter Of surprise that Mr..
Woodburn, acting discussing agent on the line
did not discover them at an earlier day. very
ready test should have been furnished hlm by COM
parson of the original with the final estimates be-
fore making payments. IL the discrepancy between
the two in any instance had proved to be very great,
it would have been Mr.. Woodburn's duty To have
inquired into the causes of such difference. Mr..
Noodburn says however, that such not his
practice, nor did lac DO IN a single instance. 1t
would appear 10 your committee that an occasional
recurrence to the origina, estimates, would have
been proper IN the d sburslng agent. especially on
line where the expenditures 50 far exceeded the
original estimates. a. cause the COMM ssIoner
exceed the appropriations made on the road had
Dir. Noodbun done 50, the result must have eX
cited suspicion of Mr.. Beckwiths honesty or com
potency, and suspicion IN gross aud papable
case OF fraud would have resulted imined date de-
lection.
The most charitable inference however, is that
Mr.. Woodburn had an overwecning confidence IN
the engineer and neglected the obvious means
winch he should have employed To ascertain the
correctness OF the enormous disbursements he was
daily mixing and ths j. accordingly the Judgment
of the committee.
With regard 10 the location Of the present rail-
road at the Madison hill, through what Is known
familiarly the deep diggingS," your committee
fad 1ir. " oodburn To have been blaneieSs It's
immense cost, Of all proportion with the benefits
expected to be derived from 1t, proves il IN the
Judgment of your committee to have been an lrjI-
dcious location. But although there
differences of opinion among the engineers las is
shown by Mr. Gdlets testimony As 10 the propr-
ely of the present costly location, Mr. Woodburn
appears to have followed the advice of very eminent
engineers, aud in so doing no blame can attach to
him. Your committee do not perceive that he act
ed from any interested or improper motives In this
matter, nor have they any testimony tending to
prove such motives HIM. In this matter they
therefore hold hun bamcess, unless any blame
could attach to him for erroneous judgment IN
matter ia which scientific men disagreed.
Very different however Is the judgment of your
committee the next matter. While Mr.. Wood
burn was acting commissioner on the Madison aud
indianapolis railroad, he made contract with his
brother, Culver Woodburn, resident at the same
place Ia receive lJ3d tons of railroad ron at the
landing, and have the draycd TO the top of the
Madison hill. Mr.. Noodburn saws that he made no
stipulation as 10 pay, surprising his brother would
charge what was reasonable. That his brother
charged - cents per ton or about $lijo, which BE
did not pay until about dozen respectable men
SAID IL was right Mr. Culver Woodburn's testi-
mony shows that he counted the iron bars. had IL
deposited on the river bank. 1t pat 10 drays,
hauled 20 the top OF Madison hl aud gave tickets
To draymen, The state paying the expense OF dray
age. That at one time the IRON had 10 be moved
short distance 10 keep the high water from over
flowing 1t, which he attended to. Mr. Samuel VII
SAYS that the iron never stored NJ ali, but
land in piles the bank, that the compensation was
seventy five cents per tom that there was no occa-
SION TO employ commlSS on merchant about the
business, that Mr.. John oodburm his clerk could
have done the business lnst as we'll that lie would
gladly have taken the Job tor half the price or
even less, and that Gov Noble got the same
performed for - cents per ton, third
OF the money. that Gov. Noble not beng resident
of Madison lie did right 10 employ agent to do il,
but there was no necessity Tor Mr. O0dburn 10 DO
Mr. Wilson evInces some III feeling towards Mr..
John NoodOurn but Your committee see very little
IN his testimony differing from the facts stated by
the Mr. W oodburns, except that be- diliers from
them about the proportion between the services
rendered, and the compensation received by Mr. &.
cur with Mr. W l,on. the only qualification ne
cessary % a discharge of Mr.. Culver W oodburu' 5
duties the ability TO count the bars % ron. and
compare their number with the number set down IN
the bIl of ltd.ng. he duties imposed Toy the con
tract of Mr.. Culver Wood5urn, probably occupied
several DAYS OF his tine and engaged his intellect
in The operation OF counting iron bars for several
hours. For these services your committee believe
that II loo was an cXtravag1ut compensation, and
recommend that his brother be compelled To return
to the State all the surplus over and owe reason
able compensation In this instance they are firm
~ convinced, that the interest OF the State would
nave been better served by engaging the wharf
master nj Madison 10 .~chage the duties performed
by ". Woodbury. brother at SO high rate. Mr..
M oodburn has produced 10 the committee. the Ger
ticate at several gentlemen aud the aiuday.ts Of
others showing that reasonable conf ensation for
forwarding aud Receiving iron per TON l. from -
cents 10 II Tins does not alter the case Iu the
least. The operation Of receiving and forwarding
IRON by commission merchant, implies trust and
respcns y Wh ch ls only fepased by persons who
cannot be present dist ant ports, to To the
trtu-h.pmeEt Of goods. The commission IN such
case, is a compeus atom FIR responsibility Incurred
and care bestowed IN selecting suItab agents -
make transhipment. 10 taking care Of the proper-
IS, Sc uriUE proper bills ct ad.ng bnt Mr. Culver
Woodburns duties were OF a different nature Gov.
Noble IN ISIS got thing done tor one tAlrd Of the
compensation; winch fact IS CONCLUSIVE.
10 de coHfttUed
Stray LAWS AID BANK SusPr>sIoys-The IN
diana State Bank has become quite rabld because
the bankrupt demagogues 10 the Legislature have
passed law 10 relieve themselves OF judgments,
executions. &c. under the guise Of relieving the
people, and tAreatens 10 loan the people ID more
money. Now We can quite as good reasons i5r
a st4y law for bank s!~Deusl0n. although sc