The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-05-22


work, al one dollar and fifty cents per day
He swears that he received but thirteen dol
lars in all that he worked but one day il
June, and eleven Or twelve in May, at one
dollar per day that he was taken sick j.
June and thus prevented from working tha
he signed two check rolls for Morgan, wht
paid him that he did not examine the roll
closely when he signed them.
] "From the foregoing abstract from the
testimony which the committee have deem.
ed proper to incorporate in their report, il
will be seen that false returns have been
made to the Auditor General OF moneys pur.
porting to have been paid the Witnesses, who
were employed in rebuilding the Freepot
Aqueduct, and by this means in these FIVE
instances alone, the sum of $i37 so have
been abstracied from the Treasury. But
five lahorers have been examined out Of
rome two orthree hundred Ihat were en-.
ployed on the work.-From numerous let.
tiers received and other informal Information
in possession of the committee, they thirk
it altogether probable that a much larger
amount upon careful examination, will be-
found to have been drawn from the Treasury
in the same manner. The committee are
induced to bring this matter 10 the notice Of
the Legislature, not because of the sexual
loss sustained, but because Of the gross vio-
la,ion Of the joint resolution approved the
18Th day Of March, 1887, entitled 'Resolu-
tions rsiaiive 10 the superintendents of mo.
tive power and disbursements upon the
canals and railways, which forbid the OBJ
tanning of any receipts from any person for
any debt due by the commonwealth, with
out the actual payment Of fhe money. In
some of the instances referred to, the check
rolls were signed at the request Of James
Morgan, and due bill given by him for the
amount, and in all of them the number Of
days, the per diem and the aggregate amount
have been increased after the signatures
were obtained. James Morgan, who kept
the check rolls and paid the hands, suddenly
disappeared from his place Of residence,
shortly after a subpoena had bsen issued for
him, as will appear by the testimony Of the
sergeant-at arms. The committee would
recommend a close examination by the Au-
diior General, Of the amounts paid on check
rolls on the work. From the testimony OF
Joseph Alter, Peter Ford and Adam Holli.
dey, ii will be seen that a much larger
quantity of timber was purchased than was
required or used in the construction of the
aqueduc, the two former estimate the sur
plus at one hundred thousand feet, and the
Izaet a sufficient 10 build three additional
aqueducts; much Of j, in rafs that had no.
hesn touched, large part Of which was af-
forwards foated to Cincinnatti and there sold,
according 10 the testimony Of one witness,
at eight cents, per foot"
Here was cyidtnca sufficient 10 satisfy the
most skeptical, that the accounts Of MIR.
Power, as filed, were unfair. Upon this ev-
idence the Auditor General, on the 2sth Of
May, 1919, opened his accounts, as far as
they related TO the rebuilding of the aque-
duct appointed the Hon, John c. Knox
commissioner to take the tie stimony in relation
10 them, and the un dersigned agent on the
part of the Commonwealth to furnish it. On
examining the check rolls it was found that
there had been between five and six hun
dred different mea employed at the work. Il
was found on making inquiry relative to
them that some of them were dead; others
had left the state, and that many of them
could not be found at all. however suc-
ceeded in serving subp1ra upon two hum
dred and three Of them. One hundred and
eighty seven OF these appeared before the
commissioner. The testimony was taken in
the presence of Mr.. Power, and his friend
General Lsyi G. Clover, assisted by Ator-
neys Riddle, Donely, France and Nesbit, Il
will be found in the journal Of the House q
Representatives for 1850, vol 2, page 7O4.
(Here follows list Of the amounts each
witness received for his services at the re.
building Of the aqueduct, together with what
he is purpcrted TO have received by the
check rolls. There are one hundred and
eighty seven of these, but they are all alike
except In amount, and we give the follow
ing as samples. The whole amount Of er.
rors is 90, ,ess 90 j
Error.
John Woods received sl6 90
Amount as per check rolls 80 90 Z,
-23 90
James Lowe received Sc 90
Amount as per check rolls 10 90
s----.--A 90
Isaac Kepple received 10 90
Amount d per check rolls SO 90 2