The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-07

cations of the bidders, &c.. think he had set OF
books containing the bids, and when we were at
work Mt any particular piece Of work, he would look
at refer to these books, and he also helped to keep
minutes, as did also young man from Mr.. Gag
gers office, sent up for that purpose" Again-sl
do not know where Abel Isl have not seen him
since he was in Albany; Abel was understood to be
interested in the proposition Of ID. II. Richardson;
he spoke to me in relation to this but not to my
recollection, for any one else, or in regard to any
other proposition" OF the rest of the gentlemen
ofablity, will refer to the testimony to show how
they obtained contracts. Mr.. Kellogg gives this
account Of the j. B. Rice contract
Messrs. Utley, Bates, Howe and Webb obtained con-
tracts which far interested in them
i4l (Wobbs assigned to Howe aiterwardsJ, la. I45
(Howes) there some culverts also awarded to Mr.
Howe on sections 100 and AL Those interested with
myself and Utley & Bates in their bids above, Mr.
Mattison of Utica and with myself and Howe and Webb
Judge Nye Of Madison county: A. a.; Duby Of Utica
Deos De Wolf Of Oswego. and Mr. Madison These
tracts awarded the bids put in; the latter
not altered to my knowledge have also interest
obtained since awards made in sections and cuvcrtz
awarded to j. b. Rice 149 and $780, and in culverts
section ISL j. B. Rice ASST gned the whole Of his interest
John L. Schoolcraft and lie assigned wohirds of the
half of Shenans interest giving him therefor my note
payable in year from date for 1000 without in
terps Mr. Rces bids first assigned to Schoocraft
and afterwards the contracts these contracts amount to
S92 900 thcreabouts; Mr. Matson Ia to have
of the interest purchased from Sherman and my brother
one sixth
OF Messrs. Burroughs and Hatchs interest
| Commissioner Folett says
He named Mr.. Hatch. Of Oswego. Mr. Burroughs, of
Medina Mr.. I. ,. Barton Of Buffalo and think, one
or two Others. Il would say that neither Hatch nor
| Burroughs had contracts in their names. but are
supposed to be interested with o,her lie had tried on
the sate he undertook to exclude them but could not
and did not now blame anybody
VIM. Baldwin also says
Lock No II awarded TO Philo Storms of Oswego;
his bid something less than thousand dollars
higher than mine; gave him thousand dollars for his
interest in his contracts the contract made prepared
for him to sign contract the same al
tered for to sign at joint request Mr. Stevens is
. miller. and never. to my knowledge engaged in any
work OF the kind; Dir Moses r. Hatch, of Oswego told
me he had an interest in getting this contract for Stevens
have known stevens for about two years he told me
think that he had never done any such work. my bid
locks IA and Il. awarded to A b. Dickinson, about
$4,000 less than his: feel confident from my experience
and knowledge, that could have made money on my
bids.
ask the reading again of G. w. Baldwns aft
davit, to show how this assignment of bids was
naged. wish TO show by this the modss ope0ndi
by which they forced me to assign contracts. re-
fer to it, too. to show the manner in which the
taking of verbal bids would operate. Sealed propo
sails are received-they are opened and if collision
were possible to be credited in this Canal Board
it opened the way for collision with favorite bid
ders. This is a thing never heard of. What, ver-
bal bid in our public works J If there was nothing
else, this would stamp fraud upon the contracts
such as to call for action on the part of this house
And yet we find the members of this Legislature
coming here with report and placing it on file
approving of these verbal bids! Look the testimo
ny of Baldwin. He had come down here for con.
tract, but had returned, supposing that he had re-
ceived none. A Geographic despatch from Kellogg
brings him back. The Board has seen fit to award
him contract. but compels him to assign it to
those ''iour or five worthy poor men"-embracing
George Law Co.---a contract worth 10000, for
$75. Notice the fact Of Foett coming into the
private and locked up room Of Law & Co., with an
armful Of contracts. What does this mean, if this
innocent letting board are ignorant Of all the out
ED pts1 all ;Ia
with all this brokerage going on---will gentlemen
tell US there was no fraud, no corruption! Is it
strange the Canal Board pursued no system of ac-
tion--lctting contracts at one time too high for the
interest of the State. and another time too low for
the interest Of the State! Happy people, to have
such accommodating State ofiicers Ii would seem
that my friend from Columbia. Alr Van SAINT
voord,) who seems anxious to see the ghost, and
whose vision far has not been blessed light see
in some OF these transactions the shadow
of guilt, oY at least. the ghost of a fraud.
Before l leave this branch of the subject,
must refer to the new theory in government. It
seems that in this age Of progress. fraud has
found a new hiding place under political favo-
ritsm." it is approved OF by the majority report
of the select committee, approved of by one of the
minority reports and now only waits the confirmation
OF the Legislature to be incorporated into the
Guide Book for state officers, thus establishing a
safe basis for accepting proposals FOR sale of public
stocks, or receiving contracts for public works. and
also safe rule for the disbursement of public
moneys; always preserving the 'half and halt"
principle, cautiously guarding the pecunary pro-
portions between political partisans always seeing
that proper conversations are made from the diff
ferent columns when the bids mixed, thirded or
halved. Novel doctrine in political and moral phi
losophy. Soothing epithets tor violation of public
trusts have, as it were, protracted as this ex-
animation OF testimony on my part has been, only
taken glance az this mountain OF guilt. Its dark
and hidden recesses are yet unexpored-it towering
height. its icproportons. which startle belief
dsta ,rua hay vci hean oil
But am forced to quit these details to come to the
consideration OF the conclusions which they force
upon me. ] now come 10 a summary OF conclusions
The evils attending n confirmation OF the lettings
now that The public knows how and why
they were made, no one OF us can foresee
LIST. ! have shown from the evidence now upon
your table, that before the estimates were made or
the proposals put IN, an arrangement was entered
into between Messrs. Foet Mather and Seymour, TO
divide the work equally between the two political
parties, on condition that large amount Of work
should be given to particular individual. and from
the fact that Mr.. Seymour and that Individual are
largely connected in . western enterprise. draw
The inference that Mr. Seymour improperly
inauenced If not corrupted in his official action ;
MS lnIvNan action msst be measured by an ade-
quato lotiye, and there no attempt IN his tes-
tDlod to show that the motive to give Law three
millft ns OF contracts and the large amount That
he finally got in his own name and with oth-
crs was, because il was advantageous to the
interests of the state" The evidence OF this argu-
mont i unnistakcabc and the inference loscA
anu iar. III YOU approve of the argument, say 50 !;
y You approve OF Mr.. Seymour and Mr.. Laws con-
nociion, say So and do not shrink from the RESPONSE
biIiiy "a ! have shown from the evidence the
manner the Letting board proceeded in dividing the
wok equally between the two parties, each side
dies grating the person TO have the contract and
taking carc Of his own political friends. | have
rynd 10 you tho law, showing this illegal. I'd.
haSc shown from the evidence that contracts at
-.sav,t t's.a "Viv s"-,uy. ~ s-.y ia'iioa'-r