Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-24

The nbili making appropriations tor tne
Public Works for 1857" has passed both
branches of the General Assembly and Is
now law. Il disposes Of the vexed con-
Rroversv In rclation 10 the Contracts, in a
o,apu.r ou;te a. satisfactorily as could be
,erpected' under alI circumstances. Though,
for our own part we haye from the first
been in favor Of tho aRnulmeut Of the con-
tracts without parley with the gross fraud
upcn which they arc based, wo submit with
As good grace as possible TO what seems TO
be the next best thing There has been
from the first decided difference OF opin-
ion among Republicans, both in aud out OF
the Legislature, as to what disposition should
be made of these contracts; and while not
disposed 10 yield our viows in this matter,
we have not sought TO force thom upon
Others. The law provides:
ist An appropriation for the construc-
ton, repairs, and expenses on the canals,
(exclusive Of section three) two hundred and
forty thousand dollars; for incidentals, at
torney's fees, superintendence, Office expen-
ses, salaries Of the Board of Public Works,
engineering and guaging, DC, $4,000; all
the foregoing appropriations TO be expended
by the Board Of Public Works, which is di-
rectcd to take possession Of the Works.
I'd. The parties to the contracts, their as
signees, and others claiming to be interest
ed under them in said contracts are author
lied, within ninety days from the passage OF
the act to bring action in the Superior
Court, or Court Of Common Pleas of Frank
lin County, against the State Of Ohio,
for tho recovery Of damages for refusal to
execute said ontracts,--proccedings to be
the samo as in cases between private indi-
viduals.
Sd. Provision is mado for service, appeal,
process for summoning witnesses, &c.; and
the actions authorized to bo brought sha Il
have preference in all courts over other suits
pending therein--all with view to expo
diting the suits, and giving the contractors
every facility for testing their rights in the
courts.
4th. The Board of Public Works is au-
thorized to purchase Of the several contrac-
tors all boats tools, horses, and materials
owned and provided by them, for repairing
said several sections,-the value of such ar
ticles to bo determined by three disinterest-
ed men, acting under oath, to be chosen by
the Board, or by that member thereof hav-
ing charge of the section on which said ar
ticles have been used.
5th. The Board is authorized to receive
the surrender of any or all Of the contracts
except section number three, (if rendered
by the contractors,) and to pay the sevcra
contractors for all work done by them il
pursuance of said contracts, since the l5tt
November last.
9th. In case the contractors shall recover
damages in any or all their suits, the Boarc
may, at its option, renew the contracts, fol
the unexpired period upon receiving salts
factory security for the faithful performance
of contracts, and a release by the parties re
covering Judgment, of so much of sait
damages as may by tho Board be deemed
justly proportionate to the portions of sait
five years remaining after the date of sale
final judgment, with reference to the perioc
for which damages shall have been recover
ed,"-The act takes effect on its passage.
We have condensed, above all the mair
points of the bill, q great portion Of which
is taken up with details, which would no
be Of general interest. From our synopsi
it will appear that the two objects of tn
bill are: firstly, 10 place the Public Work
in the hands of the Board; and secondly
to make ample and fair provisions for th
contractors to sue tho State. No none
is appropriated on the contracts, except o
section three---but if they arc valid, an
the contractors deem tho failure to apprc
pirate breach on the part of the State,
legal rcmedy is provided. So far as con
Germs the contractors, therefore, the bill
based upon most lenient consideration c
all their rights, probable, and possible
For our own part, we do not believe the
deserve any such leniency on the part {
the State; and would have rejoiced to hav
seen them stripped, without mercy, of the
plunder. Yet the Legislature has decide
to give them full hearing in the Court.
and although this may be regarded as
mere act Of clemency to which they wei
not in reality entitled, it may be that Il
State will loose nothing in the end, by gi
ing the miserable treasury y-conspirators
chance for their lives. But of this we ha'
doubts. There should be no compromi
with fraud the Legislature has barely e
capped this error; and the narrowncss o. Il
escape ought perhaps to make us mo
thankful for the deliyerance.-San.R Reg.