The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-02-04
BOARD or PUBLIC woRKsL.L O.
COFOCO PLUNDERINGS1-INVES
TIGATING COMMITTEES, SC.

COFOCO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TIGATING COMmITTTEs, sc.
We are indebted to DIR. CowAN for a
copy of the report Of the joint committee
on the subject Of the Public Works.
It is q document consisting of 14l pages,
besides the "erratta," which latter is
remarkable for its omissions and sup
pressions.
These Committees, it will be remem-
bered, were composed exclusively OF
colored politicians-Hot a Democrat be-
ing upon one Of them-and the whole
Investigations were therefore &c parte.
They were in session during the re-
cess, and with an army of clerks, quar-.
tered upon the Treasury, it was expect
ed by their party that they would find
sufficient leisure, after having discharg-
ed their duties in the State and Presi-
dental campaigns, to find something
against the Administration of their
predecessors that would justify the enor-
nous expense which they had cost the
State. The Committee may have sue.
ceeded in persuading some of their heat
ed partizans that they have convicted
the Democratic Administration of fraud
and corruption in their management Of
the Public Works, and in the awards Of
the lettings of the contracts for repaires;
but they will fail in convincing any un-
preju1iced mind hat they have made
out their case. Admitting, to the full
est extent, all the corruption that is
charged and insinuated, and what does
it amount to as against the Democratic
Board ?
Let US see: On the 25th of Sep
TENDER, 1855, when the Board deter
mined TO let by contract, the repairs of
the Public Works, that body consisted
of Messrs. STEEDMAN, GRIswoLD and
BLIcKENsDERFER-the two former Dem
o%crats, the latter a Republican. The
lettings were made in November, in
pursuance of advertisement. The Pub
lie Works were divided into eight Sec
tions.
The corruption charged is, that the
contracts were not awarded to the lowest
responsible bidder in pursuance of law.
On the question of awarding the sever
al bids, JACOB BLIcKENsDEaFER, jr., the
Republican member of the Board, in
each instance voted AYE, and his vote
is SO recorded /! IF there was fraud,
therefore, was not Mr.. BLIcKENsDERFER,
as much a party to it as Messrs. STEED-
MAN and GRIswoLD? And if the whole
Democracy of the State are to be held
accountable for the conduct of the lat
ter, should not the sins of Mr.. BL1cK-
ENsDERFER be visited upon our colored
brethren ? How is this =?
Again. In about sixty days subse-
quent to these lettings, the political
character of the Board changed, by the
expiration of SrEEDMAN's term, and the
installation of his successor, Mr.. Conc
YER. The latter gentleman, it will be
borne in mind, was a member elect of
the Board at the time of the award of
the contracts, and, in pursuance of invi-
t%ation, participated in all the sessions
of the Board. If there was fraud and
corruption, why did he remain silent at
the time or why did he not, after he
came into Office, Immediately insist upon
annulling the contracts, or at least let
has voice be heard in way of protest?
The truth of the whole matter is, that
if there has been q case made out at all,
it is against the coiored gentlemen them
selves-and they must presume largely
upon popular ignorance, not to suppose
that the people will SO regard it.
We shall pay u respects to the re-
ports of the other Committees, after we
shall have received copies.