The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-07
The "Tour thousand dollars" which
the ststs may Lose By Trsrsursr Peck, and
the "four thousand dollars" which tho
State lost By Land Agent Walker.

800 shSbsSho oSh@s
tbs ststs may Lose By Trsrsursr Peck, and
the "1our thousand dollars" which the
State lost By Land Agent Walker.
James walker entered upon his duties a Land
Agent, under the Wells administration, on tho
hrst day Of March, 1885. The compensation
provided for the duties Of the Office :t the time
Of Mr.. Walkers service was fixed BY law IS
follows:
"The Land Agent shall receive IN annual
sslery OF one thousand dollars from the State
IN FULL COMPENSATION FOR ALL His
SERVICES"
This provision Il 70 explicit that there would
SEEM TO be no need Of ITS being misunderstood
by any man Of common sense and common
honesty. For Mr.. Wslker'sten months service
he Was entitled, by law, to receive the sum OF
Ss33. but he actually did receive the full years
salary Of one thousand dollars.
But Mr.. Walkers compensation did not stop
here. Notwithstanding the law under which
ne was appointed. expressly declared that tho
Thousand dollars per annum was Elm full com.
Pensation for ALL his services" We find Mr..
walker presentei, towards the Close OF the
year, to Coy. Wells and Council, Q claim for
one hundred and seventy days sItra service at
50 per day. and this claim was allowed and
eight hundred anaJfly dollars. -.
When the State had full right to all the time
Of the Land Agent for the Stipulated salary Of
one thousand dollars, Il Is difficult 10 scc on
what ground this payment u $3.50 for extra
services can be sustained. We leave it, justin
cation to those who stand rs the defenders Of
the "iast democratic administration In Maine"
But Mr.. Walker was not willing to be content
with $3.50 rs compensation for his ten months
service. eis3p month was entirely too small
remuneration tor such patriot as he, and no
must needs prefer some other astonishing and
baseless claims. During the summer Of 1885,
in Pursuance Of his duties as Land Agent, he
collected at Sc. John, N. g., on sccount OF
stumpage due the State, the sum Of S., i93,
n, although he never paid II INTO the Treasury
until the following December, thus enjoying
the use, profit and interest Of that large sum
for nearly SIX months. For collecting this
49,, TO-, n at 81. John. Mr.. Walker presented
his claim TO the Governor and Council for .
commission Of II per cent on the grvss sum
amounting to ssh, IS, md this most extraor-
binary claim Was allowed and paid by the Gov
ernor and Council. There was no ground
whatever for single cent Of this charge, even
the ordinary exchange between the States and
Provinces being omitted by tins money oil being
paid 10 Mr.. Walker In drafts ON Boston, or cir
tifcates Of deposit for money on banks. Mr..
Walker then added to his 1850 the neat sum Of
eight hundred seventy nine dollars Lightweight
cents.
by the ready assistance OF the Governor and
Council, Mr.. Walker had nov got his salary
raised up TO the respectable figure OF s2729,-
80, but being on aspiring man, Mr.. Walker was
not content to stop here ut that point, but In
sisted upon having fire per cent allowance
on certain moneys disburscd BY hm. Ar.
Walker levied his toll on his grist S II went
into his mill and levied II again rs II came out.
His allowance VI ss7s,ss was for money col.
per cent. commission on funds dpbursed BY
him. And strange to say, this most maxwell
Gus claim of $4,000 Was allowed and paid by
governor Wells and Council. To the salary OF
S2729 80 previously figured up, We must add
four hundred and thirty dollars ffty-nine
'sA 5000
Il Is quite evident that while q man Is labo-
riously engaged earning salary OF S3l6e,t!
the figure Mr.. Walker had now reached, his
"personal expenses must be very considerable
and II could not be expectef that 50 faithful
and economical an officer as James Walker
should be len 10 defrny those necesesry cinrg-
es from his own lean pocket. Of courss this
hardship could never be permitted by such .
just and discriminating set Of men as those who
composed the "Iad" Democratic Administers
ton OF Maine" Accordingly We find that Mr.
Walker presented an account Of personal ex.
pcnses" amounting to the respectable ssrn OK
one thousand and nineteen dollars and firsniy.
iiro cents. This account was allowed aud paid
by Governor Wells AMI Council !; % We mast
add TO the amount already received by Mr..
Walker the very handsome sum Of
II the several sums now specified be added
together !, will be found thai Governor Wells
and Council paid James Walker. for ten
months service ~ Land Agent. the gross
amount Of FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUN
DRIED AND SEyENTY-NINE DOLLARSand
sirty-niae cents. -
and this, too, when the law expressly decl red
that one thousand dollars per year should be
''in full compensation tor ALL bis services"
Here We find the large extra aud unauthor.
lied SUN paid to Walker, was done with fuu
knowledge and conniyance OF the State Admin
istration, The money was actually paid out
by o Straight Wing Treasurer, Isaac Recd)
nor, Samuel Wells. The sum lost by Peck's
dedication, (about the sane rs the extra ray
Of walker) was done by the misconduct Of one
man only. while al the other members OF tho
Republican State Administration eIertcd them
selves to tho utmost to save the State from rho
loss Of single dollar. The difference Is that
whereas one single Republican has proved rec
reant, the whole State Administration Of tho
Democracy couspirsd together to plumber tho
Treasury. Citizens Of Maine. will sou trust
these men In power again. They Are Nh sup
porting Smart md hoping for fresh plumber
under his leod.-Rtn. burSdI.