The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-10


a small portion of the printing executed
by Mr.. MARSHALL during the past year,
The portion we reviewed, however, has
shown such an extent of gross swindling
and robbery, that we feel bound to spread
the facts ascertained before the Legislature
and the public.
The first job of printing we examined
was the volume OF Session Laws. In the
bill rendered by Mr.. MARSHALL tothe State
for this work we saw the following charge {:
l62 Reams Book Paper, for 5000 copies Gener.
al and Special Laws, "a $40. ........ $500 90
We went into calculation on this item
of charge. We found the volume to con.
tain 448 pages. We found that 80 pages
were printed on single sheet of paper.
We calculated, therefore, that the number
of sheets required for single book could
be ascertained by dividing 448 by 80. We
performed that SUM, and found the number
Of sheets thus required for single book to
be IA. We then multiplied this IA by the
whole edition of 5000 copies, and found that
there were used 10000 sheets of pa
per in printing them. We then divided
this 10000 by 480, the number of sheets in
one ream, and found the whole number of
reams used, to be l45 SO which, at $40 a
ream, would be $l458.3O, instead of $l62O
90, the amount charged by Mr.. MARSHALL.
We then subtracted $l458.3O from $l62O~
90, and discovered that MIR. MARSHALL
had swindled the State, on this one item,
out of $l61.7O. And we thought this a
very queer way for Mr.. MARSHALL to ex-
hibit his " high moral sympathies."
We next examined the items for press
work, and found the two following:
Press work, 5000 copies, 44S pages,
1877 tokens, a COO. Sis 20
Press work on covers, Il tokens,
az 6Uc. IL oV
We found the last item to be correct !;
but that the first was overcharged 81 to.
kens; which, amounting, at it does, only to
$3.50, shows that man of "high moral
sympathies," like WILLIAM r. MARSHALL,
can appreciate and indulge in petty larceny
as we'll as grand.
We then skipped over the intermediate
charges, and glanced at the last one in the
bill, which reads as follows:
Preparing laws for publication, in.
decking, &C., by order OF Secretary
OF State. SZ0U w
We found on reference to chapter $50 the
General Laws of 1860, that it is made the
duty of the Secretary of State to cause the
laws and indexes to be prepared, and to
furnish "the copy and such indexes" "to the
printer or printers for the printing thereof"
We concluded. therefore, that Mr.. Printer
MARSHALL and Mr.. Secretary BAKER, had,
between them, managed to perpetrate a
further steal upon the State Treasury, OF
$4,000. We link Mr.. BAKERS name with
this swindling, because we found attached
to the bill rendered by Mr.. MARSHALL, the
following certificate:
l hereby certify that | have examined the
above bill and the work therein specified, and
that the same is correct. and should be paid
from the fund for printing laws, journals, &c.
(Signed) J. H. BAKER,
Secretary of State.
We find, therefore, to recapitulate, that
on the three items OF paper, press work, and
indexing, for the volume of laws of last ses-
sion, the following amount of stealing was
perpetrated;
Swindliug on paper. ................. Sl6l 70
Theft on press-work.. ~ 60
Total of robbery. .............. S424 80
From the examination of this volume OF
laws, we repaired to the Office of the Au-
ditor of State, to inspect Mr.. MARSHALL
bills for the incidental printing of the last
session. We took with US Mr.. DAVID
RAMALEY, an expert, and we'll known in this
community as man of true integrity as
we'll as intelligence. Webad time to exam
inc only one bill, which was filed in the Au-
ditor's Office on the 18th February, 1861.
Of the items of this bill, we found only 80
which were accompanied by the specimens
of printing as vouchers for the work. We
computed all of these 80 items in detail, and
on the most liberal basis !; and the result
showed that, out of charges in gross of
$6l9.32, there was a clear swindle of
$256.l5-the just charges, according to the
rules of computation, and at the legal prices,
being $363.l7. And it struck US that, for
a man who boosted of high moral sympa-
thies'' and heaven born instincts" com.
bined, this made up pretty rough exhibit.
It is an exhibit, rough or not, to which
we call the attention of the Legislature
which meets to-day. We know nothing of
Mr.. MARsHALL's operations as public print
er beyond that which we have here revealed;
and that is the result of but few hours
examination. 1t may comprise the whole
amount of swindling practiced during bis
term as printer. We donot believe it does.
W. bol;avo an tho oon%rorv that r. Al.