White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1862-07-31

pay nearly double the amount for its
printing, than it woud have done had it
not been for this honest man But Ross
wants our authority for our charges. In
this item, we refer him to D. H. Weir. j.
F. Cummings. and E. G. Ross. If he
has no confidence in the FIRST two named,
let him consult the last. These witnesses
varied in details. but the evidence Of all
three went to show that. by paying or
promising q consideration to get lower
bids out of tho way. the champion Of
honesty swindled the State out Of As cents
on every 1000 ems Of Legislative printing.
and other parts Of the work in proportion
amounting in the aggregate. according
to testimony, to about $500!
During that same session Of the Legisla-
ture, certain laws were passed which were
to be in force after their publication in the
State Record. 1t appears that a number
of laws not so authorized, were published
in that paper. Weir, who was Clerk to
the Secretary of State. mentioned the fact.
but Ross told him to never mind, bat
copy them for him, and he would pay
him for it. The Secretary certified to the
correctness of the accounts, and Ross drew
the pay This is Weir's testimony.
which Ross is not willing to take. But
we are convinced of the truth of the whole
of it, by the evidence of one E. G.. Ross.
who says that Weir did call his attention
to some such laws, after he had Seceired
pay for them but that be neuer said any.
thing about t.! Here is another beautiful
operation of the fellow who has howled
"Swindler p until he is hoarse. Not
content with obtaining liberal sum for
publishing laws. he bribes the clerk of the
Secretary of State to furnish him copies
of laws not authorized to be published in
his paper. and pockets many fat dollar
of the peoples money for this When
be found out (l) that he had Published
the laws through mistake, did this honest
fellow make restitution I? Not bit of it
he drowned the ''still, small voice." by
yelling ''Bond Swindle p
At the regular letting Of State printing
last Winter, We again obtain sight o.
this "NIsn of Ross" He had made q
good thing off Of the State. the previous
year, and he was encouraged to do still
better. We find him entering into ,
combination with other printers. all te
bid the same price, and they would bt
sure to make big spec. They agreed te
charge tho State the enormous sum of 81
per 1000 ems, or about four times a.
much as it was worth-as State SCRIP
rated, say twice as much. But after the
last moment of bidding, Ross attempted
to play false to his confederates in swind'
ling. He three times proposed to the Sec
retsry's Clerk to put in bid little low.
er than the rest, that he might get every
thing and the others nothing. offering to
share profits with the clerk. Failing in
this, be next tried threats-threatened to
ruin Weir, and use the unaccountable in
fluence which he possessed over the Sec,
retary Of State. to prevent a contemplated
increase Of Weir's salary!
But Ross, who was so greedy to gel
all the printing. lost even the class upon
which he bid. One j. Il. Bennett, who
had not entered into the combination, pu,
in bid for printing the Laws and Jour.
mails, at figures which he thought be could
do it for. Then Ross land one Or two
others who were in the combination, bul
whom we shall not mention, as they are
not in this muss,) raised terrible ado
about attempts to swindle the State on
printing, and sarted up an excitemen,
which resulted in the printing investiga'
tions. BE thought he could lead the
Legislature by the nose, and still get q
dip into the Treasury. As q member ol
that Investigating Committee, we well re-
member what difficulty was experienced
at every turn, from the maneu uvres o.
Ross and his emissaries to get at the pub.
lie teat. After the most thorough investi.
CATION, it was found that Mr.. Bennett had
made an honest bid. State scrip having
advanced in price, be lowered his prices
considerably, although under no legal OBJ
legation to do SO. The Secretary of State
and Ross and his companions in disap.
pointment, tried their very prettiest te
oust Bennett from bis contract; but it wa.
of no avail. The Committee offered q
resolution, confirming Benefits contract
1t was desperately fought in both House
and Senate; the combination circulated
among the members, button-holing them
individually; they partially succeeded in
the Senate, which offered an amendment
the House, after hard 6ght, refused to
concur; the Senate asked for committes
of conference; the committee broke ur
without agreeing; the Senate portion o.
the COMMITTEES saw how the cat was jump