Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-08-26

Columbus. His plan was to have the men
come to the office and sign the pay-rolls. A
number of witnesses-hands on the work
testified that they never knew for what
amount they were signing, the rolls being
covered up, except the place for the sigma
lures. They afterwards ascertained that
they receipted for larger sum than was
paid them. Some of them who were work
ing for 81 rs, 50 90 and 50 80 q day, re-
ceipted the rolls for So 90. Blackburn
himself always, engineered this signing op-
Grafton, and of course pocketed the gains.
Although this did not seem like very ex-
tensive business for man of fBLACKBURN's
financial skill and capacity to be engaged
in, still, in the aggregate, (this system of
fraud having been practiced for several
years. his gains from this source amounted
to very considerable sum-the State, of
course, being the victim.
ALFRED GREEN and JOHN RICHARDSON
testified that they were clerks in BLACK
BURNS Office in Cleveland, and were paid
for their services by the State, although
their labors were notconfined to the States
work; and that BLACKBURN drew more
compensation for them than they received.
But this was not the worst. They signed
the pay-rolls as carpenters, charging $500
and 50 so per day; and BLACKBURN drew
the money. The reason that BLACKBURN
gave for this rascalIy proceeding was, "that
his salary as architect was Inadequate, and
there was an understanding between him
and the Governor that his clerks should sign
the, pay-rolls as carpenters" I" although they
did none of the work. n 4,l5
BIDS AND CONTRACTS. A-i
In the awarding of contracts, the testi-
mony discloses the important tact-as a
part of the history of the frauds perpetra-
ted on the State in the erection of the Asy-
lum-that they were not given to the low
est bidders. A system of favoritism was
pursued by BLACKBURN, which ruled out
responsible parties who made the lowest
bids, in order that the work might be given
to others, with whom he was no doubt in
terested in the job. Thousands OF dollars
were in this way lost to the State, which
might have been saved if the work had
been let to the lowest responsible bidders
rilal sal CONCLUSION. ad Elii sh
But it would occupy too much time and
space to go into further details in regard
to this matter. The committee, by their
investigations thus far, have developed q
stupendous system of fraud and villainy on
the part of BLACKBURN, as the accredited
agent of the State; frauds which involve
the loss of hundreds OF thousands of dol.
lars to the people. The entire amount has
not, of course, as yet been definitely ascer.
tanned, and cannot be until the committee
gets through with the investigation. There
is no doubt, however, from what has al
ready transpired, that it will reach several
hundred thousand dollars. ag 5.Il .-s.ft
The labors of the committee in this direc.
tion are only postponed-not completed
They intend, before the close of the present
General Assembly, to sift the whole matter
to the bottom, and the people will then bs
furnished, in an authentic form, with the
results Of their investigations. 1e-s
Enoug gh, however, is already known, te
show that the people-the taxpayers of the
State-have been wickedly and deliberately
swindled out of hundreds of thousands Of
dollars in the construction of an institution
designed for the care and comfort of por.
tion of its unfortunate and afflicted citizens
and although the estimates for its erection
have thus far been greatly exceeded by the
expenditures, it is not yet completed, and
more money will be asked for. 7}-'l p 'ii-..
These facts furnish conclusive evidence
that the time had come for a change in the
management of the financial affairs of the
State-the time when stop should be put
to the profigacy and extravaganza of Rad
ical Republican rule, and better and more
economical state of things inaugurated.
A step in the right direction was taken
by the people at the elections last year. A
majority of Democrats were then sent to
the Legislature, who will not fail to probe
to the core all the rascality and swindling
of Radical officials for the past few years
But great deal yet remains to be DONE
Let the good work, already so ausplcious-
ly begun, be followed up at the coming
election, and no efforts be spared on the
part of the people, until the affairs of the
State are again in the hands and under the
control of the Democratic party. The his
tory of the past has abundantly proved
that the people of this State, as well as OF
the nation, were never SO prosperous and
happy, nor their public affairs so satisfac-
torily, jndiciously and honestly managed,
as when that party was in power.
Let the people decide to bring about,
once more, the good old days of Democrat
ic rule in public affairs, and all will yet be
well. 1aFs h1 -sf~c .i- ~