The Placer herald., 1871-08-12
MORE FALSEHOODS Exploded.


four men, Corcoran, Mehan, O'Hara and
Brannan, who had been working as 'help-
ers" in the gas-ftting department, under
John Hobson, on the State buildings, had
made atlidavits that they were not getting
the full wages that was being drawn from
the State for them. These parties had made
the affidavits, and had on several occasions
attempted to extort money from Hobson,
under threats publishing them. NJ. Fitz-
gerald and j. II. Kealy both swear that
Corcoran told them that if Kealy would go
to Hobson and get $40 for Corcoran, $50
for Brannan and $50 for Mehan, that they
would give up the atfdavits and leave the
city This Hobson rejected, knowing that he
had paid them all they were worth and all
he had agreed to. The Chronicle got hold
of these aflidavits and published them with
a great flourish of frauds on the workmen
and State, on the public buildings; and then
the Sacramento Union came skulking along
behind De Youngs fash sheet, and done the
same Now, what are the facts from which
all this dirty bowling originated? While
Edgar Mills and General Alfred Redington.
both Republicans, were on the Board of
Capitol Commissioners, an agreement was
entered into with Hnbsou to superiptend the
plumbing and gas-ftting department on the
public buildings, for which be was to receive
eight dollars per day for each gang Of two
men, master mechanic and helper, Hob
son furnishing all tools, ETC., for the work
men and helpers. II is in evidence by
plumbers and gas-ftters of San Francisco,
that this kind of work is always done, and
has to be done in gangs, a mechanic and a
helper, and that the charges there are from
nine to ten dollars per day; the mechanic
getting from five to six dollars pr day, and
the helper from two 10 three dollars; the
remainder going to the contractor for the use
Of tools, trouble and responsibility, etc. So
it will be seen that the work for the State
was, and is costing less than is paid by pri-
vate parties in San Francisco. 1t is also in
evidence that Hobson has paid five and
six ds,iars per day for mechanics and from
one and half to three dollars per day for
helpers, thus leaving him less margin for
tools, responsibilities, etc, than is made on
private jobs in the city. When Hobson had
to pay five dollars per day for skilled me-
chancs, how could he pay four dollars fer
the helpers, which would make nine dollars,
for which he could only draw eight dollars
from the State. The truth is, that when
Hobson drew eight dollars per day from the
State for the gang, and paid five dollars
per day to the mechanic and two dolars to
the helper, he had but fifty cents per day for
the supply and weas and tear of tools and his
responsibility, a )eas sum than any boss me-
chanic who takes jobs, furnishes tools and
becomes responsible. let him be blacksmith
saddler, carpenter Or of any other branch,
in Placer county, to-day makes on his jour
neymen and employees. And this is the
''mare s-nest." After all these facts were
proven, the crime and meanness of the Sacra-
mento Union eliminates in charging these
mechanics advertising rates for their pnbli-
cation. But the Union and Chronicle
broadly intimated that all workmen on the
public buildings were being swindled and
the bosses pocketing a portion of theil
wages. The stone cutters then went to the
Union and told its managers it was lying
it then said there were Others besides stone
cutters, and now nearly, if not all, the mer
employed on or about the public building;
have made ana published afiidavits that they
had all, from hod-carriers up, drawn thei
own warrants, their own money and go
every dollar the State is charged with; and
thus we have one of the most complete vim
dcations of our State officers ever writer
down and proved in any country, and at the
same time one of the most damning infames
driven home and nailed TO the Union
Chronicle and lesser sheets, that could dis
grace any PubRaher. And after all th
proof, we suppose these papers will decline
to acknowledge their falsehoods and errors
and turn their attention to the manu- 'acturC
of other lying ISLANDERS.
The Golden Era, one of the most refined
and popular literary papers on the coast, and
one wholly free from political bias, intimate: