St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-09-27
The Poland and Steele Contest.

now gong on III the second congress
Sional district. is not confined to the
limits of the district. Not only are the
abroad. hut those of the people of the
District of Columbia generally. are
watching with interest the progress of
the canvass.
1t is natural that the District of Co
lumhia should look to Vermont. Her
friends i'll Congress have ever been few ::
and 1t Is Il singular fact. that for quar-
ter of Il century past. she has found the
warmcSt and most influential of them
III the Vermont delegation.
Senator Foot will ever he gratefully
remembered 10y this people, for his pow
ctnl championship of their interests.
For many Years. both in the House and
the Senate, Mr.. Morrill, has devoted his
best efforts to the development and
adormmcnt of the National Capitol.
During the later Years of his service
i'll Congress. Judge Poland has been an
active advocate of every measure adj
vancing the interests and enlarging the
liberties of the residents of the District
Ii Is natural therefore that they should
look with peculiar interest. upon the
contest which perhaps threatens to de
priNc them of one of the best of their
few friends in Congress. Their attcn-
ton has been recently recalled to the
subject. 10y an article upon the "Com-
test in Vermont" signed .'Grccu Mount
ain Boy" which appeared i'll the DIIy
Patriot of this city. The Pdt,j0t is the
organ of the old pro->lavery democracy.
and Is the constant apolngist for and
.lu>tliicr at secession and rebellion. No
paper III the south is more devoted Il"
the w"l>hip."t The last cause. and To the
dedication of the rebel leaders. ""
more >landcruuS and Umtruthtul article
has ever appeared in that ncxllau>tiblc
fountain of calummy and tal>cho"d.
than the fanagn of lies and n"m>cn>c
purp"rting L" have been contributed 10y
''Grccn Mountain Boy"
The article in question charges Judge
Poland with having voted in sustaining
what it calls the ring meaning thereby
the Board of Public Works in it, man
a%rmcur of the affairs OF the District.
T" understand the animu~ of the
charge. it must h" understood that the
last Congress rendered the District al
Columbia in Il measure independent of
Congress. 10y giving il Il territorial form
of government. and Nr~tiug all puc>-
lions Of Improvements in Il Board of
Public Works. The territorial lcgi>la
tuIc prnNi drd the funds and the Board
at once entered upon Il magnificent and
Expensive system of Improvements.
Water mains and sewers went down.
and beautiful parks and pavrIncut~ took
the place ct the old mad and dust of the
streets. a. though g,mii instead of men
were doing the work. \ few OF the old
rc>jd'"t>. who tni 4 generation had
cursed the city ~ speculative holders
OF mmPl"Ncd Property. alarmed at the
prospect of ta\c>. made common carI>c
with certain adlrmturcr> VIA" had fail
cd I" command tat contracts under the
new dI>pru>atiun. and sought 10y in
functions from the courts to restrain the
progress oi Improvements. Being dccl-
deed against At every point 10y the courts.
they next raised Il hue and cry against
the Board OF Public Works. 10y the
most reckless and cNtraNagaut charges
"t fraud and corruption. 50 noisy and
persistent was their clamor. that Con
grr>> 1T last instructed the committee
on the District of Columbia. 1" make Il
full investigation into the admini>tI;-
ton of the Board. This WAS precisely
" hat the oh>tructiumi~t> did not want.
f"l while they could till the columns OF
the |Htrj"f with calummN and abuse.
they were prepared I" prove nothing.
This investigation was remarkable for
it~ length and latitude. and the work
bestowed upon il 10y the committee. 80
ANXIOUS were they To discover the frauds
and irregularities if amy existed. that
they allowed the opposition l." intro
ducc any Kind and amount of tr>timo-
ny. regardless of the rules of evidence.
all of which WAS partially received sort
ed and weighed 10y the committee.
La. i,,,.,-f i,r,fi,,,, l..t.,I
Weeks at the close of which the oh /.
Structi"mi>t> had failed /" sustain Il sin
Gle one of their allegations. and they .
retired filled with imp"tcmt rage at
their failure. and laughed at 10y the
community.
Mr.. Starkwcarhrr. the chairman of
health and WAS sick during most of the .
time of the investigation. Nearly all .
the immense work of the investigation .
and making the report fell upon and .
WAS ably borne hy Judge Poland. The
majority report fully generating the
Board WAS signed 10y all the republican
members of the committc and one
democrat Mr.. Eldridgc of Wisconsin. .
nine i'll all. while the minority re-
port WAS signed 10y tw" democrats.
VIII" 'Grccu Mountain Boy" in the Pa .
hiof. says were the only two honest
men on tine committed, Judge Poland .
Is thus accused of being in league with .
tn" Board of Public Works. brcau>c he .
agreed with nine against two. The