The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-26

1OtAl.-- ...sIla ~
The proper account would have been
as follows:
$1,000 ems, at S. ~
IL tokens, at % .-........- : -
~
10 tu
lOLdAss's. Wv ~
II this estimate is correct, there was
an oyerchsrge of $40 in this bill. When
it is remembered that he received the
large sum o! Sl2,447 81 for the legisls-
tive printing last winter, some idea can
be formed Of the probable overcharges
made by him.
The last example that shall give oi
unauthorized and improper charges by
Mr.. Walker, is the printing tor the
School Department during ,the last
fiscsl year. speak OF this specially,
because it was one OF the leading reas-
ons why | made the order Of August ~,
recited above.
Under the provisions OF the school
law enacted at your late session, an
election was held on the second Friday
in Angus! last for the purpose Al Cho)s.
ing the school officers provided for hy
that law. !, WAS specially provided in
this las that for this election, Poll
books should bc prepared 10y the County
Superintendent. Notwithstanding this
plain language, pol books were pre-
parci by Mr.. Walker more than sui-
licient Tor every subsd.strCt in the Stslc,
and he received payment therefor Oul OF
the general school fund. Not only were
poll hooks prepared without authority
OF law, but the charges therefor were
unreasonable and excessive.
These CnargCa arc as follows
Printing, ruling and binding 5000
set poll books with tslly sheets IS, ,unu u'
Az SETS poll book anh ally sheets. 80 a.
have made an estimate Of wha,
5000 copies OF these poll books and
tally sheets would cost at the maximum
price allowed hy law. Each hook has
cover OF heavy manila paper and
contains three sheets OF flat paper BY
this estimate the cost would he ~ to-
lows
~ reams nat CAP. %. ............. sou
Ruling 25O qurCs, al 4 cents. .......... s. uu|
Ruling rs qurcs, a. J. ccuts............ u -.
Press work .......... ..... ~ iI
mpOsitiOn ............ ........... ln V
reamS manila papeT............ .......... - g.
Folding and stitcEing and putting ON
cover. s...........,...... ........ ... - u.
To'al........ .....'... ............ 81.
IN making this estimate have given
the most liberal construction TO the
new law that it will bear / THIS csu.
mate is correct. Mr.. Walker charged !
and received s., 900 for 900 poll books |
when $3i3 25 would have been n fall |
price. 1.-THE account for the AZ poll |
books were estimsted'by the came rule |
they would cost,abomt SlS instead Of
500.
Again, Mr.. Walker printed 10000 !
ballots, or tickets, for this election, OF a
cost OF $3.50 to the State. That the |
State should furnish ballots was with
out precedent. Even ifths work hal |
been authorized by law, the charge is
excessive; s. 90 per thousand or $500
for the 10000 would have been ample |
compensation.
| have selected but few examples |
OF unauthorized and improper charge |
made by Mr.. Walker, and have no
idea OF the probable amount OF over
charges made by him between March |
4, 1871, when he came into office, aud
August 90, 1873, the date Of his reno
val. To ascertain the total amount
would require great labor For work |
done during that period be received |
the large sum OF $S5,60l y.
During the last fiscal year alone lie !
received $3S,2lO O9, a sum nearly equal |
to the current expenses Of the Hospital
for the Insane, with its two hundred |
and eighty patients. officers and attend
ants, and greater than the aggregate |
salaries OF all the judges and ofFicsr-
OF the Executive Department OF the
State.
| have not stated what officers ap-
proved the various accounts referred to
in this paper Except such as were ap-
proved by me) because the law ind
Gates in each case what officer musl
have approved the accounts.
Mr.. Walkers accounts have been
tested by the evidence OF impartial wit
nesses, by the opinion OF an unbiased
committee, by comparisons made with
accounts OF other printers, and by COM
parsons made with his recent proposal
TO do similar wo5k. The Judiciary Com
mittee OF the House, 10 the winter OF
1872, after some examination recon-.
mende1 an invcstig6t On, and the HOUSE
after discussion deemed it adVisablc 10
order an investigation. The inyestiga-
ton Was made by the Committee, and 1t
reported TO the present House in detail
many overCharges made ~ him; The |
present House ordered another exam-
nation 10 lc made 10y one Oi ~ Com
mittees, aDd although the report Ci q
majority Of this Committee MAS fayora-
bic to him, yCt q resolution declaring .
That 10 the judgment Of this House
the cnaTges against the Public PTln'cr
have rot, nor has any one OI them !
been sustained, was rejected ~ the
Houae after the matter hAi been l0r-
pending before i. AnirYssi,aJiCu Va,
made by committee Of the Consu,u-
ionsl Convention, either e.! it. own
notion or by order 0! the Convention.
The Iie:G Of the Senate in 1871. who
wa familiar with the rates Cl charging
by Nj Walker predecessor, ;sfIsrI 90
certify bic account 'oy the %cHsls jOur-