The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-10-15


The following is the ninth and last
plank in the platform adopted by the
epublican State Convention held
in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday Sep
tember ?;
We deprecate the action of the pres
ent General Assembly in recognizing |
the punitive and benevolent institutions
of the State for the merely partisan and
political purposes, as tending inevitably
10 the impairment Of their efficiency and
usefulness.
From the Ohio statesman.
There never was greater sink hole
of corruption in our State than the Cen
trail Ohio Lunatic Asylum under Repub-
lican rule. OF this fact but a partial in
vestigation Of the affairs of this ilnstltu-
ton wall convince anyone, 1t after the
experience Of the past few years they
need convincing.
Under Republican management
Board of Trustees had control and
charge of the construction OF the Asylum
building, or rather they should have had
control and cha ge, but they selected
one DR.. Peck, and gave hlm the hlgh
sounding title of Superintendent OF Con-
struction, Resident architect and Gener-
al Business manager Of the Board, with
a salary of FIVE thousand dollars per year.
The Board evidently thought that by
their simple fiat they could make an
architect and builder out of the doctor.
AS General business manager, OF his
own affairs, he proved a success. We
have already given our readers some
evidence of his fatal unhtness TOR the
place he held. He was the architect OF
the "Rear Central Wing" which in
cludes the water tower. A careful ex-
animation, by competent architects re-
yealed the fact the walls were too weak
to bear but slight portion OF the weight
| intended for them, and It became neces-
sary TO tear down and rebuild, atan EN-
ormous cost to the taxpayers OF the
State Receiving salary OF hye thous-
and dollars per year. he was, OF course,
lin no haste to have the building com
A pleted. So long as Peck was we'll pro-
vided for it made no difference what be-
4 came Of the interest Of the State. In
fact the interest of the doctor clashed
with the interest Of the taxpayer, and
the latter was made to suffer. When
showing up this gentleman's' architec-
tural ability some time since, we prom
ised some more nuggets from the rich
mine in store. A Slight investigation
has given US the materials from, whicr
we select few specimens.
Thomas F. Jones & Son were the con
tractors for the brick work. They, owing
to the fact that the doctor placed every
obstacle in the way of an early compile
, ton of the structure, were compelled L
borrow money to pay for material anC
work. In October they borrowed OF DR.
Peck and H. B. Curtis, one of the Trus
tees. Thomas F. Jones & Son received
one thousand nine hundred and tort.
/ dollars, for which, at the end OF thirt.
, days, they paid back to DIR. Peck ant
Mr.. Curtis two thousand dollars. Inter
est on one thousand nine hundred ant
, forty dollars, for thirty days, sixty dol
: lars. or at the rate of over thirty-six pc
! cent year, and this on work on whic
! estimates had already been made ou
and the money could have been draw
by DIR. Peck any time. Again, the fol
lowing month, DR.. Peck accommodate
il Thomas F. Jones & Son with one thou'
. and dollars for thirty days, for which h
charged them twenty-five dollars, or
= the rate of thirty per cent Thus ID
Peck forced Mr. Jones into the necesslt
of borrowing, and then, taking advan
;, tage of the necessity bled him to tn
. tune of from thirty to over thirty-six pc
Il cent
d Again, in November, 1873, Mr.. Jont
gave orders to his workmen for labor a
d ready performed; where the doctor coul'
he cashed these orders at ruinous raj
y of discount. Herman Michles, ston,
d mason working for three dollars an
| 6fty cents per day, had an order IL
a sIoA "a, which the doctor discounte
SIA "a. John Dowell held an order II
IF sIa8; the doctor gave him for it SIIo r
2 tanning SI8. John Donnelly held an o
% der for 500 50, which the doctor cashe,
keeping out S22 for his trouble: Dav
Reed, working for 81 50 per day. he
- an order for $44 90, which the doct'
- cashed, retaining So. Frank Picksle
q supporting a mother and sister on 81
- per day, held an order for SIS %, whlc
- the doctor cashed retaining 50 50. Ge
Estell held an order for $50 H. whit
=, the doctor cashed, retaining S2I.
These discounts were made for sixtet
at days. BY devoting little time TO Il
E computation, it will be found that the |
lie terest will, in some cases amount to b
lie tween four and FIVE hundred per Gel
l. per annum. This was for work alreat
le completed. The doctor held the es
n mate upon which the money could
er any time be drawn. Is it any wond
ly that this gentleman was in no hurry
m have the work completed? Here was
De mine of wealth, which, as good pt
sonal Business Manager, the doctor to,
if good advantage of. He was, howev'
ed a pet of the Republican authorities, the
friends of the laboring classes. u
st preserve them from such friends, it
9. worse than the fable Of the stork al
We frogs. There is no wonder that, wi
this evidence of thrift, the doctor "
able to make investments all over t
I'D country he had bank stock a.
lands, as well as being able to pla
!: Sc, 500 in one place Securely at the ra
/: of twelve per cent. and a bonl
:; making it equal to about fifteen F
a cent "
he The advent of the Board Of Constrt
ton appointed by Gov. Allen broue
ce about complete change. Mr.. Tinsl'
lat a Republican, was appointed archite
he -. n.chitent ench as Peck but emi