, 1874-08-02
TEE COURTHOUSE BRIBERY.

TEE COURTHOUSE BRIBERY.
There has been stampede of tue corruption
izts. Many OF them left the city on Thursday
and Friday to avoid being brought before the
Grand Jury. Fortunately. the Grand Jury is an
Institution that can be convened ut any time,
and between now and the election there will be
several terms Of the Court.
There is universal wall among the Aldermen,
County Commissioners, and the hangers-on,-
the contractors and their dependents. For SIX
weeks the work OF electing karls and Egan has
been steadily progressing. First, the money
had to be raised, and then the votes had to be
secured. These operations required time, and
the employment Of many agents. Who we're in
terestcd in The choice Of karls aud Egan? It
must be remembered that these two ofllciais
we're to receive per cent on the total ex-
600, would give to the suparintendins
architects S200, 0,000. As it was expected that
these architects would have the inspection
Of materials and work, and tnat upon their Ger
tiicate au money would be paid. there was 5
chance for cnterprising men to add something
more to this commission. Who else were inter
ested? Every contractor for the supply Of
material who expected to swindle the public 25
per cent in the quality Of the goods furnished,
and to be paid for rs Per cent more than should
be actually delivered, was peculiarly interested
In having the right 11en elected architects. All
The men who expected or wero assured Of con-
tracts for masonry, carpenters work, plumbing,
roofing. painting, ETC.: and who expected,
through allowances for extra work, alterations,
and work imperfect1y done OF not done at all,
to be paid more thnn they were honestly entitled
to, were equally so1icitous to have the right men
elected as architects. To manykSt these men
lent to profit ranging anywhere from s2o,0 900
to $50, 900. We have reason to suppose that there
Eas more than one combination, and that Egan
and karls we're elected because there were more
persons interested pecuniarily in their election,
and becauee there Was more money put up on
their behalf than for others. Whatever sum
was put up was divided only among those who
we're in the Egan and Ear.s combination. Hence
The great anxiety to have the number of arch
itects increased SO as to enable tho supporters
Of other combinations to get their shnre. We are
referring to notorious facts. No job and no
office with money in it is allowed to pass the
Council without being paid for. Within sixty
nays, the Common Council created an Office and
rad 4t,o1 o1o 81
their own number WAS candidate for the place.
and, despite his long association with them, it is
said that the sum Of 5000 WAS paid to secure
his election. If it is true that the mem
bers Of the Common Council would en-
force this stand-and-delye system upon
one Of their Own number, who can believe that
they elected men to an Office having 100000
compensation, with profit to others of three or
1onr tunes that sum, without making Like de-
mand and receiving it? Docs ANYBODY. in the
light OF the experience Of the past, believe that
toe Common Council and County Commissioners,
composed largely Of men who hare no business.
anu 10 visible means Of support, and who arc
VIGOROUSLY dependent on the money they pick
up as members OF the Council, would vote ayay
these two Offices, and indirectly vote away con-
tracts to the amount of 95 900, 900, without first
having been paid therefor?
The exposure Of the fraud has exploded the
whole lniquitous proceeding. The Council has
no legal authority to elect architects no author
aEy to invest them with the functions and powers
OF the Board of Public Works ; and no authority
70 vote them compensation in the shape Of
commissions, nor otherwise than in the form OF
~ @nnoal salary. The law officer Of the city Inns
t0' aoietus On the election Of the architects by
@0' common Council, and their employment in
sos capacity to supezintena the erection Of the
'1opse' or to make contracts, or to exer-
c'ss any power placed by Law !, tho noord =,
Public Works. 1'AA>& -
30 'ar the public hare triumphea bpt tbe
bribery has not been the less cor,,eta -.,..
less scandalous and infamous. Now 1at -. .s-e
an Investigation. not by tho Common con,,;,
but By the Grand JURY. Hero is chanco to,
the Citizens Association Let them apnoin;
respectable committee to hunt mp tie facts
Let them ind the bank or the safe where this
money was deposited, by whom deposited, bv
whom drawn ont. Let them hunt the matter to
its SOURCE, punch up the States Attorney, ool-