The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-04-23
oPFICIaL CORRuPTHON.
The New Work Canal EKIng
ia Trouble.
"UnbaIaneed BIds." and how
ahey Paw.

in various States and in some
branches OF the National govern
ment, in the past few years, is as
founding. 1t staggers ones faith in
humanity, and is the most discourag-
ing feature of the administration of
the affairs OF 4 free government.
This and other public crimes may
be the evil effects OF sort of'loose-
ness" which the country has mani
tested in public morals in the past
few years. Many scoundrels have
been kept in public places even af-
ter their dishonesty was established.
Like some fell disease in the sys-
tenn of the individual, corruption,
and the direful influence of "rings,"
are hard 70 get rid of when they once
fasten their poisonous and absorb
ing fangs upon any portion of the
body polite. The corruption
lists bury deep their fangs, and are
as relentless as the lesch. For
years the cry has been steal and
grab, until the public conscience
c. aloud for relief.
This wilOis business is directly
chargeable to the insane and all.
Absorbing desire for riches, which
seems to pervade American society.
Public sentiment has everywhere
helped this mania along. We have
made heroes of public thieves and
have written down "failurc" for
every man that did not accumulate
fortune. Money is and has been
the god of our people. There is no
mistake about this. People may
affect to sccrn the idea that they are
money worshippers, but the asser-
ton that they are is The sacred
truth. The desire for money has
demoralized US generally and efTec-
tually. Fraud aud corruption have
stalked abroad with brazen impu.
dence, and too often have been sp-
plauded by the public. We teach a
man, as his first lesson, that he
must have money. He soon finds
out that the quickest mole of get
ting il, and one which has become
somewhat popular if not entirely
respectable, is to get iii with the
plunderers. Then lie is called
smart. His head soon swims with
his own success. Look at the
thieving stock and grain specula-
lions. Look at Tammany. Look
at Credit Mobilier, and last, but not
least, look at the frighlful peculs-
tions of the New York canal ring.
What lessons do they teach? In
plain English that success lies in
the way of robbery. Honored men
have concocted and carried on these
schemcs-men elected and upheld
by the public. 1t is true sons of
them, perhaps, cannot get Office just
now, bnt they have secured the
money, and that is the greatest end
OF this life. They arc counted
smart.
The thieving business and the
public sentiment which ustains it
were greatly augmented by the late
war. The eyes of the public were
daZzled OF the great number OF shod-
dy Capitalists" and public plunder-
ers it turned out. Tho facilities for
stealing were enhanced, and the OPP
portunity was improved. The hold
which the thieves got then is just
now beginning TO be shaken off.
We have done a good work for a
few years by Investigation. We
hope it will proceed until every
scoundrel is brought 10 justice, and
the affairs ofgovernment placed in
the hands of men who will not
steal.
We started out to say something
about the astounding frauds aud
robberies of the New York Canal
Ring" which are now being expos.
ed. Attention was first called to
this matter by message sent to the
legislature by Governor Tilden. II
was found that several prominent
and il,fWentiGl members of the leg
islature belonged to the canal ring
The brave message of the Governor
caused q fluttering among these
birds. In exposing the bare-faceC
thefts the Governor is ably assist
ell by the New York Tribune
From late number we get some
important items in the ex.
posure being made. The Governor
states that during the past five year
the amount of tolls collected on thu
canals has exceeded Sl5,O00,OO0
while the cost of ordinary and ex
trAordinary repairs and expense
has been so great that during thu
Same period nearly $15,OO0,000 ad
ditional has been raised for cana
purposes by taxation. What ha
become of the enormous sum, ask
the Tribune? "The money has beer
made way with by tho instrument
tality Of q system OF contracts, TIT
responsibility for which is shared
by the contractors, engineers, aDt
commissioners. In some cases tn,
matter is brought straight home t.
members of the Legislature. j. j
Delden, who is q relative of A. S
Page, Chairman of the Assembl!
Canal Committee, is one of the mos
important of the contractors. w
give one of HIS contracts, in whicl
he agreed to do certain work 70
S86,5S4, and by means of unbalanC
ed bids obtained sos, 610, and an
other in which he bid S10,6l7 an
has received $49, 6S6, The tcork sti
going on. His partner, Henry I
Denison, put in bid of STATS o
certain contract, and had receive,
on the LIST of last month, no les
than $45S, ia, and the cork IS Sti
going on. Assemblyman Willar
johnson is the real owner of cor
tract nominally awarded to j. '