The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-21


To rmE EDITOR OF Tur suN-Str enclose
en- editorial taken from the Albany hcentn0 Journal
which contains statement regard to So 600 paid TO
WILLARD JouNsoN on his canal contract The editor
would make tai the money was fTsqS9ienty
These papers are benz very catensv,y circulated
sseps 20 influence the LIBERAL vote tn rcDy
wIl YOU pcase give NE inoroukh oveiha,ulins IN
odst. L wr,nce viii roll M decidedly increased
WV You're WI. FHFScu.
MADRID, n. y, oct 10, 1870
The article referred TO bv our correspon-
dent affords a characteristic example of
ihe Misrepresentation rrsorted TO, in the
hope of injuiing GOV. TnDEN by the
Albany Evening Journal, a newspaper
which has acquired an uusavory reputa-
zion for jobbery, and which naturally
falsifies the acts Of n Governor who has
proved himself n determined foe to public
plunderers. The article In question
charges IN effect that Gov. TTLDEN, after
having shown in his canal message that
WILLARD JOHNSON, n Democratic member
Of the last Assembly, had received over
$4,000 on n contract which had been
awarded for $751; rs an act of personal
favortism, two months later permitted II
bill 60 pay JOHNSON $4,000 more on the
ZANE contract to become law.
The facts in this case are very simple,
and may be found set forth in detail in the
public documents of the last Legislature.
The bill spoken of authorized the levy of n
tax Of one-tifth of n mill TO provide means
for the payment of certificates of iudcbt-
edness issued in behalf of the state in
semi-negotilble form. and then outstand-
ing. OF the aggregate amount. about
three-quarters were for awards which had
been made by the tribunals created by the
Btate for the purpose of ndjudicating
claims against it for canal damages; and
about one-quarteT for certificates ISSUED
for work done in excess Of existing appro-
priations.
The cases provided for by the bill were
numerous; and the bin was an entirety, to
be accepted or rejected as a whole IL
simply provided for the raising of money
which would be lawfully applicable to the
purposes specified; but left standing every
defence which could he made against the
Justice or equity of the claims in case such
defence should he disclosed M any time
during the long interval before the taxes
should come iuto the treasury ana the
claims be actually paid. such certificates
had been issued in accordance with an es-
tablished practice with which business men
had become familiar, and the fiscal officer
having charge of the interest of the state
urged that the means to make these pay
ments should be provided; pledGing him
self that he would none the less withhold
payments If ground of resisting them
should be discovered.
Under these circumstances the Governor
could not reject the bill. 1t was not, how
Hver, formally signed, and Gov. TuDEN in
= memorandum CTeto messages ~ COR.
TTLDEN, 1875, PIP. So II. and 81 fully ex-
planned the motives which influenced his
notion, concluding as follows:
..nws. quite impossible. while VI bn was pending
certificates their origin, ia their transfer they
o 90 % ee r Gs M me
lnct.nce at any sanction ~ sucn system and not Win
OF RESISTING The paynent allowed tins 1.l 10 become
hw II investigation .ha di.cios, any inug TO- enable
fence VIII be equally avanIhe. uni!l thr hA shan De
THE cara Auditor. While advising the SANCTION Of
this bill assured me thai he should b. veilsn 10 avail
hmselt Of any Just ground OF protecting the state from
My cone uson therefore was to content myself with
salnng tnc attention o. thr puhc Officers TO hc nl'
proprety a. %e,l as ne iiesai' y Of such ~ en-
hnuance"
The pretence that the Governors treat
ment of the bill was granted as a favor to
WILLARD JOHNSON or anybody else, is
ridiculous Mr.. JOHNSON was then and is
now hostile to Gov. TILDEN. and, indeed,
is understood to be cooperating with the
Republicans on account of his extreme
Rntagonism to the Governor and to the