The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-01
GOY. TILDEN II ND THE CANAL
RING,

Governor Tilden, of New York, inau-
gurated his administration by calling at
tention to the operations of the Canal
Ring of contractors. He expected that
the Legislature would look into the sub
ject, and give him no further trouble on
that score. 1t was their duty to do SO l..
But he soon found that the Legislature
only studied how not to do il. He de-
sired that a majority of the Canal Com
mittee, and especially the Chairman, be
of those favorable to his views.
The Speaker, however, left His Excel
lency solitary and alone in his efforts TO
expose corruption. Having the appoint
ment of the committees, the Speaker re-
fused to select for Chairman Mr.. Davis,
who was the Governors spokesman, and
appointed MI. A. S. Page, who has close
personal and business relations with j.
j. Belden, his assignee in bankruptcy
and one of the heaviest of the canal con-
tractors charged with corruption in the
recent exposures. Sucn II constitution
of the committee was thought to have
squelched Governor Tilden in his patri-
otto purpose.
But he was not to be utterly thwarted.
Quietly and silently he went to work ex-
ploring the recent contracts with the
Canal Ring. He did not permit any one
| to know that he was devoting thought
even to the canal swindlers. He had
| been chiefly instrumental in bringing
Boss Tweed to justice tor his New York
yillainies, and he caused a bill to be in
troduced and passed, entitled the Civil
Remedies Bill, with the ostensible pur-
pose OF enabling the city to recover some
of the money stolen by Tweed. Canal
was not in the bill, neither did any one
suspect that the Governors objective
point was the canal plunder.
| The Civil Remedies Law furnished the
machinery that could be employed
against the canallers and the officials who
had abetted them, as well as against
Tweed and his minions.
Having got all things ready and the
enemy we'll in hand, the Governor let Of
his scathing special message, which con
vulsed the whole State. The rascals
through out the State were terrified, an(
honest people were indignant at th'
plunder of their pockets. The Governo
had procured the figures to enforce hi
position. One showing he made was ;
clear swindle of the State Of over mill
ion of dollars in ten contracts.
The honest amount of these ten con
tracts was $424, 1856, while the amour
actually paid by the State up to Febru
airy 1, 1875, was 1860, ,770-showing
swindle of more than two and hal
dollars for every dollar expended o.
the work. One Of these CONTRACTS wa
to j. j. Belden, which explains why MI
Page was made Chairman of the Cana
Committee. Another was that of Ii. L
Denison, of the firm of Belden 81 Con
: panv, which still further explains VIII
the Governors co-laborer in the Assem-
bly, could not be placed at the head Of tn
committee.
Another contract was that of Georg
D. Lord, son of State Senator Jarvi
Lord; and this explains the fierce oppt
sition of the Senator to Gov. Tildei
Lords contract honestly covered $45, ,30
: while he had drawn from the State S191
=, 9l5-a swindle of over three dollars fc
one honestly expended. Belden's col
tract was for the honest sum of $50, 80
while he drew $222,6l0.
i The discussion of the Governors sp
g cial message is now pending in bot
s houses of the Legislature. Tilden Is e.
y identity the right man in the right plac