The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-09-30
7 'PUBLTC5THIEVES.
Til: = Robbqer Rings.
BOSSES AT HOME AND ELSEWHERE

robbed the people there OF millions.
Philadelphia, a city overwhelmingly
Republican, is worse robbed probably
than New York, but no public journa
there has dared TO expose the thieves
and the ring is intact.
Washington has her "Boss" shephert
and his co-ring Conspirators, which in
couple of years managed to borrow ovel
twenty millions of money on bonds
Congress abolished the local government
and the United States Government vii
probably have to foot the whole bill
Shepherd is thick with President GRAM
and the radical leaders, and holds hi
head high even yet
Pittsburgh, however, is probably in the
worst shape of any city in the country
her debt being over 13 millions-70 dol
lars for every man, woman and child in
the town! The great water works swim
die of Pittsburgh was an immense rob-
bery--at, least such is the opinion of the
people there. That county, Allegheny
went Democratic last fall, electing two
members of Congress and the rest of the
ticket-a county that gave Grant l4,70C
majority, and was considered the Glib
raltar of the Republican party
Cincinnati also seems to have been in
the fashion-though we judge not to the
extent of some other places.
The official managers Of large jobs oi
public works seem to have made common
cause with their friends to whom they
awarded the fat contracts, and were care
full all round to observe addition, di-
vision and silence" New York, city and
State, seems to be the most successful in
bringing these lublic plunderers to JUS
tice, and this must be placed to the credit
ofthe Democracy. Tweed has been in
prison for some time, others ran away,
the trials of some are still pending, and
their property generally is enjoined.
Governor Tilden's urgent recommends
ton to investigate the canals led to the
appointment of Commission whose re-
port has led to several arrests, as the fol-
lowing will show;
A BoMBsHELL AMONG THE CANAL THIEVES
OF WESTERN NEW YORK.
BUFFALO, Sept. 2l.-Following close
upon the cheer for "Tilden and Reform"
at the Syracuse Convention comes the
explosion of a reform bomb in Western
New York, which has set dozen canal
thieves and other rascals scudding, some
of them into Canada. Yesterday the
Grand Jury ofthe Superior Court of Erie
county brought into Court indictments
against the following State officials, and
contractors and dealers with the State,
for the crimes of bribery, larceny, con-
spiracy and fraud.
George D. Lord, Canal Contractor and
late member of the Assembly, Democrat.
Alexander Barkley, Canal Commits
sioner in 1874, Republican.
Thaddeus G. Davis, Canal Appraiser.
VIM. II. Bowman, counsel for George
D. Lord.
Lewis j. Bennett, canal contractor, Re-
publican.
These indictments result directly from |
he investigations last spring and recently |
If Governor Tilden's Commission, COM
,osed Of John Bigelow, Daniel Magone,
r., John d. Van Buren and A. B. Orr. |
they are presented by one of the most |
grand juties whom it has ever
,een impossible for culprits to corrupt,
nd who in this instance deserve more
han local popularity.
There is no doubt the State Treasury of
Pennsylvania is rotten to the core, and
hat ring of political cut-throats have,
" fraud, kept themselves in power for
ears, 1t is to be hoped that this fall
he people will put them out. The State
treasurer Of Pennsylvania, few weeks
go, had the audaCity to refuse permis-
ion to committee of the Legislature to
examine his books and office records !
But we do not think that any "Boss"
Exceeded ours in impudence and audaci-
y. He went East--he likes to go East
m happy errands-negotiated the bonds
himself, and on his return coolly refused
o put the money in the city treasury, as
he law directs "Boss" Tweed never
,eat that, we know The State Treasurer
# Pennsylvania and all the addition,
livision and silence" thieves could not
,eat it in effrontery.
The citizens of Canton, satisfied that
was wrong, elected a City |
Jouncil in the spring of 1871 on that
ssue. The Council appointed an outside
committee to investigate the Water
Works accounts. These gentlemen, after
full and patient investigation of all the
looks and accounts, reported deficit of
ONE EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOL
4ARSl
Unfortunately the Council to whom
his report was made took no action upon |
t, and the "Boss" set the authorities at !
Iefance, report and all Itis only within
he past year that Council was found
o order unanimously, suit to be brought
Ipon this report.
The same fellow, while County Com
went East and purchased the
as fixtures for the Court House in 1859.
n 1871 the County Commissioners called
lin before them-told him there was
ak of fraud in the purchase-talk that
he county had been robbed-that the
ill of particulars having been mutilated
nd changed from the way it was orig |
nally made, seemed to confirm the sus-
icion And nnu what. in auhatancp |