The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-06
vol KILL 81.
GEORGE y. LORDS BONANZA
NOS nv FILLED ms POCKETS WTrH
rIfE PEOPLE'S MONEI.

etSJ,OOO Over and Above HE Contract.
TIE NTH report OF the Canal Investigat
Ing Commission has just been printed. 1t deals |
with the buffalo contracts, and reveals system |
OF rasoallty on the part of titled contractors, |
that could have become euccessful only through |
the connivance Of sworn Officers OF the state. |
In February, 1893, the State entered into CON |
haot with George ID. Lord to keep In repair sec
Aon u Of the Erie Canal for the term OF four |
years and ten months, from and including tho
lat Of March. 1868, for the sum Of sA,tOO year.
BY q special provision OF the contract Lord was
60 dredge the canal at Buffalo and Black Rock,
also TO dredgc out the deposits between Guard
Look aud Black Rock harbor. and between the
harbor and the bridge, the work to be done be-
fore tho opening Of navigation. In May the
Legislature appropriated $4,000 for excavating
and dredging Ohio basin in Buffalo, and
the contract was given to Lord. In June
. contract was entered into with John
Hand, OF Buffalo, for dredging the Ohio basin
the three feet in depth below the base line to
wnioh the repair contractor Of section Il"
George ID. Lord was required to dredge. In
May, 1850, the Legislature appropriated f5s,5Oo
Tor dredging Black Rock harbor and the Erie
basin and for deepening the slip and protecting
the dock OF the ohio BASIN and In July the
state signed two contracts with John Hand for
dredging the north end of Erie basin and re-
moving deposits from Black Rock harbor. On
May ., 1870 an appropriation OF $1,000 was made
for similar work on the ONO basin, to be done
undsr the existing contract with John Hand.
Ali the work to be performed under these sp.
deepening the Ohio basin was already covered
by the repair contract OF q Gorge d. Lord.
HOW EXTRA PAY WAS SECURED.
In is1l Lord induced Lewis J. Bennett, one OF
John Hand partners, to apply to the Legisla-
ture, Of which Lord had just been elected
been remunerative. An act was passed granting
san gd 70 Ss MSss 5USn
y: Fay and George Chapman, awarded 50.
e7el0 over aud above the ~ sol y paid 70 them
Behn. whose province II was To measure and
estimate the work, and upon whose testimony,
In part, this award was.made, was one-third pro-
puetor Of one Of Dennett's steam dredges. He
paid t4.68 ~ for bis interest'and had received as
hs share of the profits up to Jan, 1874 period
of less than four years. t7Os248. within few
months Behn was promoted to Division Ensi-
neer for the Western Division still retaining his
lucrative interest in the dredge, in partnership
with the contractors, whose charges against the
State II OF bis Official duties to super
wise. Bennett said that by direction OF Lord he
Increased the volume Of the pills presented TO
was paid over TO Jarvis Lord, President OF the
Monroe County Bank, ana not one cent went to
$4,000. of which be paid Lewis j. Bennett $3,0oo.
In Nay, 1872, the Legislature appropriated
10 July. 1873 Geo. u. Lord asked another award
foe the relief OF John Hand" and proposed to
terms as the last. The Commissioner, Alex.
Barkiey, Il. ". stroud. and James Jackson, yr;
Tue testimony taken is In the handwriting Of
Thad. c. Davis. Benefits af'dsvit was die
notary, who was Davis's clerk. The award,
made on the sth of December, is also in
examining three witnesses, all Of whom were
Interested with BENNETT made the Additional
~ Bennett testiacs that he had enlarged hts
bill on Lords demand. His books show o,lss
m'ssioners he claimed pay for ls43 days, aud
charged $4,4@ more than he was entitled to fer
the earnings OF his dredges. The report SAYS
4 Il Hsads eonirscts instead Of ssstns the G eS@
St zee sro ~GSa 81 s s % any y
sa Low Sy ne ~, & 9e.d sre T4Sg
Tor she taxing o. 20 from the ,eagry are ua
hAt Il 10 returned
FRAUD AT EVERY STEP.
In whatever direction inquiry WAS pushed the
every step. Not only was the award OF The
Canal Commissioners made upon su0stantia
estimates OF the engineers on the work
were largely fictitious. Bennett's books
70 The amount Of s5,,;l yards. He tes
tined before the committee thar he paid Lore
and that he also aided Mr.. Alberger with funds
before and after his election as Canal Commis
IL appears from the testimony Of Thad. c
Davis that besides acting as counsel In this las
taking down the testimony. writing or record
ing all the papers, and drawing the award; HI
paid the expenses OF the Commissioners during
their sojourn at Buffalo on this business, includ
ing wtue supper at the lint House at whcl
were several invited guests, including Mr.. W. h
Bowman, attorney In fact.
The report calls special attention to the testi
sioners, who testified that while he, Davis, an,
Oscar Folsom were on their way TO the TIN
House wine supper, Davis stopped the carriage
went into a bank, and returning threw tw'
packages Of money into the vehicle, Folsom
front Of the bank and the distribution Of none
90 the highway ~ DAVIS 70 companions W wh
had been more or less concerned with him Il
making the second award occurred On the da
succeeding that ON which the award was made.
On the 10th OF February following, by drec
ton OF George D. Lord. Bennett met Bowma
at the office Of the Canal Com issioners at Lock
port, to receive the award. For greater con
venience IN discharginR various obligation
which Lord and Bennett had Incurred IN obtain
ns it hr. JACKSON Issued seven cer.lnSates yes
$4,000. The largest and smallest OF these wer
sivsn to Bowman for Lord. Bowman Kept th
ward returned II 10 the commission for cance
s,on Spd n ssrTsnder' D Jew days aissr a the n a
Bennett handed him sealed envelope contain
ing one o. .6e 1900 esrtihcates Davis ss: nc nc
which none OF the witnesses could eIplaiI
Dsv!: on ne ist %i March gave ct the -, G,oo9 Gee cs
missioners who had united In making the aware
Barkley sent IL 10 Bennett.
TIE CHIEB CoNePIRAroR.
senes OF frauds were not those for whose az
VAntaGe they were ostenrby perpetrate(
Hand, In whose name the contract was mad
sooms to have had no direct connection wit
the conspiracy. and TO have shared none OF Oh
plunder. Bennett seems TO have yielded to th
.eduouons of Lord, Bowman and Davis hot
fully Comprehendlng the nature or the graVii
OF his crime. ." lie has returned to this Cou
mission IN money and certificates OF indebted
ness. tE,,554 80 says the report: He hi
promised full restitution Of everything whic
he may appear 10 have illegally received iro
tho State, and has manifested an apparent
sincere cOntrition Tor his conduct
The conspiracy 10 defraud the state 81
She committee seems TO have originate
with George u, Lord, and to have been consun
mated by him with the assistance OF hile
Davis, and Behm; the Canal Commissioners, II
ofical protectors OF tho states Interest one
fng no serious resistance. MIR. Jackson tes,i1e
that he knew nothing Of the fraudulent chara
Ger Of the claims set up Ia behalf Of bennct
and supposed the proof sufficient. II that col
stitutes any defence for him, the committee s.
he Ia entitled TO the benefit OF II.
The report also calls attention to the fact thi
while Lord occupied a seat in the Assembly
act was y ssed authorizing, and, In fact direc
I'M he a