Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-08-24

penditures of 81, $50, $50. 81 only
1924, 1876. 80 less than one-third, was
submitted to a public letting. By ma
neuvers of this character the cost of
public works are run up to extravagant
sums. Appropriations are absorbed,
deficiencies are created to be paid by
new appropriations and the people are
loaded down with taxes"
Look at contract No. a contract
held by Willard johnson, contracted
for at S37,67100 and upon which
Gov. Tilden says $40, 800 ID had
been paid He calls the attention of
the Legisture to this contract as
specimen Of the frauds and one of
those upon which ':the State has al
ready paid nearly four times the
amount which was involved by the
terms of the contract. In the fol-
lowing May, bill was passed by the
Legislature which provided for paying
$50, 600 on this same contract Of Will
lard Johnson-a contract which by It's
terms called for only $37, 871.00 alto
gether, and upon which Gov. Tilden
said Clio, 32013 had been paid. At
ter passing the Legislature, the bill
went before Gov. Tilden for his action.
It would naturally be supposed that
he vetoed it or at least vetoed that par
ticular item, as, under the new Con-
stitution of that state he had a right
to do. He had denounced the work
under this contract as one Of the chief
frauds He had shown that three
times as much had been allowed upon
it as were involved at the time it was
let If he were honest and sincere in
has "canal reform" how could he pos
sibly sanction this proposed payment
Of $50, 100000, and how could he help
vetoing it?
But Willard johnson was a Demo-
cratic member of the Legislature and
a prominent Democratic politician.
Moreover, he was the intimate friend
and associate Of Delos De Wolf, who
rnsided in the ssme county and who
had long been one Of the most infuen-
tial members Of the Democratic State
Committee Accordingly, while the
bill was before Gov Tllden, Mr.. De
Wolf visited him in the interest Of
the Willard Johnson appropriation,
and urged him to approve the bill or
allow it SO become law in order tha6
the S55, 000 might be paid on the GER
tifcates which had been issued to
johnson. The result was that Gov
Tilden, though he had expressly de-
nounced, them this work as a fraud,
dGd allow this bill to become q law,
as it stands upon the statute book as
chapter 263 Of the laws Of 1875
These facts are established by the fol
lowing affidavit of Mr.. De Wolf,
which was made IN the course Of ne
gotiation Of she certificates, in order
that there might be nc question about
Gov. Tilden's position, and which ex-
poses the whole transaction as the
Governor never expected 1t would
be
''Delos De Wolf, Of Oswego, being
duly sworn doth depose and say: That
ia the early part Of May last he called
on Governor Tilden, at the Executive
Chamber, IN Albany, and in the
course OF conversation with the Gov
ernor at that time, the bill then in his,
the Governor hands, In which pro-
vision is made for the payment Of GER
tain certificates issued for work done
on the canals in excess of appropria-
tions was fully discussed. The depo-
nent says he told the Governor that
his, the deponent's, bank held quite
large amount Of the above mentioned
certificates Issued to Willard johnson,
and, of course, he, the deponent, was
quite anxious to have the bill become
law. The Governor said he had
doubts as to some items contained in
the biii, but as far as the johnson Ger
tifcates soere concerned, he, the Goger-
uor, a0Gs satisfied they eoere VALID
CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE AND
SHOULD BE PAID IN pursuance Of the
provisions Of said bill, a printed copy
Of which is herewith annexed and is
NV Eyrao 4vu 90 et Chanter 063 of the