Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-08-24
Amount Dfnon
ai2l 1as w n 500 go "

IDtSs 5HDW iiiib hiif '1bae1 i''A7 ~
ready paid nearly four times the
amount which was involved by the
terms of the contract, and though
this excess amounts To more than u
million Of dollars, some Of the ex-
pendltures are still going on, with no
prospect Of completion. IL also ap-
pears that of the expenditures Of
81 $50, 1904, only s424, 1880, less
than one-third, was submitted TO Il
public letting. BY the naneuvers Of
this character the cost Of public
works are run up TO extravagaut
sums. Appropriations are absorbed,
deficiencies are created to DO paid by
new appropriations, and tho people
arc loaded down with taxes.
We direct special attention to con-
tract No. 3, contract hold by VIII
lard Johnson contracted for at $37,-
81, and upon which GOV. Tilden
says sll0, 320.1 had been paid. lie
expressly names this contract as n
specimen Of the frauds, and as one
OF those upon which "the State has
already paid nearly four times tho
amount which was involved by the
terms Of the contract That was
on the 18th Of March, 1879.
In tho following May, a bill was
carried through the Legislature
which provided for paying $56, 200 on
this same contract Of Willard John
SOMA contract which by its terms
called for only t87,7 sl altogether,
and upon which Gov. Tilden said
sll0, 32O.l3 had been allowed. After
passing the Legislature, the bill
went before Gov. Tllden for his ac-
tion. Ii would ut once be presumed
that ha. vetoed. ii. OK. mt Toast, YatQaa
right TO do. He had stigmatized the
work under this very contract as Que
Of the chief frauds. lie had shown
that three times as much had been
allowed on 1t ~ were involved in its
terms. liz no were honest and sin.
cere I'm his "cana REFORM" how
could he possibly sanction this pro-
posed payment of 800, 900, and how
could he help vetoIng II?
But Willard Johnson was n Demo
cratic member ofthe Legislature and
prominent and intimate friend and
associate Of Dolos DE Wolf, who re-
sides In the same county, and who
had long been one OF tho most in
liuential members Of the Democratic
State Committee. Accordingly,
while the bill. was before Gov. TIL
den, Mr.. DeWolf visited him In the
interest OF tho Willard johnson APP
preparation and urged him 10 APP
prove the bill or allow IL to become a
law, In order that the $4,000 might !
DO paid on the certificates which had |
been issued to johnson. The result |
was that Governor Tilden, though |
he had expressly denounced this
work AS fraud, did allow the bill to |
become law, and ii stands upon the
statute-booi1 as Chapter 2G3, Of the
Laws Of 1875. These facts arc estab-
lished by the following affidavit of
Mr.. DE Wolf, which was made In
the course Of IN negotiation of the
certificates, In order that there might
be no question about Gov. Tilden's
position, and which exposes the
whole transaction as tho Governor
never expected Ii would be:
Delos De Wolf, of Oswego, being
duly sworn, doth dispose and say:
That In the early part Of May last be
called on Gov. Tilden, mt the Exec
utivo Chamber, in Albany, and in
tho course OF conversation with tho
Governor at that time, the bill then
In his, tho Governors hands, In
which provision il mado for the pay
Inent of certain certificates issued for
work done on canals In excess Of APP
was fully discussed.
The deponent says he told the Gov
srnor that his, the deponent's bank,
held quite large amount Of the
above mentioned certificates issued ,
b Willard johnson, and, of course,
40, the deponent, was quite anx-
Gus to have the bill become law.
The Governor said he had no doubts
Il to some items contained in the
ill, but as fnr as tho johnson certin-l
ates are concerned, he, the Gov
rnor, was satisfied they were valid
laitas against the State, and should
Q paid in pursuance Of tho provis- ii
ms OF snid hill, o printsd .aopy Of
,hlch IL herewith annexed, and IL 3
ow kown As Act 2GS, Of tho Laws Of
s75. DEI.os DE WOLF 8
Subscribed and sworn before me p
10 this 30th day of Juno, 1875. Up
GEORGE KELLOGG, u
Notary Public.
In order to the fullest understand q
~ Of tho matter, wo should explain g
,at tho money under an approprla- y
on does not become available for o.
ear, until the tax levied for the "
impose Ii collected; and that ac- b,
,rdingly certificates for the claim are h,
sued. When the claim Is valid or ty
,rtain TO be paid, these certificates
~ DO negotiated. II was upon the b.