The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-22
THE RULERS OF QUEBEC.
The Province Bled by Cabal Of
Corrupt officials.
CREDIT MOBILIER EMULATED
Startling Charges Against the Solici-
tor General.

TOT 1eneIdi.
The Montreal Herald, April 20, publishes tho fol-
lowing starting stAlsment containing charges Of stu
pendous corruption on the part OF a member Of the
Quebec government:-
TO TIE ErIroR or TIE MONTREAL HERALD
tSIR-A lew days ago you published q letter from
me, dated ST. Albans, in hch stated that SO
Is my railway business was srranged would return
10 Montreal. and that l would then give the public
something moro Interesting than the scurrious news
paper squibs which have been directed against my
personal character by those Interested IN destroying
Il. now fulni my promise. am hero ready 10 face
my traducers, and propose, as first instalnent. to
nected with my financial ANTIQUITIES when may
the public 10 open their eyes and inquire, "Wnat
TO commence with tho commencement:-
A SUBSIDY WANTED
In 1874 loaned parties Interested in the Montreal,
Portland ana Boston Railway conslderaoie sum Of
money. In 1876 i came to the copclusion that
would lose this money unless something was done In
the way OF continuing the CONSTRUCTION OF the road,
and, with th object in view, determined on gong
10 Quebec, with othors interested 10 press upon The
de Bouchervile government the claims OF the
an enhanced rate OF subsidya 4, 10 It's beng placed
par with other roads In the Province, which had
been granted s. GOO per mile After some discussion
session, the Montreal Portland and Boston road
should 20 added 10 the list Of railways drawing that
amount This was then supposed to form part OF
the railway policy OF the government IN tho then
approaching session. subsequent 10 this promised
~
Foster, by which that onteman undertook supply
tho for the completion Of The road to West Farm
would be oyay fulfilled. Contracts were then let
she completion OF the road, upon guarantees entered
into by Mr.. William Angus ana myself but, unfortu-
nately, Mr.. Foster shortly after became involved in
legal difficulties with English capitalist which
dcred it Impossible Tor him to supply the IRON
agreed upon. Mr. William Angus and myself then
deemed II necessary TO raise money TO purchase the
Iron, and found We could arrange Tor the required
amount with the Bank OF Montreal on furnishing a
tLen from vel that
regarding an Increased subsidy would be fulfilled DUR
ing the ensuing session.
4 QUESTION OF DOLLARS NOT SENTIMENT.
again visited Quebec and sought interview with
Mr. do Bouchcrvilie ana Solicitor General BAKER. dur
Subsequently, Solicitor General Baker SAID 70 pri-
vatcly that, nasmuch myself and friends expected
tBnker) must have share in the proht-tbat other
members OF the government made their profits out or
railways and he myst have his. demonstrated with
him Tor making SUCH adcmand-saylng that had al
ways becL o political friend anu supporter. and
thought It botn Unfair and ungenerous tor him to
nuke such a demand. He said II was
not question OF scntimcnt--it was simply
one OF dollars and cents. Other Ministers did
IT, and US his elections cost him money inns was the
deal OF vain and having made contracts
necessitaing the raising OF money. was poweress,
and had to comply with his demands
MODEST DEMANDS
asked him how much he required. He said
$10 900 out OF the subsidy. He also proposed that
the government should build u wharf at Lonsueu,l,
and put Oh steamer connecting with Inc government
road Al Hochelaaa and IN that event ne would expect
an addition Of SIS, 00U, (As proof OF this tho
grant OF 1876, which made It obligatory upon the
company 10 extend tho road TO Longueuil, to
connect with tho government road) TINS was
on the 4th OF August, 1876, in solicitor General
Bakers office vt Quebec. Feeling that not IN
position 10 resist his demands | yielded 10 him,
The letter promising the subsidy written after
meeting oil the Cabinet on The 18th oil August, and
Baker brought II mo in Montreal, demA ng that
he should have 81, 900 paid down It's delivery
OF tho $40 900 before exacted. He required
$1,000 10 be his law firm, gave him H. 600
sweetsburg. This latter sum was paid In instruments,
ana proof thereof IL In my POSSESSION.
JEwIyG CREDITOR.
Money was then raised IN The Bank OF Montreal on
tho strength OF the solicitor Generals letter. Inc
extent OF $4,000 This was on joint note OF Mr.
Angus anu myself The proceeds were used for tho
purchase OF IRON for the road and work
menced Immediately. AT the close OF. the work that
year the greater portion Of the subsidy had been
earned an0 tho road was Inspected by government
engineer who madc favorable report SIN The SUBJ
s,dv was from Inc nank 10 whom a md bccn nrnsnac
lively transferred. Baker meantime demanded IRON
ME further payment on account of the promised
So 00O saying nothing could be done about the pay
ment oil the subsidy until the matter OF the $40 600
was settled, he had to drviac a portion
Of It with other members OF the govern lnent mean
time using ~ an excuse Tor the non-payment OF the
subsidy certain alleged defect In the construction OF
She bridge at Chamby, which had been constructed
and accepted by the government some Two years be-
fore my connection with the road. used all the
gumsnss AZ my disposal during the three
months TO induce him 70 authorize tho payment oil
the amount OF subsidy earned-somo $60,vO0--to tho
Bank OF Montreal, but he persistenty refused until
further payments wero made account OF tho
$40 oOO On the slh OF March, 1877, me. HIM In Mon.
trcal and again urged my request saying that could
not raise any more money until the joint note OF
Mr. william Angus and myself had been
satisfied Ia the bank. Baker then remarked that he
would tako personal property on account, and re-
owned, amounting to $S3s 80; also n sleigh, har.
ness, robes, &c, valued at between $500 ana $500
no asS aad nc ,a
$250sll OF which, together with the ST. 900 paid
him on the 10TH oiAugus 1876 and he note OF $1,000
TO MIS- law firm, aggregated sum OF between $4,000
and 81, 000 Notwithstanding all this Mr. Baker still
omitted 70 have the subsidy money paid 70 the bank
and treated Mr. William Angus anu myself with SUI
THE SUBSIDY NOT PAID.
Things renamed in this state until tho latter part
Of last October, and feeling utterly disguised with
Bakers conduct, and financial difficulties becoming
moro aud moro pressing, demanded, in writing, on
the LIST OF December, that the subsidy mouey should
paid. In ms letter pointed out TO him the I'M
mnent danger OF my being forced into Insolvency, IN
which he had cxtorted money and property from mo
would be revealed TO an Official assignee and newt
ably become public have no desire at this moment
to print this letter. bat may state that took pro-
cautions that should reach his hands, and have posi-
tive proof thet lie received II. few days later on
Mr. Angus was forced into insolvency..
ONLY oNE OF RING"
From that time, tearing exposure, Baker and his DO
licai friends have followed me with the most rcleut.
less persecution, evidently with the Intention TO
blacken and destroy my reputation, so that in the
coming exposure he would, as ho thought, be in po-
eutOn 70 cast uouotb upon my aud thus
ward OF tho damaging effect OF tho revelations no
knew | was In a position to make. But, moth witn-
standing this persecution, Determined that would
not, except under the most extreme pres
sure, make pubic facts which could not, and
cannot, faii to have most damaging effect
upon the party TO which Mr. Baker belongs.
and with which had been from my youth upward
connected. Ana the more forbearance 4 exercised
the more bitter malev client became their attacks
upon my personal integrity, until last drivon larry
10 bay, have DECIDED, In the interest OF tho public
and IN my own, 10 expose the cx,ortion practscd
nv tho M .Splic IN nj nj nua
according 10 his own ackno wledgnent TO me, forms
but one of corrupt regime preyng upon the v,tals
OF the people Of this Province under she once 70.
spectacle name OF conservatism name which they
have d ono their best W bring into disgrace and
infamy.
i viii only add that this letter does not, by any
means, cover the whole ground OF my accusations
ngairst Solicitor General Baker, and That have in
slructed my legal adv scrs TO proceed, without fur
Their delay against that respectable gentleman Tor tho
recovery OF tho money and property extorlcd IRON me
BY false and fraudulent IN mis-