The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-04

Gov. Chamberlain approved the bill, and APP
pointed suitable commissioners. The bargain
was kept, and the claims OF Woodruff and mes
wcro passed and approved by the Commission
Thus the first strike was made by which Sc 900
we're gathered in for the support OF the Gov
crnor's newspaper. But this was not enough.
and 5000 moro we're looked for in another and
Il different direction.
Before Chamberlain came into power MS Gov
ernor. tho General Assembly. in order to guard
against the dishonesty OF its State Treasurer.
had enacted a system OF tax laws. which made
the State taxes specific. both in their collection
and application-that Is, such and such n tux
was levied. and the purpose 10 which II was TO
be applied was named In the bill. To divert the
tax collected for any one purpose to the pay
mcnt Of another was made by tho bill n felony.
punishable with heavy lnc and extended inn
prisonmcnt. Prior to the last year Of Chamber
lain's administration. a debt OF $4,000 had
been due for several years to one Thomas W.
Price of Philadelphia. who had furnished to the
Comptroller General Of the State such books as
were used by the County Auditors and Treas
| jurors in the assessment and collection OF the
| taxes. Although this debt had been standing
| comparatively long time no appropriation had
| boon made for its payment and Price was very
| the treasury was that which had been collected
| under the spocif, tax lcvies and this could
| only be- legally devoted to payments other than
| the Price claim.
Even these restricted funds were misapplied.
To all persons who applied at the State treasury
for their money. the stereotypcd reply was q" no
funds on hand" Chamberlain was striving to
keep the money there rs long ma possible. so as
t. make 1t available in his denomination for
onlrc-so IA to say TO every mcmber OF the Nom
mating Convention. who had claim against
the state vote for my nomination and | will
have your claim paid; vote against me. and you
may whistle for your money"
But temptation came 20 Chamberlain in the
shape OF Price from Philadelphia. with an
earnest demand for payment Of his bill. and to
get 1t he consented to part with little Of the
money for the support of the tnion- Herald.
one James q. Thompson was the editor 81
this paper. Through Thompson Chambc rlain
communicated with Price. and told him that il
would he felony under the law to have his bill
paid cut ~ any moneys then In the treasury
and TINT Cardoaa the Treasurer would Ger.
tainly not pay IL and take such a risk unless he
| Chamberlain. advised and requested him to d.
So. But that II Price would constitute him
Thompson. his agent for the collection Of tn,
twenty thousand dollars. and VIC uld pay hin
| five thousand dollars out OF II for the benefit o.
! the Union HTdh. n" Chamberlain. woult
advise and order Cardoza ,o pay the money.
| Price at once consented 10 do go. IA he dc
SPARED Of getting his money 10 any other way
and Cardoza paid the $4,000 out Of which
$4,000 were reserved by Thompson ON Gov
| Chambcrlnin's account
thus the 81 coo needed were made up. an,
the pc kcts Of Carloza and Chamberlain wcr
sav"d from further depletion.
The parties 10 this transaction still live.
/ Price Is a rich book publisher g.. in Phila
delphia. Chamberlain pra,ts-s law in New
/ York. and Thompson is the Columbia CORE
/ @ponicnt Of a New York paper. But Cardozi
-i's in iail. convicted and punished. and pom
dorlng the truth contained in the old fable q
the monkey the cat. and tile chceinuis rake,
/ from the fire.
OF both ol these bribery transactions in which
I Chamberlain WAS the hrbcd party the Drmo
cratic Investigating Committee has full legs.
| proof.