Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-06-10
INVESTIGATOR MuRcH.

IN EcI lba1O mOhNli.
Murch, NJ. c., has laid out his summer
campaign. He expects to return TO Maine
at the head of a sub-committe of the Com
mittee on. Public Buildings and Grounds,
and proposes TO show that the Government
has been badly swindled in the contracts
with Maine parties for stone cutting for
the public building A Washington spec
ial to the Boston Post outlines Murch's
programme as follows:
''The committee will be authorized to in
quire into the wages paid laborers, and
whether there is any difficulty i'm securing
competent agents and performing the work
directly by the Government. Authority
will also be asked 10 examine the pay-rolls,
Mr. Murch thinking that he win be able to
| find large number Of horny handed Maine
politicians carried on those rolls in return
for keeping the peace at the polls. Inqui-
~ is To be made into the cost of erecting
and furnishing clearinghouse, stone
sheds, blacksmith shops, storehouses and
barns at Dix Island, where the stone was
Gu: for the New York Custom House and
| Post Office; also, into the cost of tools for
cutting stone at the same place, and wheth-
er or not the buildings and tools were not
sold at auction 10 purchasers with whom
no one competed and who sold the tools
| back TO the Government 10 be used in cut
| ting stone for the Philadelphia Post Office
and Custom House Also, whether ut the
time OF their appointment the superintend-
entS, inspectors and stone meaSurers at
| Carver'S Harbor, Ninalhaven, Me, of the
work for the Cincinnati Custom House, al
| Dix Island for the New York Court House
and Post ONCE. at Clarke'S Island for the
| Hartford Post Office, and at Hurricane Is
I land for the 81. Louis Custom House, were
practical architects or mechanics, and by
whom they were appointed. 1t will also
| be inquired whether certain workmen,
while in the pay Of the Government at
Viualhayen, were not engaged Oh private
work, and whether apprentices were paid
As iournevmen AT the rate of 81 per day
and charged To the Government AT the rate
| of - or 50 per day
To use vulgar phrase, it strikes us that
Murch has bitten of more than nc can chaw.
| All large business enterprises have their
! detractors, and il has been the habit of a
certain class OF our citizens to deCTy the
proprictorS Of the granite quarricS, and
make them the targets for abuse and mis-
representation. But there is another side
/ to the question than that presented hy
/ Murch and his followers. These barren
and mproductivc islands on our coast
/ have, in the hands of capitalists, added
/ largely 10 the revenues of the State and
/ given employment TO many thousands OF
our citizens. An industry has been deyel-
opcd. the beneficial effects of which are
! felt IN every branch Of business, and upon
which the livelihood and prosperity OF
many of our people depends today. These
facts should outweigh the random charges
OF Murch; and, according 10 the PrngreS-
sire ige, MurCh is about the last person
who should Doe entrusted with making such
an investigation aS is proposed In it, Is
sue OF July {, ls7S, the -ige said of Murch
/ that "hc has been the head centre OF all
strikes and troubles which have occurred
on the granite islands. b lfISt IoWHai.