The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-03
The Canal Investigation.

The following is General Bradley
JOhnsOn's statement of the mango
me Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal Company, made before the
Canal investigating committee of the
Legislature
l. The canal has been managed as
a political machine. not in the inter.
ests of the Democratic party, but for
the purpose of promoting the perso-
nal ends of its managers.
Specifications. - Mr.. German adj.
mits i'm his answer that so far as he
and the board over which he presides
could direct the canal company, they
have bestowed or caused it to be be.
slowed, after the manner Of their
predecessors, upon members of the
party to which they belong assess
ments have been made for political
uses on the salaries of employees, and
collected or deducted therefrOm by
officers of the company ; three per
cent was collected from salaries for
political purposes by the treasurer of
the company; canal employees rave
interfered in elections by direction Of
canal authorities; canal employees
have voted solidly at elections, pri-
mary and otherwise, to influence
such elections NJ. German knew of
the political interference Of his sub
ordinates and approved it ; employees
were appointed for political objects,
without regard to the interests of the
company; authority was given the
President to organize police force
on the line of the canal, and this
power, unlimited as it was either a.
regards number of men or money to
be expended, was used for political
purposes. Under this power Mr..
German appointed Alfred Spates, of
Cumberland, salary $1,000; Chas. III.
Mann, owsontoWn, 5000; Jho. Gale,
Baltimore and Somerset, 5000; ThoS.
J. Pitt. Anne Arunde, 5000. The
canal influence directly interfered in
the elections to defeat candidates OPP
posed to canal management and elect
others friendly to it. AT the election
of 1879 Geo. w. Smith, candidate for
the Senate, and II. II. Keedy, for the
House of Delegates from Washing
ton county, were known to be openly
hostile to the German management
of the canal. They were defeated by
the votes i'm the canal district of that
county, and two Republicans friendly
to the management were elected.
2. The funds of the canal company
belonging to the bondholders have
been expended improperly and lille
gally.
Specifications. The directors, in
violation of a prohibitory resolution,
during the years 1871 2 3, received a
regular payment of $500 4 year each.
Their hotel bills have also been paid,
and the amount thus illegally ex-
pended since 1871, amounts to $685.
600. The salary of Mr.. German in
1874 was increased from $4,000 by
81, 900 allowance for travelling expen-
ses, and, Notwithstanding this his
hotel bills have also been paid by the
company. The money paid to de-
tectIves was without warrant of law,
and the men appointed never per-
formed any duty whatever. In Feb
ruary 1877, the Lock and Dock Com
pany leased the outlet locks, above
Georgetown, d. c., to the State OF
Maryland IN consideration of 81 per
annum for twenty-three years. BY
the same investment the canal com
pany covenanted to pay the Lock d
Dock Company $4,000 per annum
for twenty five years, and to keep
the outlet lock in good repair. me
contract is illegal, and under it the
company has expended S43, 93l.95 IN
repairs for three years and nearly
$4,000 for rent making a total mis-
appropriation of $4,000, al d la
bility for twenty-three years to come
for rent and repairs. 1t has illegally
paid 100000 on q. purchase of wharf
property of McKaig g. Walsh, OF
Cumberland, both at price of $780,
600. Its contracts with the Maryland,
American and Georges Creek Coal
Com N iAc nd fhn Ct,,,, l. nd Rail-