Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-09
THE pEeoLYEK DISHONESTY.
The Case GJe,ced From an official Stand
point.


The Case Hie,oed From an official Stand
point.
Washington Cor. Chicago Times.
A forme or member of the board of public
works gives very interesting account of
the DeGolyer case from the official stand
point. This member of the board says that
not only was the DeGolyer contract awar led
upon the request of Gen. Garfield, but that
this request was preferred before Boss Shop
herd only. Gen. Garfield never appeared be-
fore the board at all. No brief in the case
was ever filed. At one meeting of the board
afterward this member of the board often
protested against the DeGolyer contract. 1t
will be remembered that there was in all
contracts made with the board of public
works clause giving the board authority to
cancel the said contracts for good and suf-
ficient cause. This member of the board
insisted that this contract should be annull-
ed. Said he. "This pavement is swindle
from beginning to the end. 1t is absolutely
worthless. 1t is downright robbery to allow
this rotten contract to go any farther" This
was very severe language, and naturally
made sensation in the board
meeting. The whole affair was
quoted, however, by a few words
from Boss Shepherd. Said he, (" Gentlemen,
it is idle to discuss the merits of that con-
tract or pavement. 1t was given absolutely
as personal favor to Gen. Garfield. He is
chairman of the House committee on appro-
priations. If that contract is annulled we
will have endless trouble in getting new ap
preparations. Some will fail utterly. We
cannot afford to raise our hands in this mat
ter" After this very plain talk from the boss
there was nothing more to be said. The
member of the board who related the above
incident is resident of this city, and will
make affidavit to the above if necessary.
This DeGolyer case is the BLACKLIST thing
charged against Gen. Garfield, for the con.
current testimony at Washington runs all one
way. He was paid the $5, 600 for his influence
in obtaining the contract from Boss Shop
herd. The latter gave the contract for the put
ting down of pavement he knew to be worth
less, in order to make the obtaining of his
appropriations for the District an easy mat
ter. According to the testimony of mem
Der of the board, the contract would have
been annulled had it not been for the GER
tainty that it would place Gen. Garfield in
an antagonistic position to the board and its
appropriations. In view of this case and
the continued employment of members of
Congress as attorneys to procure contracts
and the like, it may be interesting to call to
mind two sections of the Revised Statutes
that do not very often see the light of day.
The first is as follows:
SEC. 1871. Every member of Congress, or
off Of fho ant who
rectly or indirectly, takes, receives, or agrees
to receive any money, property, or other valu-
able Consideration whatever from any person,
for procuring or aiding to procure any contract,
office, or place from the governmental any de-
partment thereof, or from any officer of the
United States, for any person what
ever, or for giving any such contract, of
every person who, directly or indirectly, offers
or agrees to give or gives or bestows any
money, property or. other valuable consider
alton whatever for the procuring or hiding to
procure any such contract, Office or place. and
every member of Congress who, directly or in
directly, takes, receives. or agrees to receive
any money, property or other valuable consid-
Grafton whatever, after his election as such
member, for his attention to-, services, action,
vote, or decision on any question, matter,
cause or proceeding which may be pending or
may by law or under the constitution be
brought before him in his official capacity or
in his place as such member of Congress, shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and shall
be imprisoned not more than two years and
fined not more than $4,000; and any such
contract may, at the option of the President,
be declared absolutely null and void: and any
member of Congress or officer convicted of a
violation of this section shall, moreover, be
disqualified from holding any Office of honor,
profit or trust under the government OF the
United States.
Practically this law is dead letter. If it
were rigidly enforced Congress would soon
be without quorum. Taking Gen. Gar
fields own statement of the DeGolyer case
and he would be convicted under the above
statutes, and when sentenced forever dis
qualified. Gov. Shepherd and his board
were appointed by the President, confirmed
by the Senate; and paid out of the treasury.
In every sense of the word were they officers
of the United States government. Before
them such men as Gen. Garfield were for
hidden to appear, suing for favors under the
penalty of committing misdemeanor. The
District then as now was the ward of the
nation. The control of its affairs was abso-
lutely in the hands of Congress. So, from
even the ablest defense of Gen. Garfield 8
connection with the rotten pavement con-
tract, he has been under the law possible
convict and candidate for Acknowledgement.
The Census im the Soath.
So far as the census returns have been hur-
riedly reviewed, the showing for the South is
more favorable than had been anticipated.
North Carolina figures out total of ], 1856 200,
against 1,07l ,361 ten years ago. South Caro-
lima has not increased any, nor has she lost,
while Florida has gained at least 60 per cent.
Georgia shows steady gain during the rast
ten years, especially in her cities. Missouri
has gained, since 1870, 215,525 in forty-three
counties, and counts upon total population
of 375 000, an increase for the State of 653 $50
over the last census. In Tennessee the in
crease ranges from per cent. in some locali-
ties to 102 per cent. in others. Kentucky esti-
mates her population from the returns from
forty-two counties at n total of 1,734, 1871,
against /, 1921 oil in 1870, gain of over AGO.
600. West Virginia reports an average in
crease of so per cent. Arkansas has a total
of 100000, growth of over so per cent.
Louisiana is shown by returns from eleven
parishes scattered over the State to have III
creased 81 per cent, and Texas has made an
average gain of over 80 per cent, giving her a
total population of over l 1850, 600.
Copper Mimtng at Taylors Fails.
lTaylors Falls Journal
Mr.. G. ellis returned from Milwaukee Mon
day afternoon, in company with Calvin Moore,
of that place. They Immediately made ar.