The Portland daily press., 1880-04-20
Bangor Whig,1

Cap'n Chase Under the Reflector.
If there was one man in Garcelon's Tabu-
lators more loud-mouthed, outspoken and de-
nunciating of ongdoing. ''salary-grabbing,'
double mileage and every kind of wasteful-
ness and extraya gance in members of former
| administrations, Capt. Charles II. Chase OF
| Portland was the man; so in order to see II
| there was not one of the seven councillors
| who had charged only for the time he was en-
| ployed, and never for two services performed
| at the same time, we turned our lantern so
that the reflector might cast its rays upon the
accounts of Capt. Chase. Shades of Andrew
Jackson! Can it be possible! Not even these
would bear the light, and in some respects
were even more open to criticism than
those previously examined. Let us look at
the figures as they appear on the records;
The amount received by Cap'n Chase for
mileage and attendance on Council 30
meetings was. $474.OO
For committee work and expenses ........ 571.25
Making in all ........................S1.O 45.25
Outside of the Legislative session, Cap'n
Chase's pay roll covered period of eighty-four
days, while the Council journal only reports
him present sixty days. The usual amount of
double mileage is computed in his case as in
that of the whole Council
Like Mr.. Fogg, he was so ubiquitous as to be
present (constructively) at the session of the
Council commencing April Is, and en- ding
April 25, and also to investigate the State
Liquor Agency at Portland on the 21st, 22d
and 23d days of the same month, receiving, in
Guiding mileage. $3.50 per day for the one SER
vice, and, including expenses, 1888 per day
for the other, or $12.23 per day for his three
days work.
In May the Cap'n puts in four days more
work at the Liquor Agency in Portland, the
place of his residence, and after turning in his
bill for services at $3.50 per day, recollects
that it is worth something even to board at
home, and adds two dollars per day to his bill
flor board"
The Reform School seemed to be the biect
OF his Jealous care, and we find frequent visits
each, two of the visits at an expense of $11 90,
being made during the session of the Council
in December.
Nov. 10, we find bill for nine days service
and expenses on election returns, amounting
to $3.50, but as the dates are not given It
occupied during the session of the Council
commencing Nov. 17th but the next bill, Dec
1, for five days work and expenses on the
same business, amounting to $3.50, cannot be
open to question, as the Councilmen, in fact, in
session from the 18th of Nov. until the 31st of
Dec, although divided up into three periods
so that mileage could be charged three times
instead of once. Dec. "a we find him charg-
ing eight more days service on committee
work, amounting to the sum of $44, showing
that the Cap'n had a most remarkable facul ty
either for being in two places, and performing
two services at the same time or-Whisper the
thought-for making double charges for SER
vices performed in pursuance of his duties as
Councillor.
Here is something else that glitters under
the reflected light, which demands our atten-
ton:
estate of Maine
To G. H. Chase, Dr.
To cash paid for clerk services before COM
l. mlttee on election returns ............... $685.
No date, no name of person to whom paid,
no nothing but just the bare bill given above,
and a report and warrant drawn in his favor
for thelamount. Truly this tabulating of cleo
ton returns was costly thing. According to
Gov. Garcelon's testimony before the Hale
Committee, the work of tabulation, outside of
that done by the members of the Council, was
done by Mr.. Pishon, although Mr.. Mark Harden
was in attendance and may have done some of
the work. We find that Mr.. Pishon, who was
clerk in the office of Secretary of State, re.
ceived two hundred and twenty-five dollars
sfor clerical work outside the duties of his Of
fee" and for "docketing ell, ction returns, -
while bills are on file for Mark Harden for
$411 paid him from Oct. to Dec. 5 for "ser-
vices as clerk in the Executive Department"
in addition to his salary as messenger of the
Governor and Council. Who this mysterious
individual is to whom Cap'n Chase says he
paid one hundred and twenty-five dollars in
addition to the amounts given above, is one of
those things which, as Dnndreary would say,
"No fellah can find out" May it not DO posi-
BILE that he is the invisible and mysterious
transformationist and tabuator who SO deftly
changed up" into "B," sep into &C.
an "H'' into an CA" and counted in and
counted out to suit the purposes of the cabal
of conspirators? 1t must not be supposed for
moment that we question the exact correct
ness of the accounts of these gentlemen. for
they were all, all honorable men!''