Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-03

Cost Of the Conspiracy to Steal
the State.

The expense to the State Of the fusion
conspiracy to steal the government by a
fraudulent count. is only partially known.
A. early ~ October, there began To be IT.
regular drafts upon the treasury. In that
month 81 900 was paid to z. F. Pillsbury
4 Co., for which no voucher can be found
1t the State House In November and
December there were sums drawn by the
Governor, amounting to 81 900. for which
no bills were presented. When sx-Gov.
Garcelon was questioned about this
money by the Hale Committee. he ac-
knowledged that he used yearly $4,000
in paying Capt. Blacks illegal force at
the State House. and that he kept the bal
ance Of the money. and paid some bills
with it after his term expired. BY the
same rule he might, with equal propriety.
have drawn enough-if he could find 1t
in the treasury-to have paid himself and
his Council. and the mock legislature.
their salaries for 1880, besides the bills
for services Of a. many lawyers and de-
tectives a. he might choose TO employ.
But beside the money which Garcelon
took from the treasury and squandered up
on his hirelings and associates in the in
famous contingent conspiracy. was the
cost tn the State honestly incurred Of pre-
venting the overthrow Of the State gov
eminent by the desperate conspiracy I'M
der Garcelon and his Council. To pay
this expense the sum of $4,000 was vot-
cd BY the legislature. This was the price
of the rescue OF the State from the robber
hands of the contingent conspirators.
Taxpayers will not forget that it was the
outrageous conspiracy against free bal
lot and a fair count which made this ex-
pense necessary. 1t was part OF the re-
form legacy left the State by the defunct
fusion party.
The Maine Standard publishes the bills
thus incurred to save the State from the
rapacious clutches of Garcelon. Pillsbury
4 Co. To that no republican objects. 1t
is right that the people should know
what the contingent conspiracy from
first TO last cost the State. For every dol
lar Of this. whatever the sum may be, the
marty of which the Standard is an organ is
wholly responsible. Had Garcelon and
Council counted the returns fairly all this
expense would have been spared the tax
payers. Every intelligent man knows
this; every honest democrat admits and
laments it,
One thing the Standard has not done
which it ought to do-explain how the
$1,000 came to be drawn by +. +. Pills
bury and Co what it was drawn for
and why no vouchers for it are to be found
We hope +. F. Pillsbury and Co. will not
be as backward rs Garcelon. who waited
until he was made to feel that longer de-
lay was dangerous and then told the I'M
willing tale and disgorged the ''unexpend
ed balance" of the States money which
he had wrongfully taken from the treas
ury and wrongfully kept nearly three
months after his term of Office as Govern
or expired. See his disgraceful confess
sion before the Hale committee rs it was
reported in our columns OF March 18th.
Hale-"Now, what l want to know is
whether, after your term Of Office expired on
the midnight Of January eth, you have paid
money to any parties for services rendered
the Slater"
Garcelon--"I have
Hale-''Do you think that you had a right
10 set yourself up as an agent of the State to
pay bills which had been contracted after
your term Of Office eIpired?"
Garcelon--"Unde ordinary circumstan-
ces, no.
Hsle."upon what authority did you pay
these bills1"
Garcelou-"well common sense
Halc--''So you think you acted with com
mon ssnsep"
0arcelon--"l do
Hale-"Dont you know that it is . matter
Of history that Charles H. White was in the
peaceable possession of the State treasury
during all these troublesome times. and that
you had no right TO take money with you, but
should have lefs it in his possession
Garcelon-"rhis was an extraordinary
time. There were certain parties who were
owed money hy the State, and had the
u1VuSN ht w pay eucst utVu.
IlAle-"was il your business. after your
term Of Office expired, TO pay bills against the
Stater'
Garcelen--"well, If you put it in that way,
can't say that had
HAle-''Dont you think that the State of
Maine could run If you had not paid dollar
70 q man after your term of Office had ex-
pired, but had returned to your legitimate
business At lewiston"
Garcelon-'l presume So"
We repeat, the republicans are entirely
willing that all bills incurred for the de-
fence Of the State since the government
came into their hands shall be subjected
to the closest scrutiny. There is no Sc
crccy about these bills, they may be seen
and copied by as many fusion editors as
desire that privilege-if it be a privilege
They are = part Of the cost of saving the
State from anarchy. and no decent demo-
crat can look upon them except with
shame.
The great gran-producing districts Of the
United States have entered upon the growing
season with excellent prospects for good