The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-16

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Chicago, for laying pavement OF wood.
The history of this job has become familiar
to the country by means of the Congress
sional investigation few months ego, and
in spite of an organized conspiracy to con-
ceal the truth from the public, wherein per-
| jury, collision, destruction OF written evil
dence, Justification of records, secretng of
witnesses, and suppression of facts all fig
ured.
| THE CHARACTER OF THE JOE.
The quality of pavements which these par
ties proposed 10 put down, rs best described
by an official paper laid before the Investi-
eating Committee. (Ses Report, page 1851.
CHICAGO, August L. 1873.
| l certify that have examined a large por-
ton of the ironized paving blocks which We're
year 1871. find them in all stages OF decay,
and my opinion Is that the lie OF the wood is
destroyed by the intense heat they are sub
yecteo TO In the curing process, thereby has
teniDg the decay OF the wood; and would
turther say that, as my name has been used
nni recomInen1lng the ironized process. it was
knowledge lad OF ii, and wish 10 retracJ any
previous statements relative to the matter.
make this statement because believe 1t to
| be humbug and fraud, and for the interest
OF the people TO know it.
VIII. WATSON.
| General Inspector Wood Pavement for BOARD
of Public Works of Chicago.
Some idea may be formed OF the immense
profit on the contract and its extent by
few citations from the testimony. Referring
to the proceedings of Chittsnden, Robert
Mcclellan, one OF the contractors, swore:
think ii was probably in the month of
June following that we received notice from
MI. Chittenden that he had got an award of
10000 yards, and then an additional 5DO00
yards, with conditions attached.
The price fixed was So so per square ward.
which was arbitrarily allowed by the ring
for all wooden pavements, so as TO afford
large margin for addition, division and
silence. At So 90 per yard the 200 600 yards
would amount to the enormous sum of
100000. which was to be wrung from the
taxpayers of Washington 81 filched from the
National Treasury. The cost was quite an.
other thing, as appears by the evidence of O.
ID. Qaimby, who served as superintendent
for De Golyer & Mcclellan:
THE COST OF THE PAVEMENT.
By the Chairman-Q.-Did understand you
correctly wnen / understood you TO say that
the total cost OF the pavement is sl5J per
gravel everything? Ayes, sir; that consti,
tutes the whole cost of the pavement; the
actual working cost of the pavement in this
city.
To procure this contract the sum of So, 600
was corruptly expended, part of which was
traced almost into the pockets of one of Boss
Shepherds partners. But for the monstrous
false swearing OF several of the accomplices
In this fraud, and the purchase OF threat.
ened exposure almost atthe very door OF the
Committee room, the revelations would have
been still darker than they are. The ring
and their confederates escaped the peniten-
tiary by paying dearly for the fabricated tes-
tmony OF witness who, after having been
one OF the original bene f,iarieS of the SWIM.
die, levied a tax upon his associates for ST.
lence and falsehood. Even the old maxim
OF honor among thieves was discarded by
this crew.
The De Golyer contracts was made in the
spring of 1872 when the ring first started
out on large scale and laid the foundation
of the vast robberies. prodigality and reck-
less waste which followed throughout Its
whole career until the investigation sud-
denly ended the license, outrsges and exor-
bitance which for three years had defied law
and disgraced the Capital
Shepherd wanted aid from all sources in
carrying out the comprehensive PLAN by
which the community and the public Treas
ury were to be plundered. 1t was especially
desirable to enlist the support of members
of Congress who held leading positions.
Hence their next friends were given large
contracts, or partnership interests, to secure
this important influence. In other cases
N, 1ey was paid directly into the hands of
members, or through confidential sources TO
cover up the venality.
GARFIELD's PALS.
At this time Richard c. Parsons. now
misre presenting the Twentieth District of
Ohio, was Marshal OF the Supreme Court at
Washington, and had converted that
respectable Office into headquarters for the
lobby, where every venal scheme was can
vassed and concocted. he had pulled the
wires among the politicians, and so creased
the wheels of the party machine as to insure
bis nomination for Congress, which in that
District was almost equal to an election. He
traded wonderfully well upon that capital.
Henry ID. Cooke was then Governor OF the
District, President of the First National
Bank, member OF the firm of Jay Cooke &
Co., and by virtue of his Office the ostensible
chief OF of the Washington Ring. Through
him the delicate negotiations were made,
by which the empty pockets of honorable
patriots in Congress were stuffed wish
Northern Pacific bonds, and other ''securi-
tIes' the value of which depended upon
intimate friends. They had had experience
together, and hal the hest reasons for helping
each other, when profit was to be the result
Therefore nothing was easier in the world
for Cook and Shepherd, who arbitrarily
controlled all the contracts, excluded every
form of competition, and did not even allow
bids to be made, than TO admit Parsons and
Garfield to an interest In one OF these large
was on the spot representing De Golyer &
Mcclellan, soon discovered how his hands
could be strengthened. and perhaps received
q hint that he might use fees to advantage
by employing these distinguished indi-
viduals under the name of counsel"
although there was no case to argue, no con-
test of any kind. and no tribunal to appear
before.
GARFIELDs SHARE OF THE BRIDE.
Mr.. Parsons received $4,000 in money for
aiding to get this contract, OF which sum
Mr.. Garfield had S. 600 as his share. The
former went before the Committee and made
a statement, intended to relieve himself
from a discreditsble part in the jobbery.
Tt a. effort only confirmed the belief which
had previously existed, and left him and
his associate in a worse predicament than
before the improbable story was told. A few
extracts from his written statement and the
examination which followed it, viii throw
light upon the subject, which neither Par
sons nor Garfield meant to be shed:
In the spring of lS72 II think In April) was
retained by Mr.. Chittenden as a lawyer, on be-
half of no firm rf Da nf