Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-01-13

cry man connected with that line at thai
time knows well was due to the excellent
condition which President Spates had placed
the canal in when Clark took possession.
AS doubtless you may remember Pinkney
Whyte succeeded Gov. Bowie as Governor
During Whyte's administration German
was elected to the House of Delegates from
Howard county, and Gov Whyte became
instrumental in his election as Speaker OF
the House. Now see how the thing works.
German as Speaker at once turns in the di-
rection of his own interest, and in an almost
incredible short time is made President OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, with a
salary of $4,000 and $1,000 pocket money.
With Germans elevation to the presidency
of the canal begins in the political history
of the State an era of political debauchery,
bribery, corruption, deterioration, misrepre-
sentation and fraud that has grown in
volume and extent until the politics of the
State have and continues to be controlled
by ring with its hordes of political huck-
sters and peddlers. Drawing his salary of
$4,000 and his $1,000 pocket money, Mr..
| Germans ambition led in the direction of
the United States Senate, and he succeeded
Gov Whyte-the servant took the place of
the master, and the latter sneaked in the
back door and took low seat But must
not omit to say something OF Germans
management of the canal, how he squan-
dered its money and paved its way for bank
ruptcy and utter ruin. Look at the pleasure
trips up the canal, when as much as 5000
OF the canal receipts were spent in cham
paign. The extension of the locks was a
steal. The telephone and liftlock useless
expenditures-locks were put in with pine
boards, which in probability were rotten to-
day. The salary of the directors was in
creased to $500 with travelling expenses,
when under the former management it was
but $3.50. So under the old regime one har-
bormaster was sufficient at Georgetown
German had swarm. When German took
the presidency there was u large quantity of
quarried stone at the Mouth of Cabin John
and at Seneca. 1t is known that Jesse
Moore, and you all know Jesse Moore, came
away-no one knows where or TO whom.
You all know how the primaries in the
county were managed whilst Mr.. German
was President of the canal. How just be-
fore the same his political peddlers went up
and down the canal, how number of use
less hands were engaged, and even at one
time how an office was opened in Clarks-
burg and man paid out money for votes
in the most unblushing manner. This is
nothing new to you You know how Cor.
man had his pimps, who were salaried from
the earnings of the canal, running through
the county for months previous to every
election arranging for the election of just
such men as he knew would subserve his
purposes.
| This was the manner in which the money
OF the canal was taken from its legitimate
channels and squandered and prostituted in
the furtherance of Mr.. Germans political
schemes. And yet you have heard Mr.. Cor
man say that the canal was not self sustain
| ing because it took all the money to repair
the breaks on the same. 1t is known to ev-
cry man who is at all acquainted with the
misfortunes attending this WORK, that dur
ing Col. Spates' Presidency there occurred
more large breaks, and at shorter intervals,
than at any time since the completion of the
canal, yet President Spates was equal to ev-
cry emergency and everything moved swim
mngly and satisfactorily.
Of President Smith l do not propose to
speak, for he has passed to the other side of
the river. He was the lone star from Wash
ington county at the time he was made
Speaker of the House of Delegates, and for
reasons best known to the Ring master he
was brought from Europe, where he had
gone for his health and made President.
Baughman's appointment was in accord
ance with the programme. His inefficency
was known to every one throughout the
State. He had not sufficient knowledge to
dig ditch to drain properly mill pond,
and he is about as much fit for the position
to which he has recently been elected as a
monkey is to act as clerk in china shop.
Judge Bouic concluded his speech of
which We have given the most important
points, and as near as we could in his own
language, by saying that he was in favor of
the Legislature passing an act placing the
canal, with restrictive provisions into the
hands of the bondholders, requiring them
to run it on strictly business principles, dis
carding the ring master, political pirates,
hucksters and pedders
| ,oI
70 with profound attention, often provoking
merriment and shouts of applause
Mr. N j. Wagner made brief speech,
seconding the remarks of Judge Bouic.
Dr. Edward Wootton, of the the House
of Delegates, was the next speaker. He
was in favor of the appointment of the com
mittee, and he would listen to any sugges-
tions they might make when they visited
Annapolis But the place to go was TO Wis.,
it the Board OF Public Works and demand
that the canal be run on business principles
that the number of officers be diminished
and that the salaries of those left ON duty
be greatly reduced 1t was bis conviction
that good, sound, practical business man,
and one fully competent To fill the position
of President of the canal company, could
be secured, and at a salary not exceeding
$4,000 year. 1t had been demonstrated
that the canal had been made to pay in the
past, when properly managed, and if taken
out of the hands of the politicians and con-
Quoted on strict business basis, it would
meet the expectations of all interested.
The chairman was empowered by the
meeting to appoint the delegates, and select
ed the following gentlemen:
To nnapolis-Howard Griffith, Upton
Darby, VIM. V. Bouic, Jr., j. T. DeSellum
and X. G Connell.
To Washington-A B. Davis, John T.
FIetchall, John Mcdonald, VIM. Kilgour
and N. d. Offutt.