Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-10-31
THE ROSTER SCANDAL.
Sgow the Democratic State Officers
Made a Bold Attempt TO Plum
der the Treasury.
n Shameful Use of the Peoples Money
for Personal and Party Purposes.

Same eight years ago, a roster contain
ing the names and addresses of all the
soldiers and sailors who served this state
IN the war of the rebellion, was printed in
two volumes, and an edition of 300 sets
We're issued. Gen. Chapman, who was
at that time acknowledgement OF the state
had some trouble with the state printer
on account of excessive charges made
tOT the binding; and In 1887 the IegiS-
lature enacted a law authorizing the gov,
eEnor TO order a sufficient number of a
new and better roster, and supply one set
Of two volumes to each hOnOrably dis
charged soldier and sailor from Wisconsin
The new law empowered the governor to
contract for the work of another printer,
providing that the state printing contract
did not specifically cover the style of bind
lug which the governor might deem prop
or co order. The constitution of the state
provides that all such printing shall be
let TO the lowest bidder
In 1892 certain Democrats of the adj
mIniSfratlOn wing OF the party wanted
an organ whose special business should
be TO boom and fatter the Democratic
state officers. 1t was started by the
private secretary OF Gov. Peck; and in
the course of a short time it became heav-
Iiy loaded with debt for want of patron,
age In the hour of financial trouble
the private secretary discovered scheme
by which the state treasury could be loot
ed for the benefit of the impecunious
Democratic organ.
What was the character of the scheme?
It was to induce the governor to enter
into a secret contract for the printing of
$4,000 sets, 10000 volumes, of the new
roster, out of which the private secretary
was to make thousands of dollars for
the use of the newspaper.
Vino advised the governor to enter into
Il secret contract for the illegal printing
of 10000 volumes of the roster?
/ l. (NOnnOP
as the following official correspondence
will show:
Madison, March %. 1S93.-Hon James L.
OCannor, Attorney General of Wisconsin
Madison, Wis--Dear Sir. VIII you kindly
ahform me whether or not III your Judg-
3ne3st the governor has the power under
chapter $40 of the laws of 1887. to contract
aiFT the publication of a second edition OF
tiae Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers with
ss'FUe party other than the state printer, by
contract other and different than the state
printing contract. Permit me to say that 4
contract can be made at 4 price consider
ably lower than the cost of printing the
former edition, il a special contract can be
made Very respectfully. your obedient
servant, JOSEPH 3. DOE.
Adjutant General
The answer TO this is as follows:
Madison, March IS 1S93.-Hon. J. B. Doe
Ad{0tant General, WiSconsin-My Dear Sir:
Your communication of the 9th relative to
the power Of the governor under chapter $40
OF ttle laws of 1887. TO contract for the pub
LEGATION of a second edition of the Roster of
the Wisconsin Volunteers with some other
party than the state printer by contract
other and different from the state printing
contract has been received, and in answer
~--artfllt me to say that section of said chap
authorized to order the printing of Il SDe-
cial edition of said Roster of such number
as Ne may deem necessary to make the dis
tFihution therein provided for, TO be printed
ana bound III such manner as he may deem
suitable. 1t furthermore provides that if
the present state printing contract shall not
as the governor shall select. then in that
case she governor is hereby authorized to
tract for the manufacture and delivery of
$tl-ft books IS he may deem best provided
thai said Roster shall be bound in cloth.
NHether the present state printing con-
tF&oS shall specifically cover such method
and material Of printing and binding will.
OF course, depend upon that selected by the
governor. If that selected by him is not in
Guided within the present state printing con
tract, the governor has the und0uDted right.
aha under the provisions referred TO it is
his duty 20 make Sucn stipulation. agreement
or contract for f39e manufacture and daliy-
cry OF said books as he may deem best for
the tnteTest OF the state, and the Legislature
has left the matter as to what is best for
tic Interests OF the state entirely to the gov
eEaorsS Judgment and discretion. Very re-
sss2snffnlly. j. L. O'CONNOR,
Attorney General
The attorney general points the way
whereby the governor Of the state could
violate the constitution for the adYan-
tStSs1 0Q SHc crippled organ.
How was the contract let?
On the It'll Of April. 1898, Gov. Peck
made q secret contract with one w. J. 2.
1afeeEaI, who had not dollar invested
EEa St2e enterprise His name was used
as q blind, while the private secretary
WAS &c receive the proceeds of the CON
tract Inc price named in the contract
Was S11G 4 volume for 10000 copies, or
So 600 for the first order Of $4,000 sets.
IN hal would have been the cost of the
same number of volumes under the state
printing contract then III force?
SeVenty cents q volume. or S21 900 for !
the E5,Rt0 sets, leaving a net profit to
the administration c0nSpirators and lob |
hers Of S36. 000- The governors private
secretary also negotiated separately with
Tracy Gibbs & Co. and McFail, for the |
sale OF 10000 volumes at the same price
t-ss1 each, that being the number
ssAIch the adjutant general said would
be necessary to start with. This number
OF v02Wmes would have cost the state
"a, RGl, and thereby the state treasury
Woaid have been robbed to the extent Of
stsa 900, this being the amount over and
above what the same books would cost
if doHe under the state printing contract
~ wEat respect was the contract a Sc
cred oneE
The governor did not advertise for bids
aec9r1aing to ,the constitution. The con-
frsscG Tg as TD3lsss III secret. and no one out !
who Rad invested money III the swindling
were allowed to see it. Several
times demands were made to see the mys-
2cg5GnS contract, and each time it was
refused. During this time the contract
was hiding III pigeon hole in a desk at
Bows mill, three-quarters of mile from
the capitol a fourth demand was made
for ii by attorney representing the
Sf3te printers, and under Il threat of pros
ecntion the contract was brought to light,
aRd the exposure of the fraud forced the
ga9gg-nor TO Immediately rescind the con
tract.
What about the sale of the contract?
Pine governors private secretary sold
fine contract, although it was drawn in
flite name Of another, for $4,000 in cash,
s1Ae. mooney being paid in the governors
private office, and III currency, to avoid
tho publicity which checks might give to
the disgraceful transaction.
w hat was done with the $4,000
lit went into the pockets of the private
secretary of the governor. and when the
contract was Cancelled by the governor
this $4,000 iilched from the persons who
unWittiDgly bought the contract was not