Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-11-05
THE ROSTER STEAL.
Chairman

There seems to be many who do not
understand what there was to the ros-
ter scandal. Briefly explained, il was
this:
The state administration. not salts
fed With the independent course Of the
Madison Democratic had another paper
started at Madison to sing the praises
Of the state officers and to do their bid
ding OH all occasions. This paper ran
heavily into dobt. and it was seen that
some oth;r means must be devised
other than the natural sources of reve-
nue., or it would fail. This was the
starting point and out Of the en- bar
rassment arising from the effort to
keep this organ on it's feet grew the
great scandal which has brought DIS
grace upon our party. The governor
OF the state is by law permitted when
occasion requires, to contract for the
printing of a roster Of the old soldiers.
Instead OF having this done by tile
state printer under the existing con
tract for printing or advertising for
bids on the work as required by the
constitution, a secret contract was
made to have this work done lly the
Madison Times Co, at 30 per vol
une, OF u sum over ISL per volume
greater than it would have cost under
the contract with tho state printer.
This meant Il cost to the state of som.
$6o. 600 more than It would have been
il given to the state printer to whom
1t belonged, or was q gift to the Times
company of this amount illegally taken
out Of the state treasury.
L was found after the contract had
been let that the Times company could
not do the work, and in this emer-
gency something else must be done and
it was right here that the act was pep
formed which led to the brinoiDu Of
our state officers into court to ans wen
to the charge they were compelled to.
NOT being able to do the work them
SELVES and knowing the profits on the
same Wen enormous, they conceived
the idea OF selling the contract which
they did to the Dows and Tracy. Gibhs
q Co.. receiving therefor the sum of
S20,ooo, which sum was paid to Clar-
ehca 0lark, private secretary of Gov.
Peek, IN the governors Office ana il,
his presence Tais money as shown
was used to pay indebtedness for which
the governor and some of the other
state officers had become holdino
Governor Peck himself had inaorsea
one note amounting to $2.5CO which
was paid from this money received for
the contract. Shortly otter this mon
ey had been paid for the contract Ia
contract was cancelled by Gov Peel,
and the purchasers were out their
w. 0o0. The roster suit was branmh+
10 recover this money and the court
ned THAT as the purchasers of thn oa,,-
tract did not cone into eanrt Will,
clean hands they could not recavar
In other words. the decisions Of tha 80.
cunt court amounts to this: The nlain
tits could not recover because aftsr
discovering that the state officers wers
fascals they consented to become par
ties 70 their rascality IN robbino tna
state treasuly The ease is not how
yer decided but has been tslSea - H.
Supreme court. 80
rms EXPLAINS what the roster scan
aai = ana shows the intentions Of tie
stale sifiesI~ FL rai, taa stat. ,.a,s,,.,,.
sf'S siia not succeed
N ropbing the treasury as well as tia,
personal friends is due to the fact fila !