The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-11

We have recently twice referred TO the inter
estinR investigation that is now going forward
down in Guernsey county. It was inaugural
ed in this wise. A Good Citizen Association
was formed in each township, to which both
republicans and democrats were eligible as
members. The association then held a county
convention with delegates from each
township based ON the number Of members In
the township. This convention appointed an
able committee which, in its last report, takes
up the bridge contract and the unlawful
methods of the county commissioners. As the
bridge trust works by the same method in
every county in the state, as few understand
what those methods which are so costly to
taxpayers, are, and as the particular bridge
company is assigned to the Guernsey territory
is Canton concern, we make very liberal ex-
tracts from the report of this committee, one
half of which appears today, in the belief that
it will prove unusually interesting informa
ton to our own taxpayers.
THE REPORT.
In 1888, after the disastrous floods Of that
year, the bridge companies Of the country or
ganized bridge builders ring or pool, which
was intended to reap harvest off the mis-
fortunes of the people. 1t was simply COM
bination of the leading bridge building firms of
the country to steal 13 per cent or more, over
and above the actual cost, including a reasona-
BILE profit of every iron bridge built in the
United States. The combination was exposed,
and its mode of procedure fully explained by
the Cincinnati Enquirer at that time. The
matter was subsequently brought before the
Ohio state association of county commissioners,
and its committee reported that il had found
that pool did exist, and presented to the as
sociation copy of the contract entered into by
the different companies composing the pool.
A copy of the contract was also published in
the Enquirer, and the great injustice done to
taxpayers by the operations of the pool was
commented on throughout the state.
As to the plans and operations of the combi-
nation, the Enquirer said:
"To blind the officers who awarded the bids,
the pool has several plans. Under one plan a
company, which from location or otherwise
has the preference, will offer the pool an
amount for the contract sufficient TO cover the
cost of construction and leave a good margin
for profit. Then an amount ranging from
$500 to 900 above this first amount is fixed
allowing margin for the pool. The preferred
company makes its bid for the bridge at this
increased amount and names the amount
which the other companies must bid, all
greater than its own. If the commissioners
have expressed preference for any particular
bridge, the bid for that form of structure is
put highest on the list. They will vary this
by bidding among themselves, the company
offering the most to the pool being allowed to
fix the bids to be offered the commissioners.
By another plan the amount the pool is to re.
ceive is fixed by agents, each agent estimating
and making out a bid for his own company,
adding the POOLS share of the swag to the
amount which his own principals desire for
the work when constructed. The result is
always the same. There is no escape from
awarding the contract as the pool has deter
mined it shall go, for their operations are so
cunningly conducted that no indications of
conspiracy appears upon the surface, and the
commissioners are ignorant as to the real cost
of such bridge as is under consideration
In October of last year the amount in excess to
be charf ed was fixed at 13 per cent. on the
gross amount of every contract, with pool of
one cent per pound on all highway iron and
combination bridges and substuctures sold to
outside parties. A clearing house was formed
and the percentage of the pool to be paid to
each member was then agreed to, Thirteen
per cent. is not the limit If the job can stand
more, the surplus above the agreed percentage
being distributed among those represented at