The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-16
A BIT OF HISTORY,

Chairman Gourley has made a
strong bid for the Hon. 'Jim" Smiths
barrel
With the purpose Of placating that
gentleman and healing his wounded
feelings, he made place for him on
the state committee and it IS now
given out that Mr. Smith has already
picked mp the bung starter and is
ready to WELD it as soon as Mr.. Gour-
ley drops the handkerchief, which he
is now using to absorb the tears he Is
shedding over the necessity Of throw
ing overheard such faithful servants
as General Richard A. Donnelly and
Uncle "Rufe" Blodgett.
General William Cute Heppenhei-
mer, of Hudson county, we under
stand, is to succeed General Donnelly
as treasurer ofth committee. Mr.. Hep
penheimer is we'll known throughout
the State, having once served the peo-
pie and himself, especially himself, iii
the capacity of state comptroller.
Mr.. Heppenheimer as state comp
troler welded ready pen when
called upon to approve billa presented
for metallic pigeon holes furnished
for various Offices in the state house.
When the senate investigating com
mttee came across the bill for the
pigeon holes, the members came to
the conclusion that it was larger than
it ought to be and they began an in
quiry which led to the discovery that
some of the state house officials had
not asked for the pigeon holes, but
their adoption had been urged by
Comptroller Heppenheimer.
One official, believing the price
charged to be exorbitant, refused to
o. X. the bill, but Comptroller Hep
penheimer promptly approved il and
the money was paid.
The Investigating committee failed
to find any evidence to show that bids
were asked for on the pigeon hole
supply.
In the course of the testimony given
before the investigating committee, it
came out that man who had the ex-
elusive agency of the pigeon holes in
tho Trenton territory had agreed, in
consideration of ten per cent. com
mission on the amount of the sale, to
let Mr.. Dick furnish the files, because
he understood that Comptroller Hep.
penheimer had said that nobody else
could get tho work.
II was necessary for the man who
wanted the commission to sue for II,
and it developed at the trial that the
contractors received only 81, III for n
part of the work for which the State
paid $l3,240. Where the remaining
80, 600 went to il still mystery, and
why Comptroller IIeppenheimer urged
the work and then approved the bills
is matter Of wonderment i'll some
quarters
1t was shown during the inyestiga-
ton that these pigeon holes which cost
the State 32l SAT could have been pur-
chased for one third that amount nj
satisfactory profit to the contractors.
These faets are given with the pur-
pose of showing that man holding n
high public Office under Democratic
administration, and who was promi-
nently identified with the transactions
that Disguised the people and resulted
in the overthrow of the Democratic
party, has been placed in n position
of trust in the Democratic state com
mittee at the sacrifice of a gentlemen
of high repnte.
And this means that the "same old
gang" are going to make a desperate
effort to regain the places of power
from which they were driven by an
and outraged people six
years ago. State G0scHc.