Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-30
FRENCH ISSUES REPORT
OF Findings in Issuing OF Contracts
for Back Bay Fens.

Boston. Dec. 29.-Thc report of U.
S. District Attorney Asa +. french,
who until his recent appointment as
federal prosecuting officer was district
attorney for portions of Norfolk ana
Plymouth counties and who was re-
tanned by Acting Mayor Daniel "A.
Wheiton to investigate the charges OF
fraud in connection with the contract
for renovating the Back Bay F'ens in
this city, was made public tonight
Mr.. French in his report severely
criticises the work. the contractors and
also the contract under which the work
was done. No criticism, however, is
made of the engineering plan under
which the work was begun.
District Attorney French says in his
report:
1T may, l think, be confidently as
serted, first, that in the execution OF
this work as a whole there has been a
wasteful expenditure of the public
moneys; second, that those officers
whose duty it was to see that the
work was economically and advan-
tageously done have lamentably failed
in their duty; third, that with one or
two exceptions the contracts have
been conScentiouSly performed by the
contractors; fourth, that this form of
contract is readily adapted for use as
a means of distributing political pat
ronage at the expense of the city; and,
| have reason to believe, fifth, that
such contracts were resorted to large
ly, for that purpose.
Il am conscious that those who have
been expecting a sensation will be dis
appointed by this report. Neverthe-
less. | have found 4 condition of things
so serious as to justify a demand for
immediate action on the part of those
having authority to act in the premis-
es''
Mr.. French reports that the city en-
gineer and the street department have
aided him in his Investigations, but
the contractors have not shown him
any courtesy. In this connection, he
says:
THE contractors have not only
shown no disposition to help me in
respect to this informa ton, but have,
for the most part, indicated resent
mcnt that l should venture to ask
them to cooperate in ascertaining and
presenting to the public the true facts
bearing upon the matters under inves-
| tigation.
This I cannot help regarding as a
most significant circumstance. Fail
| IRE to give light by those who have
h" power to do so, particularly when
their own conduct in the premises is
called i'll question, is commonly and
justly regarded as an admission that
there is something to conceal"
Mr. French further reports that Ger
tain evidences from outside sources
tended to show the existence of a con-
Spiracy on the part OF one or more of
the contractors with one or more of
the city officials to defraUd the city.
He thercupon stated the case to the
chief of the Massachusetts state police,
Joseph Shaw. and asked him to detail
two detectives from his staff to assist
the district attorney in verifying this
suspicion.
For reasons which seemed to him
sufficient and which l have no reason
to criticize" says Mr.. French, Mr..
Shaw refused to comply with my re-
quest unless directed to do so by an
executive order. l thereupon applied
to the governor, who. upon the advice
of the attorney general, declined to is
sue such an order
4 The report of Mr.. French is very
l6Nhaustive and gives in detail the find
H1gs which have been given above.