The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-11-02
POLITICAL NOTES
By r. w. Hitchcock
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contracts to the six low bidders in the
sum of 81 ISL 1912, and the paving was
begun.
On December 22nd of the same year
the highway department opened other
bids under the same sitting regula-
lions and limitations" Again the bids
were some so per cent higher than for
previous contracts. By this time the
situation had reached such point
that the highway department thought
it wise to reject all bids.
New bids were received in April fol-
lowing Q932. Among them We're
eight bids by Foley Bros, who had been
barred from previous bidding. The
Foley bids were much lower than the
bids submitted by the 'conSpiring con-
tractors" 1t was then plain to every
body what had been going on. Again
most of the bids were rejected and a
new letting advertised for May 3rd,
1882.
F'oley's entry broke the ring. The
low bids of December 22nd ranged
from $13O to $15O or higher per square
yard. At the May Bird letting the low
bids ranged from SIC to $1.02 per square
yard.
Meanwhile the suit instituted against
the six contractors who had secured
contracts from the state amounting to
81 ISL ,461 80 was in progress. The case
went to the supreme court and the
situation had reached sue ha point
cision already quoted, and remanded
the case for trial in the Ramsey county
district court.
The case was tried before Judge
Leovinger, an appointeee of Governor
Olson. 1t came on for trial October
End, 1888, and evidence was taken fol
48 days. The court filed it's findings Of
fact and conclusions of law on May
J 18th, 1884, and the final decree wa
entered the week of June 28th, 1884.
The result was sweeping victory fo1
the citizens and taxpayers who ha6
instituted the suit. Judge Leovinger's
decision reduced the $1,850,O0O con-
awarded judgments against the con-
tractors and state officers.
/ Had the Governors policy beer
worked out as planned and the $500
of the $15,OO0,0OO program or total Of
road contracts for 1892 been secured, il
would have cost the people $4,035, O0C
which it had been attempting to ex-
tort from them.
What was Governor Olson's part in
this matter?
| He originated the idea. He forced
highway department. to comply with it.
He limited the bidding to contractors
whom he named by elimination and
description. He denounced the supreme
court for its decision compelling the
case to go to trial. He used the funds
of the state, amounting to many of
thousands of dollars, to fight the case.
He did everything in his power as chief
executive of the state to protect the
''conSpiring contractors" to defeat the
ends of Justice, and to carry through
10 a successful conclusion not only the
swindle of 1892, 9sO.s2, but to make
possible further swindle of $4,O35 900.
This is the man who today does not
dare defend his record, but who, to
cover up his own sins, goes up and
down the state recklessdy charging
pretty much everybody else with play
ing politics with human misery"
One Of the most shocking pieces of
literature put out in this campaign is
a letter from pretty, prattling Emil
Regnier, chairman of the farmer-la labor
party. urging all faithful farmer
laborites to vote for certain candidates
for the supreme court so that 1--WE" can
control the court.
What would have beeen the plight
OF the people If 1--WE" had been able
to control the supreme court in the 1882
highway suits just described?