233 A. L. Bishop — The State Worls of Pennsylvania. 



learned at this time, from the conversation of the members of the 

 canal board, that the rejected bids were those of "Porter men," and 

 that they were thrown out on that account. Other evidence taken 

 by the court revealed practices equally as culpable. For example, 

 when a person unknown to the canal board had made a bid for 

 a certain section of work at a fair price, the superintendent was 

 instructed to inquire into liis ''moral character or religious prin- 

 ciples." This meant nothing more nor less than the determination 

 of his politics. If the person in question were found to be a sup- 

 porter of the political party in power, his bid would be considered 

 favorably, otherwise it was likely to be rejected. Moreover, it hap- 

 pened sometimes that, in case the commissioners desired to award 

 certain contracts to their political friends who had bid too high, 

 their papers were sent back for alteration. In one instance, it 

 was proved beyond question that the commissioners themselves 

 altered the figures in a certain bid without consulting the party 

 who made it. 



As a result of all the evidence taken by the court of inquiry, 

 the committee reported : — * 



"From this inquiry into the religious principles or political char- 

 acter of bidders, and declaration that their own friends alone were 

 to have work, it would be fair to infer that some improper purpose 

 Avas to be accomplished. But it is not left to inference, — Mr. 

 Bradley and other witnesses clearly proved the object. The former 

 testified that about two weeks previous to the inspector's election, 

 Mr. Rutherford, the superintendent, received a letter from Mr. 

 Stevens ;t that Mr. Rutherford after having read the letter him- 

 self handed it to him [Mr. Bradley] to read; that it contained 

 instructions in regard to conducting the election at Halifax; that 

 it stated five hundred men ought to be on the works by the time 

 of the election; and that he must be careful to have 'no Porter 

 bosses' on the line; that the contractors must bring their men up 

 to the polls and see that they deposited their ballots ; and that he 

 well recollected this expression in the letter — tal^e care of the 

 missionary fund. 



"On the 28tli of September, the day of the inspector's election, 

 Mr. Bradley testified that Mr. Rutherford, the superintendent, 

 brought to him the subscription to the missionary fund, signed by 

 eighteen contractors, and the sum subscribed was $1,240. The writ- 

 ing to which the contractors subscribed was of the. following import : 

 'We the undersigned agree to pay John P. Rutherford the sums set 

 opposite our names for the purpose of diffusing useful knowledge 



* See J. H. Rep., 1838-39, II, Part II, p. 5. 

 •j- Mr. Stevens was a canal eonimissioner. 



J 



