Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1910 — People Accept “Grafting” As a Matter of Course. [ARTICLE]

People Accept “Grafting” As a Matter of Course.

By Justice WESLEY O.

HOWARD of the Supreme Court of New York.

IT is greatly to be regretted that no public enterprise can bo projected and consummated without this appalling loss called , “graft.” Graft is not necessarily an illegal expenditure of money, but it is that WASTEFUL USE which characterizes the construction of every public venture. At least 40 per cent of all the money appropriated for public use' is. LOST IN GRAFT. All things could he possible if this frightful leak could be stopped —roads, canals, libraries, asylums and hospitals. • Graft is a PRODUCT OF OUR TIMES and institutions. The PEOPLE ARE /RESPONSIBLE. They expect graft and even spoils arid booty to deplete their resources whenever any great under\ taking is ventured by them’, and they look with complacency, toleration and indifference at ravages upon their property. GRAFT IS A 8 MUCH AN ELEMENT TO BE RECKONED WITH IN COMPUTING THE COST OF A PUBLIC STRUCTURE AS IS CEMENT OR LUMBER. IT H4B COME TO BE A MATTER OF COURSE, THIS RAKEOFF—A LOSS RECOGNIZED BY ALL WHO MAKE ESTIMATES OF COST IN BUCH CASES. A PUBLIC STRUCTURE BUILT HONESTLY WOULD BE A FREAK. ’• i