Graft+and+Fraud

Graft and Fraud:
The party bosses who ran the political machines also controlled the city's finances. Many machine politicians grew rich as a result to fraud or graft. Graft means getting money through dishonest or questionable means. George Plunkitt was one of New York City's most powerful party bosses and he defended what he called "honest graft". Fraud occurred when party bosses accepted bribes from contractors who were suppose to compete fairly to win contracts to build streets, sewers, etc. Corrupt bosses used ti sell permits to their friends to operate railroads, waterworks, and power systems.