The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-21

Union. They do not ask its consideration as matter of
privilege because Of the advanced period of the session.
but they unwilling close their investigation without
submitting to the consideration OF the House and the coun-
try measure which the next Congress may be enabled to
1858 and the law touching recusant witnesses Of this
son throw all the guards around the government against
corruption that can be afforded by any legislation
The committee submit the following resolution:
Resolved That James W. Simonton be expelled from the
floor of this House as reporter
w. H. KELSEY,
JAMES L. ORR,
| HENRY WINTER DAVIS,
DAVID RITCHlE,
HIRAM WARNER
WILLIAM A. GILBERT, MEMBER FROM THE STATE OF
YORK.
Mr. H. WINTER DAVIS, from the select committee,
made the following report
The select committee appointed in pursuance of the
luton of the House of the 9th of January 1857 to nves
gate certain charges referred to in the preamble to the
oution and report the evidence aken and what pro-
ceedngs in their Judgment necessary the part Of
the House. submit the following report relative to William
A. Gilbert, member of this House from New York:
The testimony Of two witnesses relates to that member
An of their evidence will best exhibit what the
committee considered to be proved; and reference to
their testimony at large will enable the House to Judge for
themselves the conclusions of the committee.
The first witness, James R. Sweeny stated
That he knew Of case of attempt Of member OF
Congress to obtain compensation for his voe that the
author of the book f. r. c. Trpett and the member OF
Congress- William A. Gilbert that he could give the
language used he he could give the substance
OF their talk but the result given in writing which
he produced--whch was an order on the Clerk of the
House. drawn by Trple in favor of Sweeny for $l4500
and dated August 1856 AS nearly as he could recoect
MIR. Trpett proposed if the book taken by Congress
at 81 80 per copy he would give $50O if at 81 49, then
$500 more and 80 on at the same rate to l 80 copy
the scale might have begun at 81 40 and $sooo but his
impression was that it begun at 81 80.
No writing was drawn at the time of the arrangement
figuring only done, ascertain the the
rious prices but subsequent day the witness was re-
tn tha ahp mi
toned That however, no part of the money was for him.
but was IN pursuance and execution of the contract be-
fore verbally made He requested to take the order in
his name he could not say he ordered, in SO
many words, to pay the money to any person but the
bargain was between Trple and Gilbert and his under
standing was that the money to go to Mr. Gilbert.
The witness said further that there apparent dis
crepancy between the rate of compensation and the order
and that there was difference of opinion elsewhere that
point; but bis impression that all above certain
amount other parties than the author of the
books that he was to pay at the rate he had specified
81 SO; and If the book taken at that rate two
thousand dollars additional. 2
The other witness was r. O. Trplet the compiler of
the work in question: who stated that he had had negoa
tons with members of Congress- though he did not know
that he could do justice to the party in question that three
four at the request Of the Commissioner of
Pensions he had digest Of the pension and boun
tyand laws and endeavored but failed Congress
| take copies of the work. #
AT the last session. one Bennett who had printed his
work. endeavored to push it Congress- and the witness
had set to work to resist his claim and conning him
self TO that alone when he received message from Wm A.
Gilbert that he desired to see witness aSd with
him relative to his book
The introduction took place. The witness is certain
that the subjecmaer about which he wished to talk
mentioned at that time He Mr.. Gilbert afterwards
and in conversation about that and other things The pro-
Posd came to the witness about in this way Mr. Gilbert
asked the witness for what amount he could afford pub
sh his book He made calculation and stated the amount
which would satisfy him for the publication oft
The witness thinks Mr. Gilbert said he thought the thing
could be got through and got through for better price
than the witness had named What that price the
witness could not state with certainty He had been told
however, that his competitor making liberal PROPOSE
tions to members of Congress and the witness told Mr.
Gilbert that he willing to take certain for his
bookperhaps Sl 40 per copyand that If it were put in
higher price the witness did not what became of
the balance OF III and prior to the last session. he gave to
Sweeny an order for certain amount money the sup
position that if the resolution should pass, this money
should be paid out of that appropriation.
He did not about inquirng who to receive II,
what became of it. He thinks 1t in the neghbor
hood of $l4500 1t proceeded the supposition that
many copies Of The book taken at such price The wit
knew from the information he had in reference such
matters that he could not hope to get anything done
ohom the use Of such means and therefore he assented TO
the proposal Whom attempting 10 Investigate hoW the money
to be used There distinct understanding be-
tween this gentleman and himself as TO Me appropriation
Of the money His recollection of how the promise
came to be put into writing is this he thinks there
probably desire the part of both parties that it
should be DONE 1t represented TO him that the party
ho had made the proposal wanted something show for
and the witness wishing to have such dealing with
member Of Congress was anxious should be placed in
lne naus Vi nru party Inc paper was given on Owee-
nys representation There wcre of course various
sultaons with Mr. Gilbert but the above is the witness
the substance of them far relates to the contract
When Sweepy made application for the paper witness told
him he very glad to be relieved from the position of
having any contract with member of Congress the
subject He never expected to inquire who received the
money in the event of the passage the book intended
10 keep himself ignorant upon that matter as he could
WITH STRONG BELIEF His impression was
that Sweenys application the result of interview
with The member though Mr.. Gilbert told him
but Sweeny came to the witness originally about the
natter knew all about it from the first and the witness
supposed that he friend of this party, Mr. Gilbert
and that if ne paid Swceny, it would be satisfactory 10
Mr.. Gilbert #t n ai' 0H
The understanding between the witness at the time of
the conversation between him and Mr.. Gilbert not
that Mr. Gilbert to have the surplus money but that
icds 70 De used in those influences that used in The passage
Of btHs inpoloing MONEY what part Mr. Gilbert to
have or whether he to have any the witness says OF
he never inquired but he to exert himself for
the passage of the BILL Though the witness had
satons with other members this the only thing which
seemed like definite understandings and this understand
ing cds that witness did know and did not
tend to know how the money to be disposed Of There
was no other conversation where there any such
derstandng loose talk and suggestions there
nothing approaching contract with any else
The contract to which he had referred not absolute
1t was given to Sweeny with the understanding that he
was not to execute II unless the book passed at certain
prtcehe thinks IL dollar and fifty cents per copy
he thinks something said about graduated SCALE
perhaps one dollar and cents to be paid to hir
and all over TO else f the highest price named
were given, the whole in the writing to be paid
II less price, reduction 10 be made He did not
to be understood that he entered into contract tch Mr.
Gaoer on the first conversation but he thinks that when The
arrangement Das finally made Sceeny present. but not
at The first JA chen Mr. Gilbert introduced
m a.l..x- - IN -1-.A.