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

John Stryker states that he is director aud a member
OF the executive committee OF this company arrived this
city about the 10Th June last came here under the drec
ton of the board the bill resolution for the relief of the
company prepared either by General Clark or by
Reyerdy johnson. The counsel of the company went
Mr. Thorngon member OF the House and understood
from him that he could not get report from the commit
tee made all the interest he knew how to make with
erybody; communicated freely with all the members OF
Congress whom he knew, explaining the matter TO them
and particularly TO Mr. Mattessn who was the member
from his county and district who protested to take
Jealous interest in the BILL purely to obge his friends
era of whom stockholders in the company resding
in his county and his political well as personal
friends Having done all he could the witness left with
but little expectation of getting favorable report from the
committee AH the arrangements this witness did make
here in relation 10 the passage OF the bill resolution
other than has already been stated by him. TO draw
draft in favor of Horace Greeley for enclosing it
him in letter through the National Hotel office where
they both stopping for the doing of which he received
the sanction of the executive committee of the COM
pany. The money to be used entirely, at the dis
cretion of Mr. Greeley TO aid in the passage of this
bill resolution If the bill resolution passed the
House, the company were willing to pay the $1,000
but the money not to be paid unless the bill
oluton passed the House. The money was used but wit
did not know ii until four months afterwards; does
not know what became of has his suspicious Greeley
exhibited any vouchers made any returns to
witness of the expenditure Of the money had not the
slightest idea the money had been used until October
then learned from gentleman, for the first time had
been paid. Met Mr.. Greeley in New York three
weeks ago. who told him he had received the money but
had personal interest in it, He did not volueer to tell
witness where the money had gone and ne did not like TO
ask him. because he thought he could ascertain in some
other way Thought the treasurer of the company would
know but he did not The treasurer of the company paid
the draft Believes Mr. Greeley misapped the money ac
cordng to the instructions given him, but did not ask him
specifically who the that got the money 1t was
in his ROOM and he thought he could ascertain in
Greeley, except that the money was not TO be paid
only in the event of action upon the bill Iesolu-
ton; and, that event, Mr.. Greeley was to deter
mine absolutely to whom the money to be paid. Mr..
MattesOn this with Mr. Greeley
that the draft had been deposited in his hands; knew
everything that witness did, from beginning to end had
his entire confidence but has not the slightest TO
suppose that he (Matteson had athng interest in
the matter The resolution of the executive committee Of
the company for the payment OF the draft is dated I'd
JULY 1885, and recites that il was given as retainer 10
counsel to prosecute the passage of law through Con-
gres for the relief of the company but tho of the
counsel is not stated This resolution is signed by Sryker
and johnson members Of the executive COMMITTEE VIM
@. Johnson the witness examined, states that Reverdy
johnson is the counsel of the company and has been the
counsel of the State of Iowa in this matter for years.
and the only agent Of the company for the purpose
of engineering their bill resolution through Congress
4 Hon. Reverdy Johnson states Il at eight ten
days before the adjournment of the first session of the
present Congress- be was in the House Of Represent
aves Mr. Mateson asked him where the president of this
Des Moines company, MIR. Johnson, He hold him he
thought he had left the city, he had not him for
several days He then expressed uey surprise at his
having left the city and said that he back that
sorry to tell Witness but so was the fact that there
were from twenty thirty (wtness is certain
numbers but is that either twenty thirty
members Of the House. who had associated themselves
gehe and pledged each to the other not to for
law, resolution, granting money lands, unless they
paid for IT, Witness told him he could hardly believe
4 it. Thinks the expression he used was that il id
outrage He agreed with the Witness and was, far
words and manner concerned denouncing
it witness He said they set of id scoundre but
there they and nobody could get anything of this
through without Them that Johnson hare here $780,
600 to carry his bill Spoke this to witness in confidence
lie kneU that the witness counsel for the company
the time of the conversation 1t quite apparent to your
committee from the evidence that the thousand dollars
placed in the hands Of Mr. Greeley by the authorized
agent of this company aid the passage of the bill
oluton for the relief of that company through Congress
that Greeley was stakeholder Of that money for
somebody he having personal interest in it, that il has
been paid but to whon it has been paid your committee
have not been able to ascertain They despatched Off
Ger of the House TO New York. with the usual process in
order to have Mr. Greeley brought before them wit
ness to prove to whom he paid the money, but the officer
was unable to find him after diigen search learned that
he had gone to the West probably to Ohio Iowa. and
that the time OF his return uncertain His evidence
was deemed the more important from the fact that the
member from New York. in his letter to William john
of the 18th of july desired to know Of him if he
willing to let his quarter of the factory be up aud
used to carry it through in addition 10 a Sryker had
ranged and from the further fact stated by Sr ker tina.
depostng the draft for thousand dollars in the hands
of Mr. Greeley the only arrangement that he made here
for the passage of the BILL resolution through Congress
The member from New York in his letter of the 18th
Of july addressed TO the president of the Des Moines
Navigation and Railroad Company, states that the
mittee of the House had agreed to report resolution in
/
also states that there is much trouble in the way
outsiders make mischief you willing to let your
quarter of the factory be cut up and used carry II
through, in addition what Stryker arranged can
have agent promise outsiders stock in new fac
4 tory. Let me know without fail by return of MALL
The president of this company deeply interested in the
passage Of certain measure through Congress, is told
by the member that there is much trouble in the way
some outsiders make mischief The question very nat
/ urally arises here, what have outsiders to do with
the passage Of bills resolutions through Congress
But in what manner does the member propose to re-
the trouble that is in the way Of the passage of the
resolution reported by the committee Does be propose
to remove it by fair argument by showing the justice
and propriety of the measure by other legitimate
means whatever not at all but he inquiries Of the pres
dent of the company he is willing to let his fourth of
valuable factory his ndpidal property of the value of
$4,000 or $4,000 be cut and used carry through in
addition to what Stryker arranged He also assures him
that no have some agent to promise outsiders stock
4 in factory This factory, it appears from the
evidence, is located in the village of Clayve Oneida
county, New York-the county in which the member
resides when at homeland that he is the of
fourth more of this factory What right it
pecuy suggested has member of Congress- acting in his
official capacity to have agent to promise outsiders
stock in new factory worth from $4,000 to $4,000 To-
Gated at Clayv New York. carry resolution through
the body of which he is member 1t is undoubtedly
true that when the agent of the member had obtained
conveyance of oneourth of the factory from the pres
dent of the company that agent could convey 1t to out
siders to member If conveyed by the agent to
outsiders the outsiders could convey it member d
vide 1t among themselves and member but, far as
your committee advised this process of cutting up and
using the oneourth part of valuable factory carry
bill resolution through Congress- and for the members
thereof TO have agents to promise outsiders stock in that
faotc ,o