, 1872-10-31

He claims that to his special exertions
is due the appropriation of 5 $4,000 for
the improvement of the upper Colum-
bia river Oregon had two Senators of
acknowledged influence, and Repre-
sentative equally interested with the
constituents of Mr. Garfelde in this ap
preparation, and the records of Congress
make no mention of his personal exer-
tions in this matter.
He claims, that through Senator Will
liams, of Oregon, he procured an act
protecting the settlers upon the lands
held by the Puget Sound Agricultural
Company. The records Of Congress
show nothing to establish this claim /;
and if it is true, it oniy shows Mr.. Gar
ielde's proverbial modesty in conceding
to another, on the record, what was
Justly due to himself. for the bIi was
passed in Senator Williams name. as
Mr.. Garfelde has the grace to confess,
with q plausible explanation of the fact.
Ne have public recol d, however, of
what Mr.. Garfelde did do in connection
with those same lands. In 1866 the Pu-
get Sound Agricultural Company owed
the county of Pierce about $50, 900 of
delinquent taxes. Mr.. Garfielde made a
written proposition to the authorities Of
Pierce county to collect the same for sew
en- and one-half per cent. of the gross
amount collected. This proposition was
officially accepted by the County Com
missioners and entered of record as le-
gal contract between the County and
Mr.. Garfelde. Under this contract snit
was instituted by Mr.. Garfielde and
judgement for the amount Obtained
The suit was appealed to the Supreme
Court of the Territory and the judgment
affirmed: 1t was then appealed to the
Supreme Court of the United States,
but never brought to trial owing 10 the
fact that the company had entered into
an agreement whereby the United States
purchased the lands. Before the ar
rangement was completed Mr.. Garielde
was elected to Congress, and the Coun-
ty Commissioners believing that this
presented an opportunity for collecting
their Judgment by stopping that amount
70 the purchase money in the hands of
the. Government. applied to Mr.. Gar
felde, both as retained Attorney and
Delegate, to take the necessary steps to
stop so much of the purchase money as
was necessary to pay this judgment. To
which Mr.. Garfielde replied, repudiating
his existing contract and refusing to pro-
ceed further in the case unless the Com
missioners would give him the entire
control of the matter and allow him to
retain one-third of what might be col
lected. The Commissioners declined to
accept these forced terms and the conse
quences were that the County lost the
whole amount through the perfidy and
faithlessness of their retained Attorney.
For full particulars, see Port Townsend
Argus of the 24th inst.
Two years ago Mr.. Garfelde made
triumphal tour through this Territory as
the recognized representative Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad-an enter
prise upon the success of which the pep
pie then based all their hopes for the fu-
ture prosperity Of the country-and he
made majority of the people believe
that every vote cast for him was vote
for the railroad, and every vote against
him WAS vote against the railroad; in
fact, that the success of the railroad de-
pended entirely upon his reelection, to
perfect toe projects which he had al
ready inaugurated. With all the partic-
ularity of fact. comb ined with the most
persuasive rhetoric, he described his
personal share in securing the land
grant. and the private assurance of Jay
Cooke and others in interest, that it was
to his influence they were mainly in
debted for the success of the measure.
1t was not then publicly known, as 1t is
now, that for every service rendered the
Railroad company he demanded his pay
as a retained Attorney or a subsidized
that taking advantage of his
official position as the Delegate from
Washington Territory. be first received
a retainer of four thousand dollars from
Ben. Holiday to advocate the rival in
terest of the Oregon Central road for an
extension to Puget Sound; thus making
it necessary for the Northern Pacific
to pay him larger sum in o.
der to secure his services; and that he
actually took from Jay Cooke five thou
sand dollars, which was essentially a
black mail operation, besides taking a
fee on both sides in the contest between
the two companies for the right of way,
and as might be expected Of an attorney
who will sell his client for larger fee,
lie played false to both and false. to his
false to Ben. Holiday in
taking no measure to secure his project,
for which he had been paid; false to the
Northern Pacific Company IN not at