New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-10
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.

reference to the We'll claim, which he said
had been paid by Mr.. Gaines, president OF
the Citizens Bank and Fiscal Agent, In
bonds of the State, as required by the act.
In the opinion of the Auditor, the whole
| board should have acted upon the certl-
| iicates, as this class of evidences OF in
debtedness were subject to confirmation by
the Legislature. Mr. Thomas c. Anderson,
| a Senator, had held the claim at the time
| of presentation.
| The witness corroborated previous testi-
mony concerning the merits of the claim,
! and its constitutional limit. In reference
| to the State debt, he said it was about Sil,-
| 600, ,00O one-third of which was, he thought,
| contingent. The pamphlet got up by Mr..
Bragdon the Auditor thonght was not cor
rect, although he had signed the same, say
ing his chief clerk had misled him. The
Auditor filed the report of the experts in
the Eighth District Court matter.
Mr.. Carter took the stand to refute the
testimony of Governor Warmoth, who, he
had understood, had alluded to him as in
spector of cattle of the slaughterhouse. In
this capacity he had received One-half of
the proceeds of his position; that there had
been a controversy between him and the
Auditor as to the construction of the law.
the Auditor holding that the expense of the
office should be paid by him, aVi he hold
ing that One-half the expenses should be
paid by the State, and one-half by HIM
self. In reference to the appointment of
himself as attorney of the Jackson railroad
and attorney of the Chattanooga road, he
said that he did not propose to impeach the
veracity of the Governor; he only asserted
that he was mistaken; he never was the at
tOrney of the jackson railroad; he was the
private counsellor of Mr.. McComb. He
submitted mis- appointment. 1t was letter
from Mr.. McComb authorizing him to act.
He then spoke of the attorneyship of the
Chattanooga railroad. He said that he had
never seen the bill until he signed it. The
law was not signed until some time after its
passage; because be was instructed by the
members not to do so, they asserting that 1t
had not passed in Legislative manner; and
when he did sign it, it was done at the ad
attorney had been given him because of ser
vices he was able to render. and for no leg
islative action of his.
He spoke of the Transit Company bill. He
said that it did not ask for 81, 900 per mile,
but only the interest on the bonds.
He said the Governor was mistaken in his
assertion about the Steamship Company bill
He had not introduced it. He had simply
given notice that the bill would be intro
duced. and two weeks after. Mr.. Faulkner
had done it. He then gave an explanation
of the bill, and showed that, instead Of it
being subsidy of sl,OO0000 by the State,
it was a loan of 81 100000, which was to be
repaid by the company.
In reference to the resolution which the
Governor asserted had not been carried, he
stated that it had been regularly put and
adopted. In answer to cross-questions as to
the railroad bill, he denied withho lGtn@ his
signature to the instrument until he had re-
ceived the appointment.
The statement of Mr.. Gaines was to the
effect that, among the first meetings of the
commissioners to fund the floating debt, 1t
had been agreed that all evidences OF in
debtedness stamped and countersigned by
the Auditor should be paid by the fiscal
agent. These We'll certificates had been
presented with the Auditors stamp and
countersign, and, agreeably TO the custom,
had been paid. Were they not approved
by the Auditor they would not have been
paid at the bank He had written the state
ment at his own suggestion.
Question-For what purpose?
Answer-ln order to show my tellow-cltl-
Zens that have not been connected with a
fraud upon the State.
He further said that when the subject ol
certificates of Indebtedness had been dis
cussed by the board that this claim had not
been specially canvassed; he did not know
to whom the bonds for this claim were
paid; bonds were given to every one who
presented warrants; he had not bought up
any warrants.
The Hon Mr Speer-Have you as presi-
dent of the bank, or any person through
you, or authorized by you, ever offered or
paid any money or stock, or any consldera-
ton, to influence the vote of a member!
Answer-Never one cent.
Question-Neyer one cent!
Answer-Never one cent, one dollar, or
anything.
tYueston-It is asserted that bribes have
been offered to certain members of the |
Legislature to pass a bill in which the |
banks were interested!
Answer-It is an insult.
Mr.. Gaines denied having signed any con-
tract with Avegno and Willoz to secure the
funding of the Louisiana war bonds.
Mr.. Marks Levy testified in reference to
the We'll claim; that he was partner of
Benjamin We'll, who furnished the goods to
tie State, and holding a fourth interest had |
not received one cent as yet, and he in
tended to bring suit against Mr.. Well who
had told him he had received but $4,000.
while $l4O, 900 had been paid.
Mr.. Davis, real estate agent, had rented !
all the halls at the suggestion of j. J. viii |
hanson. His instructions we're to rent all
the halls on the condition that they should
not be rented to any one else. The Turner
Hall had been rented for $780, The condi- |
tons on which it was rented were that it |
should not be used for political purpose.
He did not know that $500 was paid be-
cause of the violation of this contract. He
had been told by Mr.. Smith that it had.
He had offered the Mechanics Institute to
Mr. Packard.
Mr.. John Burke was called to testify as to
the characters of leading members of the
House of Representatives., it having been
asserted that the portrait of Mr. Devices had
been in the rogues' gallery. The witness