New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-27
LIGHT AT LAST !


NETWORK OF DIsHONEsTY-THE PERCENT
AGE PAID SOMEBODY FOR THE INSURANCE
PRINTING.
The Committee charged with the inquiry
into the alleged frauds in the Insurance Department
have brought TO light some facts which will prove i'm
portan corroboratve testimony In the printing frauds
charged against Mr. Terwiliger. From the statements
Of Mr. Parsons 1t will be seen that percentage was paid
TO invisible power for the privilege Of printing
the Insurance Department blanks Mr.. Southwick, the
agent in the negotiation, just suspciously absent
and until his return the Committee cannot probably de-
tect the prime mover in the percentage business Mr.
Parson testihes that he paid @ per cent III
this underhand business rather than lose
the printing because, having procured for this kind OF
work very expensive type plates, etc. he could better
afford to them at trife more than cost than have
the material wasted He maintains that he charged no
for the under this extoion than before the
operations began. The testimony Is significant and Is
substantially printed herewith:
Mr. John D. Parsons was sworn and examined by Mr..
of Weed Parsons Il Co the general business Of that
firm is printing bookbnding, thoaphing, and stereo-
been engaged in doing printing for the Insurance De
partment since Mr. Miller came into office cannot say
the gross amount OF work done for that department
since Mr.. Miller came into office, but i must have
been between $4,000 and $4,000; that was for the
@ ON the work with the Insurance
have PAID rs when w or aq 70 the
ment was made with him that l was to pay II, but l
nh sbo @ns a igr Mr Miller came into oce cannot
recollect the conversation had with Mr. southWlck;
90 mt reGoec any par OF MI, any Wao FIRST com
menced the conversation in regard TO II ! mad no
the verbal contract further than have already dcne it
was to be paid to Mr. sonthwick don't know whether liner
S %td a s5S %s MIN dsS @
AWAY and bs e1 Tas an a ut the whole Of this
cent has been paid to Mr.. southwick; an account
has been kent on my oO %S remember how often the
payments were made but my books VIII show nnaet
stood Mr. was % III tn TO- re1reent only
himself not another; the only reason can state lor
spS H% the ese a s Unless is the
why would lose the work unless gave MN the per
Mr.. southwick did not control tins printing
so far as I know Of but presume ahn, he he
would lose the contract unless paid it to him. he did
ST a SS hut ne G 2
spectng his having the control; he was not connected
with the Insurance Department to my knowI,
Was paid sometimes in com and sometimes
by check thin think mostly by s saefE h te
@hecks were drawn on the Commercial Bank; Mr. Miller
controls the printing Of the Insurance department l
fees think Mr. southwick at that time was clerk IN
the Canal Department. | made no inquiries as 70
snperntendent OF the Department. did wish to
make any inquiries the subject as 10 whether ne was
acting for anybody else / think he IL sun EN-
poycd in the Department: ! do not know whether
he was connected with Mr. Miller III any way ola not
suppose at the time he was representing the Insnr
ance Department. had no suspicious about IT. the ony
ontsder was becaase was afraid Of losing the
was afraid he controlled IL in some way do nj Know
how il may have been wrong suspicion on my part
think he is still employed in the Insurance Department
but think he left for Chicago about two weeks ago. so tna
during the past d iSnr w ." the he wanted
fhnrT an
and told had wanted 70 account for ,, the
@ hsy me pe d him 1 about 1900 since Mr. Miller came
my 6 d T&m nav Wt! hal was my @
preston at the time; had been at considerable
expense getting up an sdTeOy Ms want ssa tor c
do the work we want TO do all the work
WEE can lad p an interview with Mr. Miller on that subject
had no superstition about the matter whether this
that is all know about it; do not know when he Will
from Chicago u was about hlee or iour DAYS
relation to this matter; lie came into my office and
wanted TO know how had posted the accounts think
he looked them and examined them; lie merely looked
at one side of the ledger.
Mr. Tobey-The politics OF your firm are Republican,
believer A. Well, are book aud job printers, and not
O. What are the politics of your office A. The Journal
qualities itself as Republican ,,.,,..., ..,,...s
O. What the politics OF the individual members OF
your frml A. Republican.
DO yon s rn any WY nness
was by giving this percentagef A; We had claim on II
Nv
Department claimed that 1t did not cover those Offices,
as all their expenses were paid by the insurance com
panes and moi by the state; that claim that has al
ways been made; do not know that 1t made in this
instance; it was always made az a general thing do
not know when Mr. Southwck will return.
Mr. Parson, examined by Mr.. Babc0ck-I have never
paid this commission on work done for the Insurance
office il was my suppositon that Mr. southwick had the
control of this printing, Otherwise ne would not nave
asked for the commission; did not make any further
inquiry; he did not mention any other name when the
arrangement was made -, .,o ,...,,..... ,,o
partment having expressed wish to ask the witness
lew questions the Chairman told him he at liberty
nv Mr. Miller-I never had any acquaintance with you
before that conversation with Mr. southwick did not,
with Won in regard that subject have not paid
IA dollar for anything in any way; you have
dollar from me the bilIf which have pre-
sented TO the Insurance Department have
been for work done for the legal ordinary prices and for
work actually done do not remember whether or not
you have sworn me in regard to the WORK done on the
Valuation Tables and required me 10 swear as TO the
amount OF work done and the bills being correct but
hsye done y0I ays ea e ~ DOWN anu
q. Was there ever the slightest intmation on yonr
PASSED d into that department but for work actually done
and for the honest pricef A. No, Sir.
O. Did you ever send anything to me to read proofs
O. or interest me to read proofs A. No, Sir.
O. Have rendered my services to you for proof
O. Are there not bills yet which you have presented
the Insurance Department for audit and you have urged
for the audit, but which have not been paidf A.
believe there Ii one.
O. For several thousand dollars is it mott A. For about
5000.
O. Is 1t not fact that there was q contract when
came into office, which you right TO do the print
ing in all the departmental A. There was.
@ Did ever intimate to you that could divert the
priitinf from your hands A. No, Sir.
O. Have you ever had word with me on this subject,
recently or at any timei A. No, Sir have not
@ Did you ever receive or address letter to me on
that subject A. No. Sir; never.
o. Have you drawn check TO my order for any
purpOse Whatever A. No, Sir.
O. What is Mr. southwieks political opinions to your
best information and belief A. lie is represented as
I heue