Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-17

CONTINUATION OF SECRETARY BRLKSAP'S TES-
TINONY.
The special Senate Committee investigating
the alleged sale OF arms to France during the
Franco-P russian war resumed their labors TIL,
morning.
Secretary BeIEnGp was rec llel and his exam
lnatlOn continued. He testified, in RESPONSE 10
questions by Mr.. SchurZ, that the letter to Nj
Bellonnet was sent to the State Department or
tie 10th OF January. and was, to the best of his
recollection, stamped by the State Department
on the same day; the draft of the letter referred
as originally written was different from that for
warded TO the State Department; the oriyina
draft was somewhat modified before sending il
The witness here exhibited the manner il
which the original draft was written on two hall
sheets OF paper, and the Marquis dc Chambrnt
gave his recollection of it, which did not differ
materially from that OF the Secretary.
witness resuming, stated positively that he
never saw the draft OF the letter or the letter A.
sent TO the State Department after the 18Th o.
January; don't think and clerk OF the War De
p9Ttment wOuld have exhibited the orr ginai drar
to the Marquis de Chambrun; witness dill no.
show Cbamhrun the letter sent TO the Stat,
Department.; read the statute OF 1868 author
izing the sale OF arms by the War Department
and interpreted in the same previous Secre-
taries OF War; witness does not clearly remem-
Der the details in regard to the exchange of q az
ing guns with The Colt arms company; witness
about the matter; he did not change his mind
with II at the time; the money received from the
sale OF arms was covered inn to the Treasury
N inc treasury has not been redrawn by the
War Department.
Mt. Schurz here read that portion of the re-
port OF the Secretary of the Treasury in regard
TO the expenditures of the War Department in
which it is stated that So 30 o93. 70 was turned
into the Treasury from the sale OF ordnance by
the War Department, and that including that
sum the expenditures OF the War Department
amounted 10 about $4,000 600 He asked the
witness to explain this statement; but the Sec
tary said he could not do so without first exam'n-
nf fha
Treasury. For the fiscal year ending June 80,
1871, the sum received from the sale of ordinances
by the war Department was S9,74s, 9i2.13; OF
this SO 4e9 800 &c was deposited in the Treasury;
the margin put up by Garrison was returned to
HIM on the ground that the arms were still i'm
the possession Of the War Department, and be-
cause the government had sustained no pecuni-
airy loss.
By Mr.. Hamlin:-The arms might have been
delivered to Mr.. Garrison just as easily and as
speedily as to any other parties.
By Mr.. SchurZ:-Margins are put IN for the
purpose or binding the purchaser and protect
ing the government; causes beyond the control
OF the War Department and other circumstances
prevented the delivery of arms to Garrison As
agreed upon; witness wants the committee to
distinctly understand that he does not fully I'M
derstand the details OF sales of arms; is Obliged
TO refer to the ordnance officers for such details:
the work done by the Springfield armory in
February, 1871, for POultney, Trimble & Co.
witness remembers nothing about; if Gen. Over
spoke to him about it, he has forgotten the cir
cumstance; does not remember that any margin
was ever returned by the War Department ex-
cept in the case of Garrison; the 18th of Oeto-
Der, 1870, verbally instructed Gen. Over rs
Chief of Ordnance TO sell no more arms TO the
RemiDgtons; gave him similar instructions after
wards.
In reply to question by Mr. Hamlin, witnes,
said he remembered meeting Mr. Hamlin ana
several others in the Capitol, a few DAYS since
and that just before leaving the committee room
he was introduced to Mr.. Squires by Mr. Ham
lin. He did not remember or recognize Colonel
Squires at the time.
By Mr.. Schurz:-Witness was very careful in
his transactions as Secretary OF War with
friends with whom he had served in the army
and several times told General DYER thar they
must receive no special consideration at tn
ordnance ofice, but be treated the same as
everybody else.
This closed the evidence of the Secretarv oe
War, who promised to send 10 the COMMITTEES To-
morrow written statement in regard to the ex-
penses Of the War Department for the last fiscal
year.
MIS- H. Saville win appear before the com.
mittee to- morrow, and will probably be the last
witness examined.
Mr.. Carpenter to-day inquired OF Mr.. Schurz
II he desired to have any more witnesses sum-
moned, saying he was In favor of examininr
every one whom Mr.. s. might desire to have
summoned.
Mr.. Schurz replied that he would Ike TO oh
tain additional information from Col Crispin on
several points, but presumed 1t could be for
warded in writing. $50
Adjourned until to- morrow.