New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-06
TESTIMONY OF GEN. HORACE PORTER.
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE OF INVESrIGA'
TION AND RETRENCHMBNT.

BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE VI
TON AND RETRENCHMENT.
WAsHIsGToS Monday, March 4, 1871
Following is q full report of the proceedings
Of the Senate Committee investigating tue aHas VI 'no
Ncw-Yorb Custom house, to-day;
Horace Porter sworn aud examined: BY the CHAR
man-what is your employment now A. oecre'ai|
O. How long have you been In that positiOni A. since
the Presidents inauguration.
O. DO You know George X. Lett A. DO. Ala.
O. What has been his relation TO the president uuips
the last few ycars A. lie served on LIS stan uk s
war as Assistant AdjutantGeneral the latter Pa''
O. Since the war, what position has he occupied A.
Since the war; he served not in connection win ueh'
Grant but on duty at the war Department for tine
Q. DO you know what business he Is engaged IN ~
A. In the General Order business Of the NewioiA '"'
O. Are You conversant with that business and bis con-
necton with III A. Yes Sir to some extent. row h,
O. Did he obtain that business. 30 Tar as yOu KNOW
his connection with the President A. do not AH0'
now LEFT GOT CONTRACT.
O. Testimony has been given before this Committee "
the effect that you have well acquainted win 'ne
General Order business. and the manner IN which H"
placed In the hands of Col Leet, and that you nav.
knowledge Of the parties who are Interested I'D W. "o
we shall be obliged 10 you II You VIII mako any s ,.
ment IN reference to that you may, II yOu please s1ae
the connection OF Col Ieet with the business what ny
position was In connection win the mar n knowess
you have In relation TO MS h,sIe" hns,nessi
a. Col Leet determined. soon after the close o. The
war; TO resign from the army and ~ into pi'a r "o,
ness he had been educated to business ana ulu ~
seem satisfied with life In the army no COT leave VI ~
sence, abOuta year after tho close OF the war os $3.50
Chicago aud enter into business there-som1 % IA
business, believe; about that time Col B0w,Is nI.
killed. Col Bowers Aduant- General TO CEN us",
Col Leet associated with him IN the Once un "A
the death OF Col. Bowers, who then held te ias
Major and Assistant AdJutant General IN tLo IeES,s
army this position IN the regular army was tenuen
Col Leot; he gave mp his notion OF going mo prt'a
business In conseq uenco OF this position when wac 80
dcred him; that was about the spring :" tine:
hut | will not he positive as TO tne uu..,
do not rccolect hearing him anything again so,s
resgning until shortly before the nomination o. .
President he then spoke OF an intention ol ,St fos
and going into business; he applied 10 the Presluoh ~.
some position the President said he would appoint On
Collector Of Internal Revenue at NewOrleans luss
the inauguration of the President when hh name A.
about 10 sent TO the senate for that posuon see
cned II; he stated that NewOrleans was seky ps M:
that his family afraid Of the yellow FEVER % he
wife objected TO going there, and the pay was hssr
therefore declined the position do not rceolyv, oss
ing him say anything ON the subject again ~ maTrh
time after the Inauguration during the mOnth VI I'm
when he came from the presdenrs room INTO ny ana
one day and said, am going over 10 New III NJ
President has given mo letter OF introduction " ~