New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-23
MR. BOWEN EXPLAINS HIS THIRTY PER
CENT.
CONFESSION AND AVOIDANCE.


TO rhe Edftor Of The Tribune
SIR: admire the enterprise of The TRIBUNE
recent efforts TO expose and punish those who have
been guilty OF wrong-doing In regard TO the General
order business ssuppOse you will admit that 1t is
per Sc n respectable vocation. SO long there
laws which require the transaction OF General
order business long there must be parties to execute
them. The General order business. suppose. is like
any other business 1t can be properly or improperly
honestly dishonesty, managed A grocer may sand
his sugar water his rum mix Indian meal with bis gin
ger sundry other naughty things and yet this
prove the grocery business to be dshonorable
calling. A dry goods merchant may shorten his yard
stick sell shOddy warrant mixed fabric
"an sill" or "al WOOL" and yet the dry goods
business with its host of Stewards and Cahns may be
honestly conducted. Jefferson Davis was not a very
good specimen Of patriot although you went bail for
him); but it don't follow that good men and true
patriots do not now exist Now Sir you have attempted
10 show 10 the public that eleven or twelve years
ego 1 personally engaged in disreputa-
bic, II not a dishonest vocation You have
tried TO make IL appear that personally deserve
the condemnation and contempt which the
wicked grocer the shOddy merchant the Infamous
traitor and the Leets and Stockings of the present day.
rece 70 from justly indignant public. Let us look into
the matter little, and what effect daylight will have
On the subject: when the great Rebellion broke out the
firm Of Bowen. Holmes q Co.. with which / was then
connected was Obliged to suspend business Its assets
Al the South and West principally could not then be con-
yerted int cash and after due consultation with friends,
n WA deemed best TO go into liquidation AT that time,
with an immense pecuDiary load on my shoulders,
should been glad OF the General Order business or
any honorable and safe business which would nave
aided me In exticating myself ana nfn from dhcuity.
But kind Providence inerp0sed ana haue NJ cleaI 10
me that bad better devote my life 70 the interests OF
The Independent , ~, y =,
Bowen made arrangements TO 60 permanently INTO he
Storage and general Order business The Rebellion had
thrown them ont OF employment, as well as ana
Thousands Of Others was asked by many iriends OF
these gentlemen 10 help them In starting the business
proposed In company with Mr. Lambert's brOther tMf
VIM G.. Lambert, the New-York managing partner OF
fbe we'll known firm OF A. A. Lawrence Co. OF BOs-
toni called upon Collector Barney, and asked him TO
the General Order business the East River TO the
Gentlemen named. On hearing the statements made by
10th OF u.s. different interviews the Collector decided
10 give them the business referred TO. After the
rangement was made ana the writings were about TO be
lated with them, insisted, in note TO me, that
should sign the contract with them, and
the other parties asserting that they would
They were promptly told that had no personal interest
In the business whatever But no matter they INSISTED
on having my name 10 the paper; saying snal iney
would then feel OF my influence u hep Them
IN retaining the business reluctantly signed tne pa
per- and did give my consent and sanction 70 the ar
fangement but never cent d fre@ the business,
my services in the matter In no way wss Pr
sOnaly benefited, except In knowing that had peen IN
bread for their families believe did right ana, under
the same circumstances. should do the same tInnS
again The enterprise Of The TRIBUNE reporter 10 c9n
neDdable but why did he not attempt 10 snow tne Dig
pile OF money said Lambert Bowen, and others made
out Of this General order busnessf Why did he not
md out what blunder Collector Barney made IN
epTointng improper 10 the Goyernmentf
Why did he not unearfh the frauds rascalty backmal
Ing oyerchargng and other wckedness OF these partes
Why did MT said reporter smell OUT something that
was awfuy wicked under their ADMINISTRATION Be
he could not That s the answer. and defy The