New-York tribune., 1872-02-05
,r..s,.r+o, with Mr. Haws A. I don't think went
NasnlnE.Vn Wnshinrtnn nn fhnf business especiay

MA MAJ other n SYsiness i'm Washington. .o.,or,
N Rut henC there YOU took some part IN .u. hno two
&as SIR: The only part had 10 bring those s"0
parties ogether they made toenI own von mean Leet
o. Had they been acquainted preyousTl 90 a. :ual ac
moi sure; think not, unless IL was i"N'
Hsvse made them acquainted did ySn St Sx
Cen PS5SC Gdt Col a 6et saT in washington and not finding
Sim there went to Cen Porter; b,o IN Washington
w0' df there 70 and S @1t RoT
would I'm me rdnee it n,l@ their heir bid ,..,,o or
ms yr ,rTasSs%eRsr T S the parties in NewYork
''''' THE VIEWS OF POLITICIANS.
- u,. Ala Won say as to the views entertained ny
.oians here as to Leet getting the iaoor cohtac1i
sad 20 Ieet that he got the whole OF THIS contrac
,hsre would he dissatisfaction among the politicians anu
49,, hw Of II was enough for him, and he had better
o.ta arrangements with some one who would be satls
factory - ng LET assent TO that vewi A. assented
VT Vprdnoson; whether no influenced by that
view of the case don't know 1 presume he was
S ddS Ino" PSoTterf A. think went the FIRST day;
Jon,t know whether I went with Haw or whether he
ss1te ssnt' and i went to see Gen. Porter.
O. About this labor contracts A. Yes went 70 see
Cen Porter Lcets whereabouts, in the first place
what he about hs intentions with reference TO this
o That was your only object in seeing Gen. Porter !
O What did Gen Porter say at that conversation with
reference TO Col Leet A. lie SIMPLY stated to me tnat
by direction OF the President he had written letter TO
Col Let a. Chicago stating M Ins s 70 Seye
business connection with the Customhouse that NC
which lad been made TO him by Don Cameron 70 so to
Pennsylvania TO take charge OF ana superntehu niS 0
. How long had you known Col. Leet at that time
A. first acquainted with Col Leet in the spring o'
O. Did you know Of any qualifications he possessed for
;he superntcndcncy OF IN iron business A. NO. PIT;
,nly knew that he man of good business oaplc1
put did not know what qualifications were neceSsai; %
q Does not occur TO you that a suQeIhtehuent. VI
Yts gho haN knowledge
;uro OF front A. That would be my impression; 49, o,
q Having had that conversation WIN zen 20 ~
Uen to the President, did youf a. tcegIaPhGu TO
son't recOlloct what else said in the telegram
OVERCOMING PRESIDENTIAL scRUPLEs
O. Did YOU go to see the President after Leet came to
Washington a. Yes, Sir.
O. Was anybody with you IL so, whomi A. Nobody
O. What occurred there Just state what You have
natedi A. stated to the President that understood
le this letter to Lee opposing bis coming TO
SewYOrk and having anything tn do with CustO-house
natters that thought there was no good reason why ne
was matter Of competitive bids; ana that thoueht
he fact of Col Leets having served IN the war ON the
,ther man to NewYo further stated to him
the fact that arrangement had been made between
Haw and Col Leet which would make the arTangement
satisfactory TO his political friends here he reiterated
ais aversion 10 having persons who had sustained rea
nons 20 him in the army having anything to do with the
NewYork Custom house, and expressed his regret that
,hero was talk about It, think he said and that
ne satisfied 1t was altogether best mar any one Oh
0 TDt SefoTe Won left him what did he say A. "But"
,eT.d tbcp "6uttipg il I'm that way that this is
oetltiye bid II is not the result or otcal lhuuehee;
don't ace what objection could urge TO COL Leet gong
20 New York" and he fually assented that he wouiu
withdraw that objection. -. -, .
q you thiuk the objection was on the ground OF
e use OF official Influences A. think his objection was
he expectation that would be charged to official inh-
o. Official influence Of whom' A. OF the President
O You had suggested that in that conversation,
lad youl a. Well sir think suggested III that con-
Tcrsation that this was matter which dld not require
@ Was that first your idea, or his A. think made
lhc suggestion first.
secOlleet distinctly TO which suggested IT. but that
Eould be my general impression; .
ne same subiecti A. so was Informed; yes, Sir.
q. Was anything further said about the letter which
Sen Grant had given Mr.. Ieet than what you stated
O. When YOU left cen Grant he had relinquished his
,biecons to Leet getting the labor contract A. Yes,
sr; would state here that possibly the matter may not
eted in Mr. Leets interview which probably followed;
a. any rate rehnqushed IN one or the other OF
Q, Have you any doubt that Cen Grant was satisfied
VI that point at the time A. None whatever.
q Col. Ieet at that time in the army, Gen Grant
mGst have been satisfied at thai time, and You mus
sxs 20 Ge hd Sy objection 10 Col, Let gong int
a y ren Sf tHc Coz aGe Ic to sSTes Go s
.ny Place III the United safest A. Yes, Sir;
!. y Cor. .cqccnty tjink you will agree with me that
nI have been that he was as stated satisfied on on tna
~ iat ~ '''' '''''' law -'' ''' '''''' '
POLITICIANS TO BE CONSIDERED.
@ was true that the effort was purely competitive
md & matter of bids what had the dissatisfaction Of tn
politicians in w-York elsewhere TO do with Leet
inyb0iy else getting the busInessl A. When the matte
was broached by Mr.. Hlw, II had been given Mr.
nudgett without a bid as understood, and 1t
,eced that IL would lie done the way again. After
sard the secretary authOritaively stated that it wOu
De competitive bid; the origin Of the arrangement was
the decision ~ the Secretary, that IL should bc
competitive bid; then the politicians had good deal u
To- there good deal of talk about Leet coming herr
md Undertaking 10 get large contract here where ther
we're party men who were entitled TO consideration.
o. when nd yCu discover that the Secretary had de
nimlncd toilet ou the contract to he lowest bidderi
don't remember; il was not long after Leet Ilaw hat
Igrecd tO form partnership Tor That purpose;
O. Was not the understanding that the bid TO b
ihe Of HaW, ana the contract taken in his name
q what wa ihe object, If it was placed beyond the DO
main Of political influence A. don't know; IL
natter IT, parties arranged Themselves until saw tht
estimony here bad forgotten the facl.
q GcH. Grant spoke to you al that tIne did he not
bout his letter to Mr.. Grinnen! A. Yes. that Is my
@ Hsve you stated when Gen. Grant first knew o.
c0i Lect's connection with the General Order business
ne Knew II ni 1t came ont in the testimony; at least
aked aOou the Cuba contracts; that is, of my
O. DI Cen Grant deny in terms, to you that he knew
Lett connection with the General order business
ntl Inc testiuCny Was taken before the InYesigating
Committee sCut here Ia Fcruary Last \. think he SO
uated IA conversation bad with him two weeks ago.
he last convcrsaion 10 which have testified
q what dd he say about it A. Ny recollection is he
stated t. Io new nothing about the Bixby matter
nt he hoard Il il the testimony; do NJ recOect his
oppressed himself either responsive TO or his original
)roposiIn that ne Gd not know anything of the Leet-
3Xby transaction until 10 disclosed in the testimony
O. Was Gen. RaWlins's intention TO aid Col Lect di-
cCtci TO the General Order business bust
Iess thi5 ctY2 A I not sure; have no distinct
tcOcrtun " a desire 10 aid him generally could
IO sta WuetIer thc General business was men
iOncd not
LTTI AND BIEBG.
O. Wien Gi You i.r.t know OF Leers connection with
he G:ncrl-OIder Eusin,ssl A. Not until the firm OF
horton q Co. started.
Q. Did you speak to Leet the subject after
Yards Iteay have supposed he had the expectation of
getting tle General order business when ne left the