New-York tribune., 1873-02-15

b which proposed to take Off the tax from banks othe
than National Banks; / presented my letters to Gen
Ketcham, and inquired about that bill; he said nc
knew nothing about It; It would pronaoy
be before the Committee OF Ways and Means
and lie would introduce me TO n gentleman VINO
would tell me all / wanted TO know about it, and he
introduced TO Mr.. Bassett In one of the lobbies,
Of the House said to Mr. Bassett that waited to OBJ
tain copy OF Duels bill he said, suppose you VIII
want to employ oounsc;" had not then employed any
lawyer he said, will give services for $500
per annum. and IL becomes law will charge you
5000 :; replied that had authority to employ such
person. that would submit his proposition to the
stock Exchange he said, Do but there rs no occ
mention names :" and added, and viii call on
you at your hotel - replied that would rather
call him went down met an official OF Inc
House-one employed In humble capacity-aDd SAID 10
him. Who is that man r. he replied, He is the Clerk
OF the Committee OF Ways and Means :" said, He s
pretty high clerk he is q clerk with vengeance
he Is pretty high strung" and l told him what
he had proposed; Capt. Mares said TO me
| Have nothing do with him; II You have anything
that Justice You attended to- but have moth
ing TO do with him :" then went down stairs and met
r. T. Wood who is q lawyer, and retained him In THIS
matter: there was money paid, and no surrepttous
| means used; I went to NewYork and told Mr.. Denny
what Mr. Bassett had proposed; he replied: Tell Mr..
Bassett we have occasion for his services, which
did, very soon after this conversation with Mr. Bassett
| /
told him Of this conversations also told Mr. g. s. Cox
BY Mr. Robers-At what time did you tell these gen
tlemen OF this cOnversatioui A. i told Capt Mares
| within 10 mnues; told Mr.. Wood within two hours
told Gen. Ketcham think, the next day, ana MI OoA
| within two three Gays afterward
O. State about the date Of this conversationf a. u
was in 1872 between the Is of March and the let of
| April.
BY the Chairman-Tave you the card on which MI
| Basset wrote his address A. have.
O. VIII you show IL to mel Witness produced card
! on one side of which his name printed and on
the other side "GeO. A. Bassett, 1ls Dst N W. CONN.,
| WAYS and Means" "H. r., 1,349, Hrs. 10, c, s."
BY Mr. Burchard-Woud you know the gentleman
with whom you had this conversation If you were to see
him now Yes Sir; he in this room, at the table
@. You think you identify bhml A. Yes, Sir;
| he sits at the table there.
BY the Charman-What are the figures on tins cara
| A. The figures are mDe
O. When you were introduced TO MIR. Bassett by Mr.
Ketcham did he tell you who he was A. am not
| positive about that; think he did.
O. Yet you say You inquired Of the next you met
who he vast A. Yes; inquired Of Capt. Mares, and
he said he il n clerk with vengeance; you know no"
ntroductions take place.
O. only want you TO answer the question put; who
was present when you had this conversation with Mr.
Bassetti A. 1t was with Mr.. Bassett alone.
Q. Where were you when 1t occurred A. think we
were standing Immediately opposite this room, IN the
hall; remember he WfOte inc cara against lDc Wdt
Capt Mares in the lobby opposite the House door
told hm the whole OF the conversation at the time.
@. Your purpose to get DuePs bli A. My pur-
| pose was to lind out what Duels bill was
O. Where you wnen you reported to Mr. Bassett
that they declined his seryicesf A. Ny impression Is
that was in the lobby; that he passing through,
and merely made the remark that they declined TO
have anything TO do with it.
@. Did you know him by sight A. never spoke TO
| him in my hfe.
@. You never had a talk with him about what this
legislation cost A. Never In my life; when say
never spoke TO him. should have added except once,
and that when was private in the Seventh keS'
ment during the war.
O. You said TO Gen. Butler that 1t had already
cost ssOOO and you had not got the bill through yeti
A Never spoke word TO Gen. Butler on the SUBJECT
and have DO personal acquaintance with him; have
said In print and signature, that there had
| never been dollar spent in any such way.
BY Mr. RObertsYou stated that IL not your desire
10 mention the name of any employees was any PROPOSE
ton made 70 you by any other empoye OF the House
| A. Never.
@. Do you know the way IN which information has
been sent from this Committee to the brokers' A. do
not think has been sent should be very apt 10
have heard it, and never heard anything Of the kind.
MR. BAssETr THE ONLY PERSON OFFERED IN
fLUESCE.
| @. was going to ask further whether, except the
proposition which you say made by Mr.. Basset any
proposition was made you for information or influence
| by any empoye OF the Housei a. Never.
O. And you have already said none by any member Of
Congressi A. | say by any member OF Congress,
or by anybody Congress out Of Congress, and that
no money has been paid except for the services Of law
| yer which done openly
O. You mean that answer to he taken without any
! reservationi A. without any reservation whatever
O. You say yOu desire to shield Mr.. Bassetti a. Yes,
Sir but you had asked the question the other day
90 \ hav mad Afr
Bassets name you mentioned at the door that ought
TO give an abstract Of that report to the Committee Of
Ways and Means and Immediately said to my friend
ana adviser that Mr.. Basset ought 10 have the whole
report and that he should have IT. l believe that
stated to you that would give copy of this report
O. You said you would give me copy OF the report
bearing upon this subject but that there per-
sona things In it you did not wish TO exhibit A. Yes;
there are some personal things should probably have
left outwhat there is about salary and the financial
statement made to the Board.
O. When made the request OF you submit that
port to the Committee, you did not give any inform
alton about Mr.. Bassett A. No, Sir, 1 did not
O. The first time you have mentioned Mr. Bassetts
name to me in this connection this morning. A.
This morning is first time am sorry TO have done
1t this morning.
BY Nr Kerr-state who Mr. r. T. Wood, whom you
employed as a lawyer, is A He is a lawyer in Penn
Yam, n. Y; lie Deputy Collector OF Internal Rev
enue at one time In the northern part OF that state
selected him my attorney because he thoroughly
familiar with the Of the Internal Revenue Depart
ment, and with the matter Of abatement OF tax.
O. inferred that he lived in the City OF Washington
A. No Sir; he lives at Penn YAM and he can give
roboraive evidence regard to this conversation with
Mr.. Bassett If you will summon him.
O. You referred TO Gen. Ketcham In connection with
your subsequent relation with Mr. Bassett. You
Mr.. Ketcham of the House. A. mean Gen. Ketchsm
NJ thp