Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-07
THE COLORADO SCANDAL
The Charges Against General
McCook.
Washington Correspondence New York TT

WCVOOA.
Washington Correspondence Eew York Tri-
bune)
The Senate Committee on Terri
tories, which has spent several
months in the examination OF
charges against ex-Gov. McCOok,
whom the President had renomi-
mated to be governor of Colorado,
has reported the same to the Sen
ate i'm Executive session with the
testimony that has been taken.
The first charges were signed by
several citizens of Colorado, includ-
ing Delegate Chaffee, a member OF
the Territorial Legislature, an ex-
Indian agent, and several others.
They accused Gov. McCoOk OF
fraudulent practices while Governor
of Colorado in connection with GER
tain contracts to supply cattle to the
Ute Indians, by which the Govern
ment is alleged to have lost SSO,OOO;
of approving a divorce bill more
than eight months after the Legis-
lature had adjourned; that he had
received money for his influence TO
have an official retained in office,
and that he had been interested in
the profits of discounting vouchers
for an Indian contractor, the pay
ment of which depended upon his
own approval.
In regard to the cattle contracts, the
only question was in regard to the
character of the animals furnished
by the contractor. The agreement
was to deliver American cattle, and
McCoOk's accusers assert that he
and his brother-in-law, who in
spected them, allowed "Texas" cat
tie to be furnished, the latter being
worth only about one-half as much
as the former. The testimony
taken by the committee was con-
flicting, but the conclusion that sew
eral members of the committee ar
rived at was that the cattle were of
mixed blood, and that, although
they were not what would be known
as t.native" cattle i'm the Eastern
States, they were not Texas" COWS.
They were, I'm fact, what were
known as american" cattle i'm
Colorado at the time the contract
was made.
The Committee conclude that, as
the official journals of the Legisla-
ture represent the divorce bill re-
ferred to in the second charge as
having been signed before the adj
journment of the Legislature, the
charge that he signed it eight
months after is not pre- ed.
1t appears that a gentleman who
held q United States office i'm Color
ado, and who was threatened with
removal, requested Gov. McCOok to
come to Washington and use his
influence for his retention, and paid
to the Governor, probably to cover
the expenses of the journey and his
stay in this city, S $1,000. 1t is I'M
derstood that no corrupt motive has
been provided on the part either of
McCook or the man In whose inter-
est he acted.
In regard to the charge that Gov.
McCook shared in the profits of
"shaving" the vouchers of Indian
contractors, the payment of which
depended upon his approval, the
facts seem to be these: An Indian
Agent i'm McCoOk's superintendency
had, without authority, made a
verbal contraction goods amounting
to $1,000. When the bill was pre-
sented to Gov. McCoOk he refused
to approve it without investigation,
on account of the irregularity.
But the contractor was greatly
in need of the money, and
offered to sell it for fifty cents on
a dollar. Mr.. Thompson, McCOok's
brother-in-law andprivate secretary,
went 10 the bank with the con
tractor, and by promising to secure
the approval of the voucher, negO-
tiated its sale and furnished a part
of the money to buy it. The bill
was afterward approved and the
money paid to Thompson, but was
not allowed at the department fol
two years. The banker, who is a
partner Of Delegate Chaffse, swears
that Thompson told him that the
profits on the voucher were to be
divided between Gov. McCoOk, the
banker, and himself. Both Thorn.
son and McCook swear that the
latter never had any interes,
i'm ii, and did not know that Thomp.
son had until long afterward, and
that then, on ThOmpsOn's account,
he paid to the banker $500 as his
share of the profits out Of his own
pocket and reprimanded Thompson
for his part in the affair.
The whole contest has grown out
of the personal relations between
McCook and Delegate Chaffee,
whose particular friend Gilbert, now
Governor of the Territory, will be
removed if McCook is confirmed.
The President is on McCOok's side
and will not withdraw his name.