Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-17
WASHINGTON.
The Currency Birr.


| WASHINGTON, April I6.-The Senat.
financial bill reached The President to-day
The District and tle Dents.
In the District investigation this morn
ing, Is. B, Nickensol testified that he was
In Washington at the time for letting the
contracts for paving. He met Messrs. Nc
Cleiland and Chittenden there. They both
told him to keep away from the Board of
Public Works, and matters were getting
along all right; that he must keep dark
and say nothing; that when Mr. McClel-
land left Washington TO return to Chicago
he wrote him letter to the same effect.
The letter was exhibited and put in evil
dence. Witness also exhibited letter to
him from Mr.. Chitenden. When inferno
gated as 10 what influence was referred to.
he stated that 1t was his opinion that his
influence with Judge Dent, or Dent &
Page, or the Messrs. Dent was meant, but
was not sure that his influence was refer
red to. He has had a long acquaintance
with the Messrs- Dent, and supposed they
would assist him in getting contract.
Another SRnborner-The President
Lugged in-Butler's Inauence.
John L. Pendery, practicing attorney of
LeayenWorth, Kansas, was before the Wavs
and Means Committee this morning, and
testified as to his experiences from 1870 TO
1872 at the Treasury Department when
seeking contract 10 collect moneys due
the Government by certain corporations.
Secretary Boutwell, referred the subject to
Bantield. Witness called on Banfield from
time TO time and at his request left the pa
pers on which his charge was based. Bout
well went out of office without arranging
matters. Pursuing the subject, witness
called on the President, who said he would
see Secretary Richardson. Meantime.
richardson informed witness he fully nm
derstood the case. Witness reminded him
of the fact that Boutwell, had referred the
proposition TO Banfeld to agree on the
terms of contract.
Mr.. Banfield said this was a clear case
and there was great deal of money in the
matter, and he wanted to know the terms
of witness, who said he presumed he would
be allowed 30 per cent. Mr.. Banfield said
that was too much, but would allow so
per cent. on tile first 100000 and 25 per
cent on the remainder. Witness told him
he had no objections to the terms, but Mr..
Bantield never prepared the contract. Mr..
Bantield said TO him subsequently that the
railroad Influence was so great that action
should be taken under the Treasury De
partment, or witness would have to GET out
of the way. To this, witness replied that
be had spent 5000 or $4,000 already, and
the party committing the Ofiense should
not have influence enough to prevent ex-
pOsure. Mr.. Richardson asked him wheth-
er he wanted 10 cOniine 10 only one rail
road, viz: the Kansas Pacific railroad. and
not the Union Pacific railroad. Witness
replied, 10 the former railroad only-
While the conversation was in progress.
the President came in. Mr.. Richardson
said he would talk to the President, and |
witness retired. Witness was satisfied |
Mr.. RicllardSOn never told the President |
about his case. Witness informed Mr.. |
Richardson he would give security that |
the Government should be saved from any |
cost, but did not get the contract. Mr.. |
Banfield said this was too bad thing. |
Witness asked the advice of eminent cOun- |
sci, who had influence. He called on Gen. |
Butler, who said he eoJild not do any good. |
Replying TO the question, what induced /
him to call on Gen. BStler, witness replied |
he was told that Gen. Butler could assist /
him in the matter. The name of Assistant |
Secretary Sawyer was also mentioned to |
him, it being said that gentleman could be /
Of assistance. de called on Sawyer, who /
said all appointments had been made, add
ng that he did not know what the other
gentlemen had done, meaning those who
lad received the contracts.
The Pacific Subsidy.
The Senate Committee on Commerce to-
lay agreed TO report and recommend the
passage of bill declaring that the Pacific
Nail Steamship Company, by the failure to
comply with the conditions on which the
additional subsidy of 100000 per annum
vas granted to commerce last October has
Ofeited Its right to the same and is enti-
led only to the half million subsidy per
.nnum previously granted for a monthly
nail service between San Francisco, China 4
nd Japan. The bill will simply declare
5 matter of law feature already recog-
lized as q fact.