Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-09
EntersM MephistopheIes.

tef OF any meI0Dor OF congress Or OF aHy
Treasury official. 80 afN
Enters MephistopheIes.
Gen. Butler came before the Committee
and complained that a witness had been
examined in reference to his private affairs,
and that he had not been notified 20 be pre-
sent 10 hear the testimony, and if he DEEM
ed it proper, to croSs-examine witnesses.
! He had much experience in committees,
and it had been his uniform practice when
! ever witness made statement involving
a member OF either House 10 suspend the
examination and TO send for the member
/ lie simply asked for that measure of cour-
tesy TO himself.
The Chairman (Mr. Dawes) replied that
the illusions to Mr.. Buffers name in the
testimony had been inciden al, and when
witnesses We're asked questions the COM
mittee could not know in advance that their
answer would refer to a member of Con-
gress. 81 u -sr t4ts--E
After a long eelloquy MF. Beck informed
Mr.. Butler that the examination of Mr..
Sanborn would be continued tO-if1orrow,
and il was very probable some inquiries
might be directed into the business and
operations Of SanbOrnd during the war, when
he held some commission under Mr.. Butler,
then in command at Fortress Monroe.
Mr. Butler S ID Ire cotldnt be present
tomorrow and the only Government posi-
tiOn held by Sanborn was that of pOvost
messenger. to keep order on boat running
between Baltimore and Fortress Monroe.
soIicitOus BanaeId.
Solicitor Banhelt made additional state
ments to the committee defending his Off
cial acts in the matter of the Sanborn con-
tracts against the reflections on him, which
he supposed were made BY Secretary Rich
ardson and Assistant Secretary Sawyer
The point of Banfield's statement was
that his duties i'm regard to the Sanborn
contracts was not original, but merely adj
viSOry; that he was not responsible for ini-
tiating the system, but that he was pre-
pared to share with the other officials of the
Department, the responsibility of having
concuTed init. The system had been ini-
tiated after consultation with him by Secre-
tary Boutwell, and then Assistant Secretary
Richardson. He stated that with the ex-
eeption Of issuing secfet service creden-
tials to Green aud Presley, Sanborn's
agents, which was matter wholly in his
discretion as Solicitor, he had written or
signed no paper and done no act connected
to end, except by direction of the Secretary
or Assistant Secretary. lie stated also that
sometime before the passage of the act of
1872, in relation TO contracts of this char
acter, a special appeal was made to him by
Kelsey, of New York, and Sawyer, then a
Senator. now Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, to give to the act Of 1870,
broader construction than be thought il
would bear, for the purpose of making it
embrace the taxes withheld by railroad
companies, and Sawyer was ve-y earn
est about the natter
Worthless Paving.
o. II. Quimby, OF Chicago, under whose
superintendency Degollyer No. 2pavement
was laid, was before the District Investi-
eating Committee and testified that the
Board of Public Works was not aware Of
the wofthleSsneSs Of this Pavement Until
tho BitIi6sS had called attention to it one
year afterward, and said then the ironizing
treatment of wood was discontinued. The
work cost the contractors Sl.5O per square
yard and they received $50 per square
yard. Subsequent to the order of the
Board, discontinuing this pavement, Con-
gresham Farwell came here in the inter-
est of the pavement company, according to
witBess's information and belief, and the
Board OF Public Works resumed the use of
the same pavement TO the same extent:
Vice President Willard, of the Board OF
Public WORKS; wes thch put on the stand
and examined in regard to the general
management of the office.
Witness was shown the items rendered
by DeGolyer & Mcclellan for grading.
When asked if he thought grading charged
for had been done by them, lis said that no
such sfhDunt Of grading had been done.
The wood pavement was worthless one,
because of the precess BY which the wood
was treated. A letter was shown him on
his crOss-eXaminatiOn, which he identified
as having been written to Gov. Shepherd,
complaining of the pavement. In it an
allusion was made to G. d. Farewell, (mem-
Der of Congress- of Chieago. Subsequently
that sentlerieI appeared before the com
IGittee and made a sworn statement TO the
effect that in September last he was called
upon at his place of business in Chicago by
Mcclellan, jenkins and ex-senator DOOlit-
tie as attorneys. They informed him that
DeGolyer and Mcclellan Rad beeii Stopped
in work in Washington, and that they had
great many blocks of ironated wood in
that city, which they wished used up.
They said if they could get the material
used up they would ret 5ss1 Tor any more
CONTRACTS, but would leave the city.
Witness said he came without fee or con-
sideration from Chicago, at his own ex-
pcnse, and had a conference with Gov.
Shepherd. He asked the Governor .ts al
low the firm to use up What Wood they
had on hand in Washington, and he as
sehted. Witness had never heard the De-
Golyer payements criticised in Chicago,
where a great deal Of it had been laid.
When speaking to Gov. Shepherd be Qhe
GOvernor) said that some one had Written
to him condemaing the process. Witness
replied that he did not want the blocks to
be taken unless the Governor received tes-
timonials that satisfied him that they were
good ones. He did not know whethersuch
testimonials were furnished or not. He
had not conversed with anybody since on
the subject, and he had no reason to be-
lieve his requests had not been complied
with. He came here at great inconvenience
to simply oblige one or two of his constitu-
ents who were interested.
Denies the Charge.
The report that the Commissioner of
Patents, Leggett, has resigned is denied
by that gentleman.
The House Committee on Patents to-day
decided to report adversely on the bill pro-