The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-07
SECRETS OF THE LOBBY.



hts influence VINO is the Mysterious Part-
ucr, Did Grant have n Finger In the Pief
Mr Benjamin II. Cheever, the we'll
known Washington lobbyi I, claims TO be
creditor y the estate OF Henry Clews Co., late
anancih agents Of the United States, to the
amount Of one-fourth OF sG0o,O0O, being one
fourth Of the profits realized from the financial
agency in the two years during which the bank
rupt nrln held that responsible position. Yes
terddy Mr.. Cheever was examined before hesis-
ter Ketchum 10 relation to the foundation Oh ms
claim = % Cheever is nne-looking man. Win
long and cMefuliy-combed white beard and
gray eyes.
Mr. Edward r. Bartlett appeared for the wit
meas. Mr.. Cheevcr MIR. WIN. A. Abbot for the
trustee Of the old nrm Of Henry Clews q Co..
and Mr. L. r. Brown for the trustee Of the new
nrm.
The examination was in regard to certain agree
nents, alleged to have been IN ade between Henry
Clews aud u. II Cheever, under which Cheever,
for his influence In getting Clews the financial
agency. was to have portion OF the profits.
Question by Mr.. Abbott How often did you
see MIR Cloves before these agreements2 A
Three or four times.
O. What inducements were made TO Mr.
Clewes tO obtain his consent to these agree
mentst
A discussion followed between counsel as to
whether the question should he answered or
not. Mr. Bartlett asked for delay and ad-
3ournment. Register ketchum said tha: the
hearing must 20 on. After declining to answer
the witness concluded to reply. He said
d" 1 had knuwn Mr. CLOVIS for ten Urtwelve year,,
aud we had talked over financial questions. lie
had tod me repeatedly that he wanted to get
banking house In Washington. lie was at my
house IN Washington before the breaking out
Of the war. and introduced him to Mr.. Chase.
He spoke about a banking house at Washing
ton. Then this agency came up We had good
came g. Washington and told me that he had
tried TO get the agency. lie wanted me to aid him.
said I want you to give your time and varied
experience with the Administration to this nat-
ter, and explain II fully TO The Administration
He said that Morton, Bliss y 20. were pressing
very hard. and that SeligmA n Co. were pressing
very hard upon him. He was misrepresented,
and as he could not give bis personal attention,
he wanted me TO do what l could. lie said he
could do more than any other man IN this coun-
try. He stated what certain banks would do Tor
him. He showed me Ietition- and letters from
leading men OF New York and OF the country.
He said he would pay me ~. rally Tor anyth
would do that IL was the ambition OF his life
TO get the gency and II he got II, he would es-
tablish a branch IN London, by and by IN Parls,
and by and by in Berlin OF lrankfoTt-fr@nk-
fort. think.
WHAT cLEws PROPOSED.
"He stated what the value OF 1t was and as he
had known that had had much experience in
nnsnces. having established the first banking
give me one quarter OF the net profits ana to
pay retainer IN advance in money that was
tnat II would give my entire attention the
thing would be successful. Immeu euiately after
began to give my attention to the affair leading
men in and out Of Congress gave in their ad-
herence t. Mr.. Clews, and after two years OF un-
tiring industry, through the influence OF leading
men in Washington from New York and from
elsewhere, Clews was appointed financial agent"
The Register-You have entirely misappre-
hended the question.
The question was read asking Mr.. Cheever
what Inducements he had offered to Mr. Clews
40 cot bi,n 20 sign the agreements. The in
ducement was, he asked me II could aid him,
and said thought could that would give
him my best attention and services in obtaining
the agency IN this country ana Europe.
yoa not give some S speeia ndaeenen' TO
h.a with prson; influential Te the h
nenta in Procuring the agency for hmr A'-onS In
q .wh,,ws the e1ac. ,.nsunsep ? 4 1sfaid to MIN,
taese .tateneais are true Nj CcNs YOU should have
this asgnc tne. II te s9si sye me & 9ae % 9uSsef q
would g.ve my services
PLAIN ANSWER WANTED.
Tho question was read and tue Register In
sisted on an answer Yes or No"
,AGcqsily made these .19'ePeat, sPeciinc,,hy
mate asu wh & hea a il tie Himu,iraic NJ @ Being very ai
pisin ihsi OILERS might not my have sad that aud
d, ,oi mean To- say that YOU have no recollection
otshsl }oa t9id Glews TO induce MIN to ,ign tn, Sc
.s,n r n a n9nSf SSI 10 Mr els Sens that any
efseqatof- Aniacny ana Logan ~ % noI remen,,
House tNould have been nkeiy ~ use great many
Of their names a. ,,.., 49,. .
power IN you had Or supposed ioa might have with
any memher Of Congress or the Admins ratlonP A
o-Youwtre ssEed in the last e1 mlnaton in respect
can you now state hi residcnceS Al cannot.
The above aues ion and answer seems to
nSed explanation. In the agreements drawn up
between Ciews End Cheever, II is specined that
the profits ofthe financial agency shall be divided
into four parts, one part to Cneever, ono part
HnDiclI.
Buren,. Mho Van Buren, Is Is mystery. The
name is evidently blind for some person IN
Washington who was TO share IN the profits OF
the agency. Who that person Is Clews and
Cheever have not explained
Q.-cahhot You remember now Van Buren's name
came 70 be inserted 10 the AgreemSnt Al cAnnot
S.l ol veg asked At tne !a,t hgsdl1S M as tYI3ws G .
yQu were TO have IN ihe rnanell ssency when Henry
S2Sa Sr De S say & y @ d % sH
% forth. Answer that question.
Mr. Bartlett objected, but Register Ketchum
said that claimant was bound 10 state the con-
sderaiOn OF his debt.
A-The consideration was all lawful services could
:tiadiny Of ii"aiy ceV. 3. banker. ~, ,issdn'
nent and In every way unt succos5 was o6ained and
when thal opalnsd % aid MN here or Perhap. y
sould be Of great value which di. T6ste was ire
o-show TO whom. A.-vanous members OF the Ad
nihstrstion~to counteraet lie Of otns
banking houses aqd otner agencies .,
MSm9sT: q ,s cfPns BoG,ssli ,nn.n,Ss vas one
BRUSHING Up MS MEMORY.
Q-Do you remember comforting with any other mem
per Of the Administration or memofrs Of the House
ssass st,n .n S'i' ne h rs '0
mHetwern tns contract s1d re aseneyI Al con
great nu 20 = WIN senators Anthoay, prague Pome
.oH !ssessdys SSE rrsa, 9!s;s' i% n
cs"s E' A sao'5.r @ Tine could hass nfty o6ers i - All
%tness!sasrman Of ONO. Wade, ei.vice President