New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-04
Especial Correspondence of the Republican,
FROM WASHINGTON. -

FROM WA9HlNGTONs Ca
The Democretic OK GereA . Little-Kerr's
Dewnfall-The Highest Omcer In the
Demecratic Party-Hew he Acted Us"
der the Observation-Disclosures Harvey,
his Accuser. Tells his Story and Sticks
to 1.-THE Lawyers car net Faze him
..I,n Take that Dleney. Harsey"-A
Review of the Times when Speaker
Kerr, q Bitter Democrat. Teok unto
his Bosom q Radical Republican
Summertime Lion and the Lamb Lie
Down Tegether-.I'n Have the Nsmi.
nation Made out To.day''-Harney's
character Assailed, but bis Reputation
Proves GsoA-Mr. kerr's Admirers.
the Democrats Generally, and soune
Republican,, Indulge In . Little senti.
mentality. t@
WARRINGTON, May 30, 1876.
1t was exceedingly warm in the room of
the Committee on Expenditures in the War
Department last Monday, and terribly hot
for that pure and incorruptible political fac.
ton known as the Democratic party. Speaker
Kerr, the chief of this ambitious organiza-
ton longing to rule the nation, was present
in person, and whether owing to physical
WcbkUcSS VG UuO UOH4AOA0 Uk4CAVoUIOO VI COXs
ruption concerning him, know not. but he
was visibly agitated. The room was
crowded with newspaper men and Demo
cratic Congressman, friends of Mr.. Kerr,
and number of newly fsdged employees of
the House, soung men who have no special
ly defined duties to attend to, who seemed
to be present ON this occasion to make light
of the statements of the witness, Lawrence
Hsrney, in his straightforws story, which
was clearly and respectfully told, and did
not differ in its essential points while un-
dergoing cross-exsminatien, and under fire
Of series Of questions put by . lawyer,
and of that nature, such - are usually put
in police magistrates offices and petty crlm-
iual courts. The witness, Lawrence Harvey.
came before the committee as any respectable
man would come and testified to what he
knew. There is no use for the friends of
Mr.. Kerr to attempt to belittle this witness
evidence and try to distort it and twist it
about, giving great prominence to the fact
that he did not remember who he boarded
with when he lived in Washington ten
years ago; whether he rung the bell or not
when he visited Speaker Kerr's house at
that period; whether Mr.. Kerr's room was
Q front or back room; who the witness vis-
tied ten years ago, and what were the dates
when such visits we're made. All this is
contemplate, and in justice to the lawyers
on the committee it is we'll to say that they
seemed heartily disgusted with such frivol-
60
points which needed to be drawn out, If
they could be drawn out, to disprove the
fearful accusations against Speaker Kerr.
There was the fact. Harney distinctly
one present that he desired to get his friend
Green appointed to Q second lieutenancy in
the United States army. He inquired
around among members of Congress-. and
found that the only member who had not
made q nomination for one of these places
was Mr.. Michael C. Kerr, now Speaker Of
the House of Representatives. He told Mr..
Kerr his business, asked him to get his
friend Green appointed, and he would pay
him for his trouble. Mr.. Kerr told Harvey
to call at his house and talk with him.
Harney did so. Mr.. Kerr, at his house,
in his own room, in the presence Of Harney,
said if the place was worth any thing it was
worth $500 Harney subsequently obtained
s4l0 from Green, all the latter could raise
then. The witness took $40 out of his own
pocket to make up 3450, which Mr.. Kerr
had consented to take. This deficit made
up by Harney wa2 subsequently re-
turned to him by Green through .
registered letter. Mr.. Kerr came to
Harney in one of the many out OF
the way places to the corridors of the
House of Representatives, and in that
crusty, precise and decisive way Of his,
said, "Harney, I'll take that money now"
Harney took the roll of billie, amounting to
$3.50, out of his pocket and handed it to
Mr.. Kerr, who put it in his pocket, saying
as he did so, II will 60 up to the War De-
partment at once and have the nomination
made out to-day" The nomination was
on file in the War Department shows that
Mr. Kerr claimed it as one of his own nom-
nations, and his own handwriting on file
shows that he directed the appointment of
Green to be sent to this appointee at New
York city. There was the story of the wit
ness Harney before the committee as to
how Green got the nomination. The Of
fetal records on file in the War Department
corroborate Harney's statement that Mr..
Kerr got Green the place. Green
himself had told the committee on
the Saturday previous that it was
through Mr.. Kerr that he received his ap.
pointment; that he raised $500, which he
was told was to pay Mr.. Kerr for his
trouble. Green, to be sure, says he don't
know whether Harvey really did pay the
money over to Mr.. Kerr or not. Harvey,
however, swears positively that he did 90.
Is not the balance of proof to the effect on
Hsrney's sidea Mr.. Kerr don't know Green
except by mere introduction. Green be-
longs in New York, is red hot Republican,
and did not deny his politics, even while
seeking his place. Mr.. Kerr at that time
was of the bitterest of Democrats the most
bitter. Exciting political discussions were
before the House. Tho civil war had not