The Portland daily press., 1876-03-10
THE POST TRADERSHIpS.

The Testimony Before the Committee ON
Expenditures i'm the War Department.
What Orville Grant Knows About
Them.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-John Lawrence of
Yankton, Dakota, was before the committee on
expenditures in the war department, and testi.
fled that he had no knowledge of any agree
ment between post traders and other persons
Charges having been preferred against post
traders at Fort Randall, witness called on
Secretary Belknap, saying if there was to be
any change he should like to be an applicant.
The Secretary said the matter had been COM
promised. He had asked Orville Grant to give
him position, but Grant said he had ali the
employees he wished. He thought Orville
Grant controlled the post-traderships above
Standing Rock, and that he was the person
to whom applications must be made for con-
tracts.
Orville Grant testified before the House
Committee on Expenditures of the War De-
partment today that he only got one sutler.
ship for man at Fort Stevenson, but denied
that he was ever interested with Durfee and
Peck or anybody else in procuring post-trader-
ships or suttershps, but he was interested n
the Indian trading posts at Standing Rock and
at Fort Peck. He had third interest in that
at Standing Rock and put in $4,000 He
thought the value of the capital stock was
about $4,000. and when asked how it was that
he got one-third Of the profits and only put in
one-sixth of the capital, he said the money was
originally borrowed and he was responsible for
1t. The other partners were Casseloury and
Bonnafon of Philadelphia. From 1874 till 1876
they carried on the business under the name of
j. i. Casselbury. Bolnafon was not partner
until January, 1876 and loaned to him and
Casselbury the $4,000. He could not state
what the profits had been, and when asked
how much a. ne e.. had drawn out in those two
out anything" and then corrected himself, say
ing he ha I, and after considerable hesitation he
remembered that it was $110O.
He was interested with Leighton in the In
dian post at Fort Peck and was a full half
partner, although he (Grant) had put in no
money whatever. Leighton was to furnish all
the capital aDd he (Grant) was to get the post,
which he did through Indian Commissioner
Smith. Grant did not remember having writ.
ten letter to the President applying for
post, but he did remember receiving two let
tiers from the President, the first saying that no
more traderships would be given out until fur
Their orders, and the second that there were
some vacancies, and then he got the two posts,
but he paid nobody any money for them. He
drew $4,000 from Leighton as his share of the
profits until Leighton informed him that he
was loosing money. He also drew $1,000 from
Mr.. Raymond at Fort Berthold, bnt was no
farther. Grant was promised the post by In
dian Commissioner Smith, and he got this ST.
900 in consideration of letting Raymond keep
the place.
Witness assisted Geo. W. Felt at White
Earth in procuring post, but he never receiv-
ed any consideration for it, Felt told him he
would give him an interest, but he did not
want or expect it. as he could not afford to
take any risks This was last fall. Witness
assisted man named Conrad, of the firm of
Baker & Co. at Fort Belknap. He had always
felt grateful to his brother (the Presideut) for
his influence in procuring the office. La reply
to question witness said he had influence
with the President to manage such matters to
some extent, although he did not always find
the matters profitable
On cross examination witness did not think
he put any papers on file and did not know
whether the President interceded with the COM
missioner or secretary for him. He did say to
Philadelphia reporter that be had much in
huence with his brother 1.-THE President Wit.
ness thought that in his letter as to trsderships
the President stated that there were some va
cancies because he had told him he would like
to get a trading post. Neither the President
nor the Secretary of the Interior had the slight
est knowledge of the fact of his receiving
money from Raymond.
He was asked whether he knew the firm OF
Bosher & Co. of Baltimore. He replied that
he did, being employed 10y che firm. This had
no connection with his Indian post in any
shape or form. He had appeared before the
naval committee and given a history of the
matter Having been asked in what capacity
he was employed by that firm he responded "a
solicitor in business at the rate of 5000 a
month He had been paid 5000 month.
He had been in their employ year and a
half. Basher & Co. wereengaged in the steam
heating business. His solicitorship was con-
nected not only with the government but with
private parties. He never obtained contract
from the war department but obtained a con-
tract from Gen. Myers of the quartermaster' Is
Department to the extent of only $500 or $500.
The Committee then adjcurnd till tomorrow.
Marsh REQUESTED to Return.
The committee have already communicated
with Marsh and requested him to come back,
now now that he is protected by the House bill,
but no answer has been received yet A men,
bsr of the committee gives it as his opinion,
however, that he will return before long. The
opinion is gaining that the Senate will concur
iu the bill and that the President will promptly
sign it, 1t is said that Evans has also been
subpened by tbs committee and will certainly
make clean breast of the whole transaction