Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-14
The War Department Investigation.
Hon. George E. PendIeton as a WitRess.
How He Got Half OF eI4s 600 for Col.
Letting 1t and Dldn't Divide.

How He Got Half OF sI4s 600 for Col.
lectfng IL and Didn't Divide.
The Committee on Expenditures in the
War department met this morning.
DIR. A. +. Terry, who was examined yes.
terday was recalled, and testifei that he
was summoned on Thursday las. to ATTEND
the committee. Witness had tele Zraphed
Peck, of Durfee & Peck, to wait at Keokuk,
Iowa, until he received a subpoena from the
committee Heard last mig ht that Peck was
In New York. He generally stops at the
Metropolitan hotel there-when PECK comes
here he always stops at Willard's.
just as Mr. Clymer was preparing tee-
graphic subpoena for Peck, he received a
telegram from him stating that be would be
here on the 18th.
HON. GEORGE f. PENDLEToN
testified that he has been president of the
Kentucky Central railroad since Dece IL her.
go. When he took the position of president
of the road, he found that there was large
claim against the government. The road
formerly belonged 10 Mr.. Robert Bowler, of
Cincinnati, who was his brother in-law.
witness was previous to that a director of
The road, and on account of the death of his
brother in-law, he assumed the presidency of
The road. so as to settle up its affairs. After
giving statement as to the condition of the
road when he took IL, he said that he found
that the claim was for transporting troops,
supplies, &c, and was for q difference above
the amount allowed for the same by the gov
eminent Went to see Governor Stevenson
about the claim, who told him that il had
been hanging on for long time, and that
FIFTY PER CENT. WOULD BE GIVEN
ID any , one VINO would lake IL ard have 1T
teTested In il, and made an arrangement by
which he was TO receive one half of all he
eolleeted: LOGGED at the papers and by
'G2 or 3; the allowance was for Si4S, 900. Wit
ness prepared the claim and presented it TO
General Dunn, with whom he (witness) had
great quantity of CORES pondence, which
he suppOses is now on die. The claim was
reported by General Dunn favorably, and
passed the War Department. Witness after
wards got draft and then received the
money from Mr.. Boutwell,, who was then
Secretary OF the Treasury.
TOOK ALL THE swAG HIMsELF-DIDN'r
DIVIDE.
Never paid the Secretary of War, Gene
raj Belknap, one dollar in any way to
have the claims passed, and never agreed
10 pay him any sum. The claim was for
the difference above what had been paid
ard the regular tariff rate, less ten per cent.
Can't explain why less than the tariff rates
were charged. The Baltimore and Ohio and
Louisville and Nashville railroads were paid
their full tariff rates. If witness had had
the preparation OF the claim he would have
put IL for the full amount. The claim had
been offered to others before witness took it.
Had PERSONAL
INTERVIEW WITH THE SECRETARY OF WAR
% half an hour, when he stated TO him in
brief the case. The Secretary sent for Gen.
Dunn, and said TO him "Here is claim that
Mr.. PendletOn presents which is referred to
you" Went then 10 Gen. Duun's room, and
afterwards saw him several times. Most all
the business he had with Gen. Dunn was In
writing. The claim had been before Sscre-
tary stanton and Secretary Rawlins. Ithad
also been before Gen. Meigs. Each of these
declined to pay the claim as filed This wit
ness learned from others, not from personal
knowledge. Don't know why the quarter
master general reported against the claim.
Witness put il al argument opposing the
decision OF the quartermaster general, and
upon which Gen. Dunn made his decision.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO WAS INTERESTED
IN the claim in any way with witness was
Mr.. a. III. Ransom, who was a clerk In the
office of the road. He rendered services in
making up the accounts on which the claim
was based. The owners OF the claim made an
additional allowance TO witness, SO that he
could pay Mr. Ransom, His impression is
that the Bowler estate, OF which witness Is
the administrator, had three nth Interest
in the claim. the rest being owned by Messr-.
Stevenson, Frost, Keafe, aud others. The
contract that witness had with the owners of
The claim was merely verbal one, not hav-
n been reduced 10 writing. No one except
Mr.. Ransom assisted witness in any way in
getting the claim through.
BY Mr.. Robbins.-The allowance was made
by Gen. Dunn, Assistant Judge Advocate;
never gave Gen. Dunn or any other official
any money in connection with the claim.
THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND HIS FAMILY
NOT IMPi ICArtD
By Mr.. BlackOurn.-There was no hing in
the claim that would implicate the Secre-
tary OF War or any ofhis family In any way.
By Mr.. Danford.-The claim had been pre-
scented several times and had been rejected.
Had no knowledge that 1t had ever been
presented to Secretary Rawlins, though the
papers may show that ii had. Had no know
ledge that Gen. Hall ever reported the
case. Did notreQuest Secretary Belknap to
refer the claim to Gen. Dunn. Had a copy of
the decision of Gen. Meigs refusing the
claim and opposed that decision in a writ
ten argument that he filed before Gen. Dunn.
Think that the original rejection of the
claim by Gen. Melgs was based on the
ground that it had been before the War de-
partment and had been rejected, and that the
Kentucky railroad was entitled to the claim
as the government had been to the expense
10 change the gauge OF the road. Told Gen.
Meigs that he was mistaken about IL, and
that the gauge OF the road had never been
changed, and presented proof of this to him.
The government may have re.erectet some
OF the bridges along the road, but don't think
that there was any charge for bridges in the
claim. Cannot remember distinctly, as 1t
has been some years since he transacted the
business. The claim was paid in June, 1871
Think that he paid Ransom $4,000 for his
services In connection with the claim.
MRS. BOWERS
went to Europe in ~. On the day the claim
was paid, or soon thereafter, witness started
for Europe, to meet his wife, two daughters,
adopted daughter, and son, who were then in
Europe. His family had just gone to Rome
at the time Witness has gone to Europe
every year except the last four or five years.
His family reside there. Never paid any
compensation to any one to assist In get ting
the claim through.
WITH HIMSELF.
Mr.. Bass.-As administrator Of the Bowler
estate, and as president OF the road, you
made contract with yourself by which you
were to be paid 80 per cent for the collection
OF this claim?
Mr.. Pendleton.-There were others inter
ested.
Mr. Bass.-who were they?
Mr.. Professionally sister, her son and two
younger children.
Mr.. Bass-You got 50 per cent. for collect
ing this claim, your salary as president OF
the rC ad, and three fifths of the balance as
administrator OF your brother in-law's es-
tate?
Mr.. Pendleton.-I did.
Mr. GLNMER
said by permission of the committee he would
ask few questions personal to himself
witness never saw Mr.. Clymer In Europe,
and never bad any conversation with any
member of this committee in relation to his
examination. The newspaper statements to
that effect he pronounced Infamous false
hoods.