The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-22
General Smashing of Pendleton,s
CrOckcry.
- lWaShingtOn Snecial March Ia 4 $500

|
The history of the celebrated Ken
lucky Railroad claim rejected by Secre-
tary Stanton and paid over by Secretary
Belknap, as told by George II. Pendlcton
and Senator Stevenson to the committee
on expenditures of the War Department
to-day, IS very interesting one. While
no evidence of corruption IN connection
with ITS payment has thus far been found,
and while all those who have thus far
testified, positively deny that any money
was paid to Belknap, Mrs. Bowers, or
any one else, it illustrates very forcibly
the l'npoilcy Of practice rarely INDUCED
IN by heads OF departments, and always
considered rather irregular. of opening
ola cases which have been adjudicated by
their predecessors. Only three.fifths OF
the road was during the war
! OWNED BIZ MIR BOWLER,
who, according to Senator Stevenson. re-.
marked previous to his death that he
would sell his interest in the claim in
question for tive cents on the dollar. and
none OF those interested ever expected
that 1t would he paid. Senator Steven
son testified that they all considered
what they got as clear gain In 1870,
Pendl eton, having in the meantime be.
come executor of the estate of Bowler.
late President of the road, made a con-
tract with those who owned the road to
undertake the collection of the claim for
A CONTINGENT FEE OF so PER CENT.
This contract, which is very peculiar
one, considering Mr.. Pendleton's rela-
tons to the owners Of the claim, has
caused great deal of remark since he
made its terms known in his testimony
20 day. In the first place, as executor
OF the Bowler estate, he represents
| three'fifths interest in the claim. and in
MS capacity as executor, was Of course
legally and morally bound to do every
th!ng IN his power to secure its payment.
AS president of tie road, also, he repre-.
sentcd the entire interest in the claim,
and, IN consideration of his salary of
$o'oOO year, was again legally bound to
protect and promote the interests of the
company In every way he could. Hold
ing these positions, he
MADE CONTRACT WITH HIMSELF
to collect the claim which he was bound
to try to collect without fee, and the con.
dltlon Of the contract was that he should
have 50per cent of all he collected. None
OF the partners made any objection 20
this arrangement, and the fact showed
how much they valued their claim. The
preliminary work Of preparing papers in
the case had already been done by Ran
som, who, Pendleten says, had spent sew
erai years in Washington attempting to
secure its payment. Pendleton's service
consisted in seeing the Secretary of War
and inducing him to submit the case once
more to the Quartermaster General, and.
after he had reported adversely upon it,
again to write two or three arguments in
its favor. Finally it was turned over to
the Assistant Judge Advocate General,
and, on his favorable report, was approved
by Secretary Belknap and paid. Pendle-
ton said:
Question by Mr.. Bass. AS understand
IN general terms, you, as administrator Of
the Bowler estate, owned three tifths of
this road! A. In general terms.
Q. And your administration was for
the benefit of infantse A. Yes, sir.
e. And you, as administrator, made a
contract with yourself, as the president
Of the road, by which you received $780,.
900 and the Bowler estate received three.
fifths, or $4,000? A. No, sir; 1 did
not make it with myself.
Z. How was that done? A. Because
! consulted MIR. Bowler, my nephew, who
was one of the heirs, and entitled to his
full share, and consulted my sister,
Mrs. Bowler, who had her interest.
Z. Yes; but there were two 1nfants;
who represented them except yourself?
A. Well, as far as they were represent.
ed, their mother and their brother aud I
represented them.
was not assumed.
Q. ltwas assumed that they would
not object to this when they became of
age? A. Yes, sir. I don't think they
will object to it.
@. Then that is the fact, that as ad-
m'nistrator, representing three fths Of
the road, you made a contract with YOUR
self, as president of the road, to perform
these services : A. Imadc the contract
just as have stated it to you.
@. Out Of which you realized $50, 1000,
as understand ? A. Yes, sir; at least
$4,000.
1t was sorry day for George H. PEN
dleton. The story that he told to-day
will no doubt
TERMINATE HIS PUBLIC POLITICAL CAREER.
In and out of Congress here there is
but one opinion as to the conduct of Gen.
tleman George. Belknap is not impeach-
ed, but the candidacy of George H. Pen
dleton for the Presidency is ended.
The sentiment tonight is strongly ad-
verse to him. His conduct under the
most favorable view was that of very
sharp claim agent, even though it was
not directly dishonest. Admitting Pen
dleton's questionable conduct. however,