Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-17
President Grants Brother Or.
willie ON the Witness SfnuN.

on expenditure in the War Department,
Friday afternoon, and his testimony show
ed that he was interested in post-trader-
ships. He gave particulars Of his tran
sactions in that connection, and was cross
examined.
EXPENDITURES INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Orville M. Grant, brother of Presi-
dent Grant, having been sworn, testified
that he had never, at any time. either
orally or III writing, had any authority
from Belknap in relation to post-trader-
ships In the army, and that he never, di-
rectly or Indirectly, exercised through
others, control over such traderships, but
he thought he was instrumental in obtain
ing post suUlership for man appointed
at Fort Stevens. He was not interested
with any parties who obtained appoint
ments to post-traderships from the Secre-
tary of war;.
On being asked whether he was directly
or indirectly interested in contracts under
the Indian Department, he said he was,
and that he obtained the post on his own
account from Commissioner Smith, his ap-
plcatlon having been made in September,
1874. The witness admitted that he had
received letter from the President in reply
to his application for trading post at
Fort Peck, which was favorable, but he
thought he had destroyed that letter. The
President notified him that there would
be vacancy at Fort Peck. If he had not
knoWn there was to be u vacancy he would
not have made the application. He thought
the President specified Fort Peck, Fort
BelkHap and Standing Rock as places to
become vacant, and he applied for these
places in pursuance of knowledge given to
him..by the President.
flf,, two tot;
which the witness had any interest. In
1874 he became interested in Fort Peck
and Standing Rock. Originally Jacob R.
Castle berry and himself run the establish
ment at Fort Peck. The witness put in
$4,000. He thought the stock was worth
about $13 600. A. L. Bonnaffon afterwards
became concerned. The witness thought
OF putting in only one-slxth of the capital
stock; divided the profits, all the money
invested being borrowed at 7 per cent. and
for one-half of which he was responsible.
The witness thought he had taken out of
the concern about 81 100. AS to the Stand
ing Rock leadership he was joined by
Joseph Layton. The witness was a half
| partner though he never put in anything.
| $25 900 was invested there, but the contract
! never really went into effect. He was not
only not required to furnish capital,
| but not required to go out to attend to any
J
Felt, at White Earth. in procuring post,
but he never received any consideration
| for it. Felt told him he would give him
| an interest, but he did not want or expect
! las he could not afford to take any risks
| This was last fall. The witness assisted
man named Conrad, of the firm Of Baker
Il Co., at Fort Belknap. He had always
felt grateful to his brother 1.-THE Presidency
| for his influence in procuring the office.
n tn wifi coi6
| he had influence aUitb the President to manage
| such matters to some extent, although he
did not always find the matters to be
| profitable. On cross examination the wit
| ness said Bonnaffon advanced S13 900, the
| witness borrowing Of this, 900 and Cas-
| selberry an equal amount. There had
| been no settlement in the division of
| profits. Bonnaffon was represented to the
amount OF SO, 1000 The witness said he had
| not pressed the appointment of traders on
| the attention Of the President. He pro-
| cured the offices from the commissioner of
Indian affairs, after seeing the Secretary
! of the Interior. He did not think
| that he put any papers on file, and
| did not know whether the President
| interceded with the commissioner OF
secretary for him. He did says to
a Philadelphia reporter that he had
| much influence with his brother, the Pres
letter as to traderships the President stated
| there aoere some vacdncies, because he had
| told him he would like to get a trading
| post. He obtained a leadership at Fort
| Berthold, but as his partner, Raymond,
| wished to remain, the witness Withdrew,
drawing from Raymond about $1,000
Neither the President nor the Secretary of
| the Interior had the slightest knowledge of
the fact of his receiving the money.
Comments by the Batimore SUM-
Among the many illustrations heretofore
afforded of this character of administra-
ton, (''Grantism'0 none is more striking
than that afforded by the apparently some
what candid testimony OF Oryille Grant,
the brother of the President, before two of
the congressional investigating commit
tees the other day. This Mr.. Orville Grant
does not figure to much advantage in his
examination, either to himself or the Pres
ident. E[e comedies that he obtained pla-
ces for others, and that he had said to q
Philadelphia reporter that che had much
influence with his brother, the President"
Although he could manage certain matters
to some extent che did not always find the
matters to be profitable" 1t is to be in
ferred from this language that if not al
ways they sometimes were so, and possibly
on such occasions the profits were suffici-
ent to make up the shortcomings III others.
The President was also kind enough to let
him know of vacant positions which he
might obtain, which certainly showed a
considerable and fraternal spirit. He adj
mitted that the President wrote him a let
ter on one occasion informing him that the
traderships &C Fort Peck, Fort Belknap
and Standing Rock were about to become
vacant, and on this information he was
lucky enough to secure all three. Further
questioning extorted the. admission that
he had also procured the place at White
Earth for a friend, who had promised him
had importuned his brother, the President
for such positions, but usually obtained
them direct from Indian Commissioner
Smith after seeing Secretary Delano. The
three first named posts, as to which the
President had given him such timely in
formation, appear to be run on the part
nership plan, Orville putting in share of
the capital in the same fashion that |
Schenck bought stock of The Emma Mine
never put in anything, though he shares |
equally with the man who runs the bust
ness. He was not only not required to
furnish capital, but not required to go out |
to attend to any business. We can,scarce-
ly imagine more comfortable situation. |
In other cases he said he borrowed part Of |
the capital. On the whole he must have
had free swing in the disposal of trader
ships under the Indian bureau, and was
also "a solicitor in business at the rate of |
5000 a month"; for Basshor q Co., of this
city. his solicitorship being connected with
both the government and private parties. |
Notwithstanding he had been doing so
good a business, he does not seem to be |
altogether happy in his mind; says he has |
been maligned in the newspapers, and |
wants all his acts to be investigated TAT |
kl-,4 I, !, ,J.,
some peace" 1t is to be hoped this rea-
sonahle request will be granted. "Let |