The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-24
WASHINGTON.
COMMITTEES on war Department

WASHINGTON, March DE. NJ. Peck
was recalled and testified before the Com
mittee on Expenditures in the War De-
partment to-day that the post traders
were assessed for political purposes, and
that during the last Presidential canvass
he paid from $4,000 to s., 900. He thought
that he remitted the money to the chair
man OF the committee at Washington
He presumed they were asked to sub
scribe because they held the post trader:
ships under the Administration. de did
not consider they were obliged to pay, but
we're notified that contributions would be
acceptable. He thought that the amount
Of contributions from military posts was
designated in proportion 10 the number
Of troops there.
J.J. Fisher was recalled and testified
that the firm Of Evans d Co., post ira
ders, contributed money for political pur.
poses in pursuance OF request contained
in printed circular. He did not under.
stand that the contribution was compul.
sorry, but he thought 1t safer way to pay
the money apart from political consider.
ations.
Mr.. Evans testified that during the last
Presidential canvass he, in compliance
with circular, sent $500 to the Republic
can Executive Committee in Washington,
and had paid $3.50 to the same committee
within the last six months. He voted for
Lincoln for President against McClellan,
but was not now mixed up in politics. He
would not have paid the money II he had
not been called on to do so. He sent a
check for the money 10 Postmaster Ed
munds.
TESTIMONY OF Mr.. LEONARD.
E,G. Leonard, Of Cincinnati, testified
that he was in the hardware business with
the late Mr. Bower. The estate Of the de-
ceased was from S2S,000 to $4,000, iif-
teen thousand being for life insurance.
The money, he owed to Mrs. Bower as the
surviving partner was paid TO G. H. PEN
dleton as mutual friend to both parties,
and who was attorney for Mrs. Bowers.
Witness never heard what investment
was made Of the money. He knew G. ?.
Marsh, who at the time was in Cincinnati,
but had no connection with the transac-
ton. Marsh said he was glad to hear
that the widow came out so nicely in her
business.
John Fletcher, OF indianapolis, testi-
fled that in 1871 lie made an application
for the post-tradership at Fort Dodge.
He had an interview with the Secretary
Of War, but was told that the position
had been promised. His testimony was
not important.
Lieutenant Colonel McCook testified
that he believed the Secretary of War or
some middle man had been selling post
traderships. This was matter Of COM
mon conversation at the Western posts.
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Ex-senator Stewart resumed his testi-
mony, sdying, on his return from Paris to
London, he met Gen. Schenck, who stated
to him that he had concluded TO become
a director in the Emma Mine Company,
not thinking that there was any impro-
priety in doing 80, for the reason that at
that time the Minister Of Portugal, one Of
the Oldest and most respected diplomat
lists was President Of Tram Way Com
pany, and also vender OF the stock.
Witness said he had no reason TO believe
that Gen. Schenck knew before he be-
came director that Albert Grant was to
receive one hundred thousand pounds for
being the promoter OF the scheme. Mr..
Stewart said that Park bought fifty thous-
and dollars worth of Canada Southern
and Utah Central bonds for Mrs. Stewart.
The bonds to his wife, the cash paid him
from time to time, the large sums paid,
&C., with a check for $4,000 or $4,000
in settlemant made, were, as near as he
could get at it, S270,000.
Mr.. Stewart presented large number
Of letters, which were placed on file, from
Lyon to Thomas Almy, Salt Lake. Some
OF them relate to the proceedings OF Lyon
10 secure the removal Of Judge Mexican.
Lyon explains his plans for making
raid on the judges, and informs Almy that
il he can get proper evidence he will have
them removed, and that he has employed
Noah Davis, OF New York, and Senator
Conkling and Senator Stewart, and that
he could have Col. Patrick removed II he
desired.
TIE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Attorney.General Pierrepont was be-
fore the Judiciary Committee to-day in
regard to executive interference with the
late crooked whisky trials in the West.
Mr.. Pierrepont's account OF his circular
letter to the District Attorneys is that
the President was very much disturbed
at the constant receipt Of newspaper slips,
letters and personal statements giving
information Of attempts on the part Of
Government officials in the West TO com.
promise frauds on the revenue, and that
the President spoke to him on FIVE or six
different occasions, expressing his fear
that such things, il allowed, would bring
scandal on the administration. Pierrepont
himself was rather inclined TO treat these
statements as exaggerations and did not
believe that the District Attorneys or the
special counsel Of the government would
be guilty Of anything improper in the
matter. He had therefore rather warded
off the Presidents advances, until, final
ly, the President suggested that the At
torney General had better write to the
District Attorney on the subject. Pierre
pont had therefore prepared and forward
ed letter, couched, as he said, in terms
that were rather tame. Nobody had
made or suggested draught Of this let
ter, and he had not submitted it to the
President; in fact the President knew
nothing OF it for three or four days
afterwards, when he asked Pierrepont
whether he had taken any action in the
matter, and lie told him he had written
this letter, and he sent him copy oft,
A couple Of days afterwards, on discover
ing that the letter had been published in
the Chicago papers on the lst OF Februa.
ry, himself and Mr.. Bristow expressed
great indignation in the presence Of the
President at the gross impropriety OF
giving publicity to 1t, and then the Pres.
ident, who did not manifest any feeling
whatever on the subject, remarked that
he had never read the letter. Mr.. Pierre
pontfurther stated that General BAbcock
admitted to him on March Sd that he was
instrumental in giving publicity to the
letter, and defended himself on the ground