New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-15

10 Ino t"o Witnesses VINO prece0e0 MN. !s
Democrat
Mr.. C0nger-All over.
Answer-All over
Mr.. Conger hoped the witness would not
continue 90.
To Mr.. New-Tha reputation of federal
ohciHle in the city has been generally good.
Albert Baldwin sworn-Has been a resi-
dent of New Orleans for the past nineteen
years; is . merchant; the business of his
house in its transactions with the Custom
house has been conducted promptly and
courteously by TIE officials-entirely salts.
factory; believes the interest of the govern
ment has been properly attended to; never
heard any thing from other business men Of
The city derOgatory to the business man
agement of the Customhouse.
To Mr.. New-Simply refers to the buei-
ness relations of himself and others.
To Mr.. Reilly-There was one instance
where o subordinate was reported. which
was rectified promptly.
To Mr.. Conger-Is now in the hardware
business; was formerly in the dry goods
business; imported considerably; every thing
was always satisfactory except the case re-
ferred to.
Lambert B. Cain, to Mr.. Conger-Have
been importer of foreign goods for twenty
years; have called at the CustomhOuse
daily; have no complaint to make; no
obstacle has been placed in the way OF i'm
porters in transacting their business accord
ing to law; don't suppose that there is q
house in the city now or for the last fifteen
years that has imported more than his.
Ferdinand DetOnnier sworn, to Mr.
Conger-Is an importer of leather; has had
business frequently with the CustOmhOuse,
which has been transacted promptly and
properly.
C. l.. Walker, Esq, attorney for Kur-
echeedt g. Bienvenu, desired to submit the
following sworn statement from j. u. Blen-
venu, Of that firm:
New ORLEANS, June IA, 1876.
To the Hon. z. L. Gibson Chairman an1 the Mem
bers Of the Congressional Committee:
GENTLEMEN-The name of our firm hav-
ing, in the course of the Investigations OF
your committee, been brought in and made
the subject Of rome discussion, we desire,
in justice to ourselves, to present brief
statement of the nature and extent OF our
business trsnsactiOns with the building and
construction department of the New Or
leans CustomhOuse.
During the month of May, lS73 at the re.
quest OF Mr.. j. F. Morse, representing him
self to be the agent of Learnard, Fisher &
Co.. we entered into Q contract with that
firm to perform certain work in the interior
of the building, the which contract is as
fOllowe:
whereas The undersigned. J. F. Morse, super
inte 1denr of the New Orl ans CustOmhOuee. has
been duly authorized by Learnard Fisher Co..
Of New York. cont tractors for tuting the columns
to organize srd employ . force Of worknen to 90
authority conferred BY said contractors. hereby
'"lhe said Kursheedt & Bienvenu, on their part
agree to put q cempet<nt foreman upon the work,
IS
marble cutters on said dutin2. at 81 per day, T.
ten hours labor and the said Morse, on his pant
Bienvenu u the rate Of wages above specified at
or near the close OF each month from the time OF
sas MoPss .bai 20 e baTe the right for cause to d
charge the foreman or any OF the men employ cd
on the work.
krksMss1E ( +; Mss5F' suRsIiStsRstn'' : EissSEsr
Few Orleans, May l6, 1879.
Under this contract, and on these terms,
the work was commenced and continued at
irregular intervals until October, 1874,
when, owing to the general reduction in
go as to allow us only $3 for each employe
furnished by us.
This was the only contract had by US for
work in the CustOmh0use, with the excep-
ton hereinafter mentioned. 1t was not a
contract with the government, nor with any
official or employe of the Cusromhouse, but
was simply q contract between us and Lear
nard; Fisher & Co., Of New York, who are
understood as controlling exclusively the
right to do the work under come contract
dating az far back as l849, though of it's
terms We know nothing.
Under the above contract was done all
the work, except in one other transaction,
which was the laying of the paving in the
halls or c>rridOre, for which we contracted
directly with the construction department at
so much per foot, for which We we're paid a
e.: 4 r,olA vryh; oh h pNt
any rebate, dis count or divide of any kind,
and was in every way strictly legitimate,
as was our other work and transactions un-
der the contract with Learnard, Fisher &
Co.
With the exception of the foregoing paw
ing contract, for which We were paid upon
voucher, We have never received for our
labor or workmen furnished or employed,
any money from any person other than
our principals, and as the only parties, ow-
ing TO their right under some pre-existing
contract, whom we could deal with or look
to.
The money due tn US for the work was
paid by Learnard, Fisher & Co, as the bills
and pay rolls were forwarded to them, con-
cerning which we submit the folio wing
letter as indicative of the character and
nature OF the business and correspondence:
NEW YORK, May l6 1874
GENT IEaRN-I am this morning in receipt of ad.
vice nom Colorel Morse, superintendent etc, that
you ara willing to 60 on with the work on the
columns etc in accordance with the terms stated
in my letter to you of the first Instant You wall
please commence soon as he desires yen to. and
aop yGu S VIII no1 b nremDv 70 to-
when the appropriation is svAilabe and we are IN
receipt Of The vouchers to collect it. hope agree
ably to my request Of last week, the department
will ask the Senate committee en- appropriation to
amend IL deficiency bill now before them by the
in the New orleans Customhouse, which / hope
will give us the M ney at An early day. We have
sent and delivered very expensive end % we
think very well finished marble counter to the
Custt mhOuse for which the superintendent is to
fix the price at New Orleans rates.
If,o1 can sjd him and US in determining the
value you will o0se yours very 2 P1eiBIffxeotisSy Bfxos
For Ii armand, Fisher Co.
The men employed by us all received every
cent OF the price at which we employed OF
agreed to pay them, and we ourselves re-
ceived no other nor greater compensation
than the price stipulated in the foregoing
contract, and we have never paid or given
any consideration, nor allowed any rebate
discount or divide for or with any of the
officials or any person whomsoever.
Some few months since, just previous to
afidavits being made against US by certain
of the workmen who have testified before
the committee, propositions were made te
Withdraw the charges against our firm, but
conscious of having done NO wrong, and
that as far as we were concerned the trans
actions were in every way honest and
proper, We declined the proposition.
Reepectfully, etc,
KURSHEEDT & BIENVENU.
By j. G.. Bienvenu.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, thu
fourteenth day of June, 1876.
WILLIAM H. HOLMES.
| Second Justice of the Peace, Parish of Or