The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-14
SENATOR SPENCER.
why He Tried To Get Chief Clerk Mcl.rew
sent OFT To J8Dnu.

| Washington Special to tho Cincinnati Gazette.
Senator Spencer took very active
part in the attempt to prevent the con.
lirmation Of Mr.. J. w McGrew, of Ohio
as sixth auditor. The story of his cam
paign and its results has several points
of interest. Mr.. Spencer filed written
charges with tho Finance Committed
against McGrew, and was summoned
before the committee to testify in sup
port Of them.
The principal charge was that in Jan
uary, 1871, at the time whom the Choir
penning claim was pending in the Post
office Department, McGrcw, who was
then chief clerk OF the sixth auditors
Office, sent q third party to Spencer with
q corrupt proposition, viz: that Spen-
Ger should induce Martin, then sixth
auditor, and an appointee of Spencer
to hold up the Chorpenning claim, with
q view to laying black-mail upon Choir
penning, for which service the third
party agreed to pay Spencer $4,000,
taking the same for himself. Spencer
testified that McGrew admitted this to
him in conversation in the Office Of
the latter, at the time mentioned; that
from that time he had no doubt of Nc
Crews dishonesty, and that he at once
notified Martin, the auditor, and Gov
Boutwell,, then Secretary of the Treas
ury, Of the admission made by McGrew,
and requested his immediate removal
from office as a corrupt and dishonest
official Subsequently he stated that he
had also advised Mr.. Bristow, the pres
ent Secretary, OF McGrew's, dishonest
proposition, and requested his removal.
Unfortunately for Spencer, Mr.. Bout
well was q member OF the Finance Com
mittee, and was present when Spencer
YnuIn hIG Gfafnn1nnf Mr.
promptly and emphatically denied that
Spencer had ever made such a state
ment to him. Judge Martin followed
suit, and stated positively that Spencer
had not made to him any such commu-
nication. Secretary Bristow wrote a
letter" to the committee making SIM
liar denial. McGrew testified that no
such conversation took place between
himself and Spencer.
The most decided and ludicrous set
back to Spencer, however, was the pro-
duction by McGrew Of a letter written
by Spencer nearly a year. after the
alleged congregation, introducing Me-
Grew to Mr.. Mort, the Japanese en-
bassador Upon being asked how he
could write such a letter, after being
satisfied for nearly year that McGrew
was corrupt and dishonest, he replied
HE thought it would be good method
of getting rid Of McGrew, by giving him
such a letter as would induce the Japan
ese ambassador to take him to Japanr'
The letter is as follows:
''UNTED STATES SENATE, WASHINGTON,
D. c., Nov. II, 1S71.-Sir:: l take the
liberty OF presenting the Hon. J. w.
McGrew, Chief Clerk Of the Sixth Audi
tors Office, for the United States Post
office Department.
II embrace this occasion to say to you
that Mr.. McGrew is the most thorough
and accomplished officer in our Govern
ment, in postal and postal revenue az
fairs, his bureau being the only one
which disburses money Independently
If the supervision Of the controllers Of
The Treasury.
''He will explain the workings and
ninutin Of our Government postal ser.
vice, its plans, operations, sources Of
'cvenue, system Of accounts, ETC., which |