The Morning herald., 1876-04-25
RRIsTOW ON HIS AETTkE.

pRIsTOw ON his MErTLE.
Hs 1xsmiuaa -Osnsrsssnaaa Qaee-A
J - Lively CFess-Exsminatien
~ American Press Association.
WASHINGTON, April M.-The Commit
tee on Expenditures of the Treasury De-
partment this morning took up the resolu-
ton charging Secretary Bristow with NAL
feasance Ia the mhtter of the release OF the
bark "Msry Merritt"
The full committee was present - Mr.
Ely, of New York, presided. Mx: :rGaee sof
Wisconsin, who offered the 'resolnsio0s las
well as Secretary Bristow was present. The
latter says he intends to be present at every
session Of the committee to meet every ac-
cusation made against him. The commit
tee did not propose to 60 into an investiga-
ton this morning, but asked Mr.. Cato to
furnish the names of the witnesses by whom
he expected to substantiate his charges.
He gave the nsmesof II. a.. CM;tepden,
+ E. K. Johnston, D: E..Weiss and Levi Hub
bell, all OF Milwaukee.
Secretary Bristow inquired whether Mr.!
Cate had conversed with any other person
in relation to the matter, either here or
elsewhere, to which he replied that he bad
had conversation with number of persons
besides those named The Secretary also
wanted to know who bad assisted Mr.. Cate
/ in the preparation of the resolutions. The
latter declined to answer, stating that he
had offered 1t. upon his own responsibility
as member of Congress. His only con-
sultation here Was with reference to the
proper form of preparing the resolution
Mr.. Bright, Of Tennessse,se member OF the
committees, approved of Mr.. Gates objec-
tion to answering questions as proposed.
Mr.. Cate said the release Of the forfeit
ure of the bark was a subject of common
discussion in Wisconsin.
Mr.. Bristow-W Who did you ever hear talk
about it in your districts
Mr.. Cate-Milwaukee, where this thing
occurred, is not in my district.
Mr. BristOw-I am aware of that. Now,
did you ever hear any one oatside OF Mil
waukee district discuss that question? a.
Mr. Cate-I did not particularly.
Mr.. Bristow-Do you know Mr.. Murphy,
of Milwaukee, and did you ever talk to him
on the subject?
Mr.. Cate-I never did.
Mr.. Bristow-Who did you then talk
| with?
| The committee here INDUCED in discus
sion as to the propriety of asking these
questions, and they decided that Mr.. Cate
had given names Of witnesses by whom he
expected to prove the charges and that
more could not be demanded Of him.
Mr.. Bristow said he had no concealmeuts
to make as to his object in asking these
questions. He wanted to show the Whisky
Ring was at the bottom of the matter, and
the ring was using the House of Represen-
tatives as cats paw to prosecute him and
smirch his character because, as public
officer, he had prosecuted them. He be-
lieved he could show that when it was said
that the people Of Wisconsin had been
talking of this matter, it meant only the
Whisky Ring of Milwaukee.
Mr.. Hartzell, Ills, stated that that could
not possibly have anything to DO with the
question. Mr.. Cate had probably cause tc
offer his resolutions; it mattered not to him
whether witnesses were members of whisky
ring or not, if they told the truth it was all
right whether they were members of the
ring or not; if the Secretary was not guilty
it could be shown, if guilty it did not mat
ter by whom the fact was proven, so long
as the witnesses told the truth.
Mr.. Cate said so far as, he knew The
Whiskey Ring had no connection whatever
with these charges.
Mr.. Bristow said he supposed it would
be competent for him to show that thi
whole thing was conspiracy, and that i
was an attempt to smirch the character o
an officer Of the Government. He mean
no disrespect to Mr.. Cate or any member 0
the Committee in saying this. He desire'
to state further that the statement pnb
lished this morning that he had refused t.
produce the papers in the case was untrue
He would withhold no papers bearing o.
= this case. He then requested that the fol
lowing witnesses be summoned on hi
r behalf:
: Samuel Lyman, of Treasurer's office
y Assistant Secretary, G. M. Conant; Solicito
e Wilson and Mr.. Robinson, Assistant Solic
!. tor Walter Evans, of Louisville, KY, job
q Keland, of Hopkinsvile, KY, aud the Me-
It srs. Price, Of Hopkinsville.
n y& THE WITNESSES SUMMONED.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, April M.-Telegrapl
: ic subpenas have been received, calling {
> E. Weiss, ex-Deputy Collector E. r. Johl
son and other parties as witnesses in tt
;. Mary Merritt case and requiring the
" presence in Washington. The testimony
e witnesses will, it is said, generally be favo
- able 10 Brtstow. Weiss procured his mole
!. in the case and johnson was one of Il
~ counsel for the owners of the bark Ma
Merritt.
IS
ID Washington Notes.
Is American Press Association.