Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-29
The Charge Against Speaker Kerr

The Committee on Expenditures In the
War department met this morning at eleven
O'Clock. Laurence Harvey, the important
witness, was in attendance. The commit
tee waited until twelve O'Clock for Speaker
Kerr bnt he not putting in an appearance,
O'Clock. Harvey looks 10 be about forty
Years of age, aud has a bright, intelligent.
looking face. He Was very much depressed
for want of sleep, not having lad any rest
The committee met at one o'cloc<, Speaker
Kerr being in attendance. He was accom-
pe MED by Hon. Scott Lord, of the House Ju
dietary Committee.
Laurence Hmney was sworn and testified
as folloWs:-Rssldes In New York city; No.
col 9th avenue; has resided there for eight
years; has DO present employment; resigned
in November last the position OF chief clerk
OF the stationery room in the appraisers Of
hee; in 1856 was employed as dOorkeeper In
The House of Representatives; knew Angus
tbs =. Green at that time; had known him
for thirty years; helped him to secure an
appointment in the army in the spring OF
friend l exerted myself to get him an ap-
pOintment.
q. What took place with reference to Sc.
curing that appointment?
A. / will tell everything that is not conf
Dental. don't see, though, what this Con-
gIess has 10 do with confidential trans
action which occurred ten years ago
q. What conversation had YOU with Green
first, as to securing the appointment?
A. A good many things were said | can't
well trace my memory back as to what took
place. Mr.. Green wanted a position, and he
was nominated by gentleman very kindly.
Green waited on me and desired the place
told him would try and secure it for him.
q was anything said about money being
used?
A. Whatever was said about money was
confidt initial. and hope the committee will
excuse me from answering what is confiden-
tial.
The committee insisted upon an answer.
Witness-I hope the committee will ex-
cuse me from making answer to that ques
Mr.. Clymer.-Do you decline to answer?
a. don't want to be censured, but don't
tial. desire little longer time. 1 didn't
think the question was going to be asked
me, and desire little longer time to pre-
pare myself.
Mr.. Kerr said that If the witness had any,
thing confidential to communicate he need
not regard him Kerr, but so far as he was
concerned might disclose 1t.
The witness.-Does Mr.. Kerr desire me to
tel the truth?
Mr.. Kerr.-Certainly.
The witness.-Then L will tell the truth.
spoke to MI Kerr about the matter. He
said that he had already nominated a man
fiom his district, but he hadn't accepted the
place. i then told Mr. Kerr L had friend
and If he would appoint him / would paw
him. Kerr told me TO come to his house /
went, and he asked me what Green's poll
tics were. said republican. Mr.. Kerr
: lnen IOlu me must get some one In New
York, some good democrats in New YORK to
ipdorse him, so that IL his friends in Indiana
objected 10 his going out of his district, he
could say he nominated him because he was
well recommended. The next time | saw
Mr.. Kerr he said he tn ought the place was
worth about $500. l saw Green, aud he said
that all the money he could raise was sIOO
said, 81 will make up the deficiency"
Green gave me SiI0, in fives, tens twenties
l kept the money four or five days. One day
Mr.. Kerr met me and said: "Harney, will
take that money now" handed Ii TO him
In q roll and he put it in his pocket. He
and fix the appointment" About a week
after paid Kerr the money Harvey sent
me registered letter containing the $40
which / had advanced fer HIM TO make up
the amount OF $3.50. Green went once with
n to Mr.. Kerr's room, who lived at that
time on street running parallel with Penn
1ylvaDia avenue; have forgotten the name.
In the appraisers office In New York I
made the statement that the demo Gratis were
charging corruption upon the republicans
and that they had better cover their own
tracks. j. s. Moore called on me In New
York and showed me an anonymous letter
which he said he was investigating. did
not know who wrote II. i didn't want this
matter TO get out, nor did L want to come
before this committee. The reason I di
come is because the newspapers have been
sianderlng me and saying that proposed
To run away.
Harvey was cross examined by Robert r.
Elliott and testified never approached Mr.
Kerr on any other business except on the
matter of Green's appointment. When |
first spoke to Mr.. Kerr told him it was a
matter of business. He did not say any,
thing about money then, but told me to come
10 his room. L called and we talked about
the appointment. / told him Green had
Kerr. because / understood that all the other
vacancies bad been filled.
The cross examination of the witness was
In progress when our report closed.