Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-24
The Mary Merritt Investigation.
Examination of Mr.. Cate by Secre =
tary BrtstOw-The secretary Say .
the whisky Ring is az the Bottom
ar the charge.

The Committee on Expenditures In the
Treasury department this morning took up
the resolution charging Secretary Bristow
with alleged maIfeasance in the matter of
the release of the bark Mary Merritt Mr..
Cate, OF Wisconsin. who offered the resolu-
ton, as well as Secretary Br!stow was pres
ent. The latter says he intends to be present
az every session OF the committee, and to
meet every point of accusation made against
him. The committee did not propose to go
into the investigation this morning but
a. ked Mr. cate TO furnish the names of the
witnesses by whom he expected to substan-
rate his charge. He gave the names of H
ii. Chittenden, E. E. johnson, d. f. Weis
and Levi Hubbell, all of Milwaukee.
Secretary BristOw inquired whether Mr.
Cate had conversei with any other persons
In relation to the matter, either here or else
where, 10 which he replied that he had had
conversations with number of persons be-
sides those named. The Secretary also want
ed to know who had assisted Mr., Cate In the
preparation of the resolution. The latter
declined to answer, stating that be had Of
feTed Ii upon his own responsibility, as a
member OF Congress. His only consultation
here was with reference TO the proper form
OF preparing the resolution.
Mr.. Bright. of Tennessee, 81 member of the
committee, endol sed Mr.. Gates objection TO
answering the question as propounded.
Mr.. Cate said that the release OF the for
fixture of the bark was a subject OF common
discussion in Wisconsin.
Mr.. Bristow.-Whom did you ever hear
taIk about IL in your own district?
Mr.. Cate.-Milwaukee where this thing
occurred is not in my district.
Mr.. Brtstow.-I am aware of that. Now
old you ever hear any one outside of the
Milwaukee district discu IS the question?
Mr.. Cate.-I did not publicly.
Mr.. BristOw.-Do you know Mr.. Murphy,
OF Milwaukee, and did you ever talk to him
Mr.. Cate-I never did.
Mr.: Brtstow.-Whom did you then talk
with?
The committee at this point INDUCED in a
discussion as to the proprIety of asking those
questions, and they decided that as Mr.. Cate
lad given the names of the witnesses by
whom he expected TO prove the charges that
~ was not necessary to inquire OF him fur
Their.
WHAT MR. BRIsTow WANTED TO SHOW If
ALLOWED TO.
Ir. Bristow said he had no cOncealments
TO make. He wanted To show that the
whisky ring was at the bottom of this mat
ter, and that the ring was using the House
as cats-paw to prosecute him and smirch
his character, because as public officer he
had prosecuted them.
Mr.. HartZell, of Illinois, said that that
could not possibly have anything To do with
the question. Mr.. Cate had probable cause
10 offer bis resolution. 1t mattered not to
him whether the witnesses were members OF
the whisky ring or not. II the Secretary
was not guilty it could be shown. If guilty
IL did lot matter by whom the fact was
proven so long as the witnesses told the
truth.
Mr.. Cate said that, so far as he knew, the
whisky ing had no connection whatever
With Inc charges.
Mr.. BristOw said he supposed it would be
competent for him To show that the matter
was conspiracy, and that it was an at
tempt To smirch the character of an officsr
OF the government He meant no diSrespect
to Mr.. Cate or any member OF the committee
in saying this. He desired TO state, further,
that the published statement that he had
refused To- produce papers in this case was
untrue. He would withhold no paper bear
ing upon the case. He then requested that
Toe following witnesses be summoned in his
henalf A. X. Lyman, of the Treasurer's Of
fee; Assistant Secretary Conant, Solicitor
wilson, and Mr.. Robinson, assistant solicit
tor; Walter Evans, of Louisville, KY; John
Aeland; o. HOpkinsvIlle, Ky.
The committee then adjourned.