New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-15
ORLEANS THURSDAY, JUNE l5 1876

1
| leans CustOmhOuse, under Q pre-existine
| contract.
To Mr.. Conger-There WAS no arrange.
ment made by Kursheedt & Bienveau to
| paw Colonel Morse or any other government
official ono dollar of money; the amount OF
| the contract pro rata was received as the
work progressed from Lealnard, Fisher &
Co; the firm in New York wrote to Messrs
Kursheedt & Bienvenu that the pay of the
warkmen must be reduced.
To Mr.. Walker-Did not solicit the con-
tract from Mr.. Morse or any one else in the
Customhouse.
To Mr.. -Question-How did
you come to pay men less than their names
showed on the pay rOllss
Aaswer-The amount as specified ON the
pay rolls had nothing whatever to do with
the amount paid the men; some received
age was about g. Is each.
Q1esti0n-What did you do with the bal
ancel
Answer-We put it in our pockets, cir.
Mr. Reilly here submitted the pay rolls
for Mr.. Hannan's inspection.
Mr.. Reilly asked witness how much he
received per day?
Answer-Ten dollars.
Question-But you are on the rolls as re
ceiving Sc.
Answer-I worked for Kursheedt & Bier-
venu; the reason why certain men on the
rolls received lees than the amount placed
opposite their names was that their work
was not worth that amount; the rolls were
signed in blank at the Office of Kursheedt
s. Bienvenu, and returned Immediately
thereafter to the CustOmhouse; every man
appeared satisfied with the amount he re-
| ceived; paid sometimes every two weeks,
and sometimes every other night; thinks
| the average pay of the men was about 81 IS
| per day; had nothing to say to the men
relative to their pay; thought nothing
strange that men were on the rolls and re-
| ceived less than &3 per day, although the
| rolls were filed up for that amount, as
some workmen were paid mere and some
less than 90 per day.
Some workmen whose services were abso-
lutely necessary, and who could not be
paid more than % per day under the pay
| of the government, received more than that
| amount. while others received lese; the
| contractors made about twenty-five cents
| per day on each man they employed
| The contract between Kursheedt &
Rienvenu on the one part, and Learnard,
| Fisher & Co., of New York, represented by
| Colonel Morse on the other part, was here
read by Mr.. Walker.
| j. G. Bienvenu sworn.
| Mr.. Gibson observ we'd that the mandate of
the House of Representatives did not au-
| thorize the committee to investigate the
business of private persons, and that Mr..
Bienvenu simply appeared before the com
| mittee at the request of his counsel.
Mr.. Bienvenu stated that his position be-
| fore the committee was q peculiar one,
from the fact that he was under indict-
ment by the grand jury.
To Mr. Walker-The firm of Kursheedt
| & Bienvenu have q contract with the gov
| ernment for doing the marble and finishing
work in the New Orleans CustomhOuse;
| they are sub ubcontract0rs of Learnard. Fisher
| g. Co., of New York, who made the original
| contract with the government.
Witness, G. w. johnson, appeared with
| an old dilapidated looking blotter or &C.
count book, which, he said, contained the
| original constitution and by laws OF the
secret organization referred to in his pre-.
viOus testimony.
Mr.. StevensOn-State the name of the or
| ganization.
| Witness-I refuse to do go.
| Mr.. Conger-I object to tbs question at
| this time.
| Witness said the organization was not a
| political one, but said that it consisted OF
duty was to attend the polls on election
| day, see that the election was conducted
| fairly, and investigate frauds by federal
| officials and in the Democratic and Repub
| lican parties.
| Mr.. Gibson observed that the witness on
Tuesday submitted what he termed a copy
of the book demanded by the committee
The original book was now in their posses
sion. What disposition did they pro pose
should be made of it
| Mr.. Gibson proposed to receive it.
| Mr.. COnger objected to its being received
before he had first examined it.
| Mr.. Stevenson moved it be first handed
to Mr.. Conger before it was handed to the
| chairman.
Mr.. Gibson said he should receive it.
| To Mr.. Woodburn-Wltness recollected
under what circumstances he appeared be
| fore the committee on Monday; was under
the Influence of liquor at the time; did moi
recollect that he told any one he was not in
q proper condition to appear before the
committee on that day.
Mr.. WOOdburn observed that witness did
not appear to him to be more under the in
fuence of liquor then than now.
| To Mr.. Conger-Had not heard of any
secret organization since this was organ
lied, whose business was to watch the
federal officials, etc.
| Question-What is your definition of the
| word "sociaw in relation to this club!
| Answer-Well, it is an organization
where we meet for social enjoyment, recre
| alton and picnics.
| Question-ls it a Democratic organiza
ton!
Answer-No, it is rot political organ
izAtiOn at ali.
| To Mr. Woodburn-Did not tell any one
| that what he testified on Monday before the
| committee was untrue; did not say to any
one that be was going to appear before the
| the Customhouse.
| After being pressed and portions of a
| conversation repeated by Mr.. WOODBURY.
witness finally recollected of speaking tt
Mr.. Dawson on Tuesday; saw the papers
that morning, and was perfectly dumb
founded at what he was represented to have
said; had no recollection whatever of large
portions of his testimony.
Question-Was the testimony given true
or false?
Answer-Well, some of it was true; that
relating to the CustOmhouse, of persons be
| ing on the roll and receiving money, wat
true; it was also true that one Of the du
ties of the organization was to detail mem
bers as spies to watch federal officials ant
both political parties.
Mr.. Gibson-Are there any Republican,
in the organization!
Answer-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Conger-How many?
Answer-Wel, know one.
Mr.. Woodburn-His name?
Witness did not wish to answer the ques
ton, appealed to the chairman and referret
to his oath before the secret organization
He was told he must answer the question.
Answer-W. r. Mitchell.
Question What is the name of the presi
dent?
Witness refused to answer.
He was told that he must answer. Afte
awhile he said-Norton.
Question-His initials!
Answer-Charles r. Norton; you'll fin
out the whole thing if keep telling you.