The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-24
POST TRADERSHIPS.
No New Facts of Importance.

WASHINGTON, March &c. X. Peck was
recalled and testified before the Committee on
Expenditures in the War Department today
that post traders were assessed for political
purposes. and that during the last Presidential
canvass he had paid from $4,000 to $4,000. He
thought that he RENTED the money to the
chairman OF a committee at Washington. He
presumed thew were asked to subscribe because
they held post traderships under the admins
tration. He did not consider that they were
obliged to pay, but were notified that the con-
tributions would be acceptable He and his
partner, Durfee, held four military trading
posts and six Indian trading posts He thought
the contributions from the military posts were
in proportion to the number of troops there:
j. j. Fisher was recalled and testlhed that
the firm of Evans & Co., post traders, contrib
uted money for political purposes in pursuance
of request contained in printed circular.
He did not understand that contribution was
compulsory, bat thought it was safe way to
pay the money.
contributed money during the last Presidential
canvass, said that in compliance with circular
sent to Fort Sill, he sent $500 to the Republican
Executive Committee in Washington, and paid
$3.50 to the same committee within the last six
months. Witness said that he was not now
mixed up in politics. He would not have paid
the money ii he had not been called on to do
so. He sent the check for money to Postmas
ter Edmunds.
t.. q. Leonard of Cincinnati, testified that
be was in the hardware business with the late
Mr.. Bowler. The'estate of the deceased was
from $4,000 to $4,000, $4,000 being for life
insurance. The money he owed to Mrs. Bowler
was paid as the surviving partner to George II.
Pendeton, mutual friend of both parties, aud
who was attorney for Mrs. Bowler. Witness
never heard what Investment was made OF the
money. He knew G. p. Marsh, who, at that
time was in Cincinnati, but had no nnection
with the transaction. Marsh said that he was
glad to hear that the widow came out so nicely
in her business.
John Fletcher of Indianapolis, but formerly
of Kansas, testified that in 1871 he made APP
plication for the post leadership at Fort Dodge,
being endorsed by Hon. Sidney Clark, He went
to Secretary Belknap and asked for the place,
when the Secretary told him it had been prom
ised to another person. From conversation
he had with Mr.. Reydolds, of the firm of Lee
& Reynolds, he got the impression it was nec-
essary to pay money to procure appointments.
Witness asked Reynolds whether the report was
true that he had paid $4,000 to procure his ap-
pointment. Reynolds repliedthat.it cost enough
and that Iowa was running the posts. Ia his
interview with Secretary Belknap the latter did
not intimate in any way that money could Sc
cure the appointment.
Lieut.. Colonel McCook testified among other
things that he had heretofore stated his belief
it could be proved that post traderships had
been sold. He did not know that such sales
could be traced to the Secretary of War, bat
believed that he or some middleman had been
selling them. This was matter of common
conversation at Western posts, and he stated
several circumstances which led to this belief.
In response to question, the witness said his
conviction was that there should be return to
the old system in the appointment of post
traders