Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-24
Tn, Mail Contracts Of Barlow. sanderson 4 CO.

The Mail Contracts OF Barisw, Sandcrson d Go.
The Washington correspondent OF the
New York Times thus reports the testimony
recently given before the House Committee
on Postof6ces and Postroads. in relation to
the above contracts
William A. Danforth, who was travel
ling agent and general superintendent for the
firm, was examined Friday and testified that
he had put in straw bids for mail contracts
by direction of Barlow & Co. lie was very
intimate with Sanderson, and for long
time slept with him at Kansas City. San
derson informed DanfOrth that the firm was
obliged to keep the Postothce officials at
Washington well - creased - that TO one
official they had given diamond pin which
cost 81 900, and to another valuable pair
of horses, with harness and carriage. Inc
firm also paid regularly S5,0OO per quarter
| for disbursement among the Nashington
| officials. In communicating these iscts to
! Danforth no nam : were mentioned by San
derson. Barlow remained in the East, at
| tending 10 the management OF affairs at
| Washington, while Sanders0n was the bust
ness man in the West. The witness had
seen entries upon the books Of the firm
which showed that fund was set apart for
rewarding officials of the PostOfhce De
partment in furthering their interests. The
| book-keeper of the firm once showed him a
box of books and papers in the cellar of his
house which ne said would make trouble
were their contents revealed, as they showed
that false returns had been made to defraud
the q government out Of the legal amount Of
tax due under the internal revenue laws.
j. {. Griffin, book-keeper for Barlow Co.,
testified he knew OF no improper practices
bv the firm in the conduct OF their business
that the books were an honest exhibit OF the
business that he knew no such charges a
those described by Danforth, aud that be
never made the remarks imputed 10 hin
touching fraudulent internal revenue re-
turns There was box of papers IN HI
cellar. but il contained old invoices anC
vouchers. He knew Of no money being
uaid to any parties in Washington or else
where for assistance IN obtaining contracts
and never heard that such payments wert
made. he knew Daniorth had put in straw
. bids. but never put in any himself. Barlow
had not been in the West more than twice
in SIX wears. but he and Sanderson drew
: regularly $500 each Tor travelling expenses
= Barlow collected all money from the de
t partment. and forwarded TO him sufficient 4
! paw all expenses Of the business. No bank
= account was kept by the firm, and the div
. sion Of profits they arranged between them
5 selves Neither Barlow nor Sanderson eye1
talked 10 him about paying parties al wash
ington. nor did he ever hear either OF then
converse about it. lie had no suspicion tina
such payments were made because he did no
know it. and he suspected nothing be did no
i know. lie admitted that the books Of th'
o firm were destroyed SIX wears ago. Ihr
E was done because they had been settled ant
l were Of no further use. He met SandersoI
bv appointment at 1t. Louis while on ;h'
wav to Washington. but he said nothing I,
/ witness about this investigation, except Il
d admOnish INN TO tell the truth. Griffin wa
examined at great length. but nothing mate
S | rial could be obtained from him. For book
- keeper, he manifested remarkable degre'
4 Of simplicity about his accounts and the gen
era business OF his employers. He admitted
p having seen Barlow here for a few minutes
lie could not detail the conversation, bu
[ perhaps j. accounts for the nature Of his te-
timony.
+. A member o! the committee claims t
have possession Of documents which VII
sustain the testimony Of Sanderson, and
moreover, will give the names Of person
who have received money. Il has long beel
, the current belief that the Barlow contract
were &c crooked
\ later despatch says Nj Barlow
Of Barlow a >anderson, the postal con
tractors IN Colorado testified bet1r
the postofiice committee, saturday. that il
ls-o. when the House Committee on post
Offices was invest eating the case of on
!. MeKibben, he paid Farrar, a Washingtoi
attorney, now dead, $4,000 70 have fact
.. touching his contracts suppressed. The ez
!. animation VIII be continued The import
- ant iac- Is that such N Investigation va
begun and mvsteriouslv stopped during tn
42d Congress Nj Barlow, who ! pres
, dent Of the National bank at s.. Alhau>, Vt
saws that the testimony Of William A. Dan
forth, charging the firm Of Barlow sand
erson with having burned their books {
cover improper transactions, Is false an
r malicious, ami be intends q produce ri
j books.