The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-20
THE MOTH CONTRACT.
MIR. CowIes striking Back at Dom Plata
Persistent striker for the Lobby.

WAsHISGToN May 19.-George A. . wles
has sent to MIR. Clymer, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Expenditures In the War Department,
q sworn affidavit, In which he says that all the
difficulties the firm OF Cowes & Co. have had,
all the stoppsge OF their work In the preserva-
ton Of army clothing and equipagc, and all the
charges ever made against either his 1rm or the
work they have performed for the War Depart
ment, have originated from two men alone, and
both Of them persons who have underworld I'M
successfully to levy forced contributions upon
them. namely, Can't. c. A. Ailigood and Mr..
Dom Piatt. Allieood's representations az to
the want OF success OF tho mode OF treating
cloth material led to the formation of a board
OF officers, who completely refuted all of ALI
goods charges; but Alligood did not make any
charges or discover the want Of merit In the
work until after Mr.. Cowies had refused to
agree to hts demands and put a stop e. hts
forced contributions. Dom Piatt's testimony
before the committee REPRESENTED n tissue Of
personal abuse, iudicrousiy contradictory state
Inents and assertions. without particle of evil
dence to sustain them, and SO improbable as to
carry with them their own reiutation. MIR.
Cowles says:
Ny Intercourse with Nj. Plat, during the period
r the money We we're paving INN, was rendered very
sds that il was necessry thst %s mould nave cP r
eourse TO what he termed the LOBBY" aud which
TO- p1y tee to ", $ Huntington fss and upon b..
ucalh ttltu 10 MT 10 fflcnd OF
MS, former clerk 81 Hintlngton's, Mr.. Gassaway
was to ne paid Tn n he continually suggested that
be should nave FUNDS 10 newspaper correspondents
&c. and on one occasion WAS urgent IA his demand
the House Military Committee, and agree To- give MIN
large sum Tor his Influence behalf. DO no pre-.
tenn o. FAY that anv OF the persons named of
these Efforts Of Mr.; Piatt out | positively assert he
schemes and demands l always gave emphatic
refusal, and told hm That business conducted
honestly and upOn business principles, and thar II
could not succeed Without the aid of lobby ana
brlDcfy We mad much Detttr fail
The committee Will certainly understand that the
rum of t4uooNO which has Deen paid represents
extending over four nve years anu preserving and
benenng some Fix or seven million dollars worth OF
putc property covering Tor example, about million
ana half yartr Of ninnel hundreds thousands OF
yards OF cloth kersry, about hundred aud nfty
thousand great costs, besides thousands Of uniform
aud other garments. thousands OF yards of
tents, &c. The mere handling Of such an Immense
amount ~ goods vas sAaIl item. We submitted
prices TO Gen igs, based upon fair business
Ia iun.Winout any regard to the use ~ apsttn anu
Gen Megs found tn m reasonable and satisfactory"
anu these prices nave never been Increased.
Mr.. Cowles concludes by saving, " In tho most
ompnatic and solemn manner that he never
used any money cOrruptlv In connection win
his business that no has never paid any officer
OF the GoNernment dollar for his services
that the as ertiun that he ~ ted that "Gen. In
gals was an expensive friend Is d falsehOOd,
aud tlat he knows Of no member Of his hrm
who mas used any corrupt means IN connection
with his affairs nor does ne believe any such
means were used, either wtn officers of the de-
partment, or to influence legislation. As
question has arisen regarding the payment OF
the <.'sOU out OF the present appropriation. he
annexes a COPY of the brief ON the subject, and
the opinion OF tue Attorney II eneru sustaining
the position of the arm.