Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-01-24
THE HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

The Special Committee on the Priv.
leges. Powers and Duties of the House in Count
ing the Electoral Vote held long session in
Washington, on the 18th. and examined several
witnesses, among them Secretary Chandler. who
was asked whether he had sent any dispatch 10
Florida since the late election in relation to
money, and he replied he had not; being asked
stating troops would probably be sent
there to keep the peace, he answered he probably
had; he was then asked whether he had sent i:
upon his own motion some ones else and h,
declined to answer this question, basing his re.
fusal on the ground that he is Cabinet officer.
the committee decided that he must answer, and
gave him until the 18th to comply. The commit
tee also examined Representative Purman. OF
Florida, and several other witnesses The com
mittee imposed the injunction of secrecy upon the
entire proceedings.
Richard Mccormick, Secretary of the
National Republican Committee was examined on
the 10Th and 18th In answer to questions he tes-
tilted he had some knowledge of money having
been raj ed for Legitimate purposes of the cam.
paign; not dollar came into the hands
of the National Republican Committee; did
not know of any circular having been is
sued requiring ottce-holders to contribute
money Mr., Purman in his testimony. on the
signed z. Chandler on the day after cleo.
ton, Nov. s; the substance of them was:
AS you have carried the State by Republican
ing defrauded out of IT. NJ. A. Clancy. late
stenographer OF the National Republican Com
mttee, read the original drafts of kilograms sent
to Oregon, Flotlda and other Southern States the
general purport of which was that If HAYES re.
ceived the vores Of Louisiana. Florida and Ore
gon he would be elected and urging the RepubI
can leaders in those States TO be on their guard
and not give up the result until the remotest re-
turns had been received Some of these dis
patches were signed by u. Chandler and others by
W. T.. Chandler.
William f. Chandler testified on the
nth tina; he was member of the National Re.
publican Committee and Of the Executive Com
mittee; in reply to a question whether he or any
other members of the committee sent kilograms
to Louisiana Florida and Norm or South Caro-.
lima, the witness replied afrmatiyely that he
had seen the copies of the kilograms pro-
duced yesterday by Mr.. Clancy, but did
not remember any Others particularly; he,
however sent kilograms early in the morn
ing before Clancy was up; he thought he sent
them substantially to the same persons men.
toned in those States, but made them brief; his
had received lS1 votes, with Florida, Lou
siana and Oregon; that the Democrats
would attempt TO wrest these States from
the Republicans by fraud or other improper
means, and requested them to be diligeu. in
ascertainlng the result and communicate II AS
soon as ascertained Witness was asked if, while
in Florida, he received any letters or kilograms
from any member of the National Committee In
which mention was made of money or troops,
which question he declined to answer until he
had consulted with his clients tthe Governor Of
Florida aud other Republican candidates in that
State for Congress and ElectOrs) whom he
wonld advise to give permission 70 an
swer: the committee, after private consultation,
unanimously decided that witness must
answer the question, and that there could be no
privileged communications between an attorney
and his clients as against committee of the
House; witness still declined to answer. and also
refused 10 state whether, while in Florida, he had
sent letter or telegram TO any member OF the
National Committee mentioning money or
troops.
Secretary Chandler was again before the
committee on the 18th; he said he not pre-
pared to answer the question as to by whose al.
thority he sent the telegram to Governor Stearns
promising troops; he declined to answer because
of the confidential character of the cOmmunica-
ton between the President and himself. and other
members of the Cabinet and he was summoned
TO appear before the committea as Secre airy oi
the Interior; he presumed the telegram to Gov.
Stearns was sent on his own motion and in his
own name; his impression was that he receiyeda
telegram from GOV. Stearns suggesting the neees-
sitY of sending troops.