The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-23
GEN. GARFIELD IMPLICATED
CROOKEDNESS WHTLE M HELD TIE
NiTION'S PJRSE-STRINGS.

Corruption In Procuring tontrncts-An IMPORT
ant Letter Destroyed Ernsurcs In tho
Treasury Books Forgeries In the Treasury.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-The Committee on
the Real Estate Pool has taken the testimony Of
Geo. II. Chittcndcn with reference to the alleged
corruption in the procuring of n contract from
the Board Of Public Works Of the District Of
Columbia for DcGolyer & Mcclellan. Chicago
firm. Of whom Chittcndcn was agent Chittcn-
den had instituted II suit against this firm in
Chicago for 100000 for services in obtaining
the contract. The defendants set up the de-
fence that the contract was procured by corrup-
ton. and that certain persons. among whom was
Representative Garfield. Chairman of the Conn
mitcc on Appropriations. who received $4,000.
were paid for securing the contract. On this
ground the Court dism Used the suit. Chittcn-
den was very reluctant to testify. hut was finally
forced to- admit that he paid Dick Parsons
5000 with the understanding that $4,000 was
to go 10 Garfield. A copy of II letter which
Chittrndcn had written was produced. stating
substantially: | lave secured the friendship
of Gen. Garfield. Chairman Of the Committee on
Appropriations. who holds the purse strings OF
the nation. The object of the CONTRACTORS was
to secure the cooperation Of the Com-
initt"e ON Appropriations. and the Shepherd
game was TO make the contractors feel that twas
necessary first to secure this before they could
got their contract. Hence the importance of
securing the friendship of Garfield. The origi-
nal letter above spoken of was destroyed. Jcn-
kins in his testimony SAYS, because there was
no further Us" for It,; But II appears from tho
/ request OF GARFIELD Himself. Chi,tNndrn VIVA
/ evidently determined not t. testify. and denied
mnny things point blank that were asked %
] him. hut when confronted with the facts he had
/ TO- admit the main feature Of the inquiries.
/ Mathew Richardson. an cN-Trcnsury clerk.
testified that i~ ,ntion was called 10 the statc-
mont Of secretary lIr stow. in reply To n rcsolu-
/ ton 81 inquiry by senator DAVIS last year about
/ The Treasury accounts. that there had been no
| mwtulions Or ensures on me books 3i inc
/ Treasury. The witness said that in the books
| in his own division Ia" had seen the eraser
| repeatedly used; that alterations wore noted
! in various official documents, and that he
| had been informed by George Prcndcr who
testified before the committee last year. that al
! trutiuns mad been madr in the books Of the
! cash division. He wis asked whether he had
| ey r. known any person To- Ice retained IN tina
| Treasury Department and promoted after CONF
! nfiiug crimes or gross imprOprictivs, and ha
! snid that he did remember a case of that sort
| and that the person was now In the employ Of
! tho GuNcrnmrnt. But he begged the committee.
| a- the man had sincerely tried 10 reform. not to
press the question. viii they agreed not To do.
II was asked whether he ever know OF iorgcries
h'ng commiucd IN The Treasury. He answered
That hr HAD no knowledge himself but hr did
| know THAT certain clerks ia the Office were able
g. initial" Mr. spinner signature - that AN or,
binary observer could nottrll the Inference and
would not SUSPECT mat II was not genuine.
II" also -tiNrd that year or Two alter ho
Ea nr c Ihas@ n io q l Fy the n eiSrt
in the Division of Accounts. had forged
| warrants ON thu Treasury 10 Il cOnsidera-
| bic amount which he could not specify. and
that b" knew that Patty Worncd IN the room
/ where blank warrants were Kept. His attention
WAS called To- the passage in the Garfield invrs-
ilsiflNu ul the printing bureau, whore the wit
| nc-- ~Wor' tNat the Assistant Warrant Clerk Is
in tine lqWt II signing his superiors name in
wise. and suggested that it Was 10y no means
certain how much money WIS paid ont in this
WY. Having said TINT his principal
business ia the Treasury Department.
had heen counting. he WIS asked AZ
ana expert whether when counters honestly
DISAGREE. tnHrr Was any way of rr'unriling their
diil.tut,- H. said that ic did not know Of
amy DO thod oi h'iu- certain in cast ~ prrsis-
t'i.t e.-H,r.rW nt Nh Wilcox testified that
o. 100 Nperf and from Information that he had
gathered H- Journalist. and IL a stud mt OF
II. u-ury mat ~, h' hc ann" convinced in the
winter ol ls1i-j that there WIS a conspiracy on
iuui to make an over issue in order to carry the
.ieytlon. H. testified To- having obtained other
Information. in IN" Same manner, OF various
irrcsular'tics in III" Treasury Department
which have been Nude public.