Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-01
THE HOUSE SPECIAL, COMMITTEE.

Gen. Fitzpatrick testified, on the 22d,
that he went to North Carolina upon his own
suggestion, bearing Introductory letter from
q. Chandler; had conversation with the Gov
ernor of the State and the Chairman of the Re
publican State Committee the substance being
that there should be investigation "a to the
manner in which North Carolina was
ried for the Democrats; had instructions
to use money or to resort to other improper
means to influence the result. George S.
Fisher, of Georgia, temporarily residing in Wash
ington, testified that he made collections for po-
litical purposes at the instance of the Republican
Congressional Committee in the Postofice and
War Departments, Sixth Auditors Office and the
Government Printing Office, and paid the money
over to the Treasury of the committee less five
per cent. which he kept as pay for his services;
about i25 001 were collected; other persons also
made collections; the list of the names of the
contributors destroyed, but it contained
names of two heads of department; contributions
were voluntary; only ten or twelve clerks of
probably twelve hundred applied TO declined TO
contribute; did not know anybody was discharged
for not contributing.
On the oath, the Committee on the Pow
ers Duties and Privileges of the House in Count
ing the Electoral Vote examined number of
Philadelphia employees of the Western Union
Telegraph Company. Henry o Neil testified that,
on the 7th, 9Th, 9th and 10th of Novem-
Der, he received messages from Secretary Cam
eron, W K Kembler, w. Mackay, Mr.. Doyt
and Major Morris to be sent to Florida. but did
not recolect the names of the persons to whom
they were sent; remembered that te egram sent
by Mackay spoke of pa ty in Bedford whom he
had seen, a about sending special messenger
10 Florida, but remembered nothing about money
or troops
J. B. Deberry, telegraph operator at
the depot at Tallahassee Fla, was before the
committee on the 25th, and, in answer to ques
ton if he remembered any kilograms passing be
tween z. Chandler and Gov. Stearns between he
Sth and 18th of November, replied that the first
telegram of which he knew was from q. Chandler
TO Gov. Stearns and was in substance as follows:
I'VE are absolutely sure of so many Electoral
votes for Hayes-(witness did not remember he
numberl-and must have Louisial q, South
Carolina and lOrida, by fair means otherwise
he could not give the exact language; Chandler
''send courfers to each county and secu
returns-they must be made to show majority
for Hay z. Chandler. also telegraphed Gov.
Steafns: William E. Chandler leaves tonight
Tor Philadelphia on important bu- iness;' betwec
the Sth and 18th of November, Frank r. Sher-
man, engaged with Gov. Stearns, handed him
telegram for tran mission signed by the latter,
and addressed to u. Chandler, in which mention
was made of train containing couriers sent out
for returns being ku-Kluzed, followed by he
mark: I'VE cannot carry the State for HAYES
less we have troops and morey immediate
ly;" these were hot the exact words, but
the substance: witness remembered a telegram
from L. Chandler to Gov. Stearns, saying he had
seen the President and Secretary OF War; and was
authorized by them To say that troops and money
the 18th of November. and william E. ChandIer
arrived the same afternoon, but little in advance
or the troops, which arrived at Tallahassee on
special train; witness voted the Democratic
ticket; he declined TO answer questions as to
whether he had communicated the knowledge
of the kilograms to any person previous to
his appearance before the committee, ETC.,
on the ground that to do might work to
criminate himself; the telegram from Chandler to
Stearns, saying that the Republicans must have
Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida, by far
means or otherwise, was communicated to wit
ness in confidence by Republican telegraph
opera or, but witness declined giving the name
OF his informant and also declined to say to
whom he first mentioned the contents of the tele
grams, and further declined to answer the ques-
ton whether he had taken counsel to his
animation before this committee: witness did
not especially remember any messages 10 leading
Democrats and did not remember that any one
! of them related 10 the use of money. Gilbert d.
Mills, telegraph operator at Tallahassee during
the election testified that William E. Chandler,
after mis- arrival there sent of telegras in cipher
| be remembered telegram from Gov. Stearns TO
President Grant to this effect - think il advisa
Bile 10 have counsel of eminent men Of our own
party there was more in it. but that was all be
! could remember. A Washington dispatch of the
25th says Secretary Chandler, on hearing the char
acter of the alleged kilograms passing between
! Gov Stearns and himself, as sworn to by wi ness
Deberry, said that he had never cent or received
| such dispatches, and he branded them fabrica-
tons, and express ed his intention TO make state
ment TO that effect before the committee.