Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-06-14


through the mails Out not 10 receive) written |
and printed communications not exceeding two |
and one-hah ounces in weight Agreed b. |
The bill was then passed by "a to Is Adj
journed.
On motion Of Mr.. Atkins, OF Tennessee, the |
bill appropriating s20, 900 to defrAy the ex-
penses Of the Florida investigation committee,
was taken from the calendar and passed with
out division. FortS-hve bills on the pri- !
vate calendar were passed. The speaker
appointed Messrs Blount. Manning and Fort |
as the board Of visitors to West Point on the
pant Of .he House. Adjourned.
The House non-concurred in the Senate
amendments to the legislative appropriation
bill "A bill was passed exempting post Office
employees from military and jury duty, -. The
bill to reorganize the life-saving service was
passed. On motion OF Mr.. Wood the tariff
bill was taken up in committee of the whole
Debate was limited to two hours by a vote OF
129 TO Sc. At the close of speech agail st
the bill by Mr.. q arfeld, Mr. Wood moved that
the committee rise, which was lost by Ill to
80 Mr.. Wood then demanded the first reading
Of the bill, which was proceeding when MIR.
Butler proposed that a vote should be taken at
noon on the next day on a motion to strike out
the enscting clause. Agreed to. Adjourned.
Under the call Of the States the following
bills were introduced and referred By Mr..
Bland, Of MISUNDERSTANDING the issue Of
$50, COO, 900 in United States treasury notes to
be applied for the improvement of the Missis-
sippi river from st. Louis to the Gulf of Mexi-
co. By Mr.. Culberson, Of Texas-To restrain
the secretary OF the treasury from paying the
outstanding $40 bonds, except in legal tender
treasury notes. By Mr. Wright of Pennsylva-
MIA Authorizing the issue OF $780, 000, 900
United States notes, to be known as national
money A bill was reported to let the print
ing and engraving of the national currency,
TTDitad Stataa nptaa and honda after uhlic
advertisement, TO such parties whose proposals
shall be most advantageous to the government.
Adjourned.
BY vote Of 1874 to 121, the House struck out
the enacting clause Of the tariff bill, moved TO
reconsider and then laid that motion on the
table. This practically disposes of the bill
The Mexican war bill was passed with an
amendment authorizing the President to exam
inc any award against Mexico, or any alleged
frauds affecting awards, on application of the
Mexican Government. =. The bill to amend the
internal revenue laws was taken up. An
amendment fixing the tax on tobacco at 20
cents pound and on cigars at $5 thousand
was offered, and an amendment TO this,
making the tobacco tax 16 cents q pound, was
adopted. Adjourned.
The House Presidential Election InvestiEn-
tIOn.
The House special committee appointed to
investigate alleged frauds in the LOUISE
ana and Florida presidential election opened
its sessions in the basement of the old Capitol
which had been fitted up as a court room
| The full committee was present, and Secretary
| Sherman was represented by Messrs. Shella-
barger and Wilson, as counsel. The first wit
ness called was James E. Anderson, Jour-
nalist, who had been supervisor Of registration
in the parish of East Feliciana, La, during
| the election in 1876. Witness stated that be-
fore the election Governor Kellogg and others
tried to drive him from his post because,
| knowing how the election would go, he refused
t. make up q case Of intimidation;" that
after the election he had been asked to
sign a protest alleging the election had
been carried unlawfully, but that he re-
| fused; that subsequently he did eign, but not
swear to, a protest that had been garbled and
changed to suit the purpose for which it was
| intended namely, to throw out the vote Of the
parish. Witness gave the particulars of an in
terview which he and Don A. Weber (super-
visor Of registration in West Feiciana parish)
bad with Hon. John Sherman in New Or
leans restaurant. At that interview, witness
said, Mr.. Sherman made the following remark
Gentlemen, want to see you, as l under
stand there is some difficulty in your respective
parishes. This is time when the assistance
OF everv Republican and true patriot is needed,
and trust you will stand by u.s." Mr.. Weber
remarked that in endeavoring to do their duty
they incurred the displeasure of Messrs. Pack
their respective parishes; and in the event of
Mr.. Packards election as governor we will get
nothing from the administration, whereupon
they were assured by Mr.. Sherman that they
would be cared for as Mr.. Hayes would con-
troll the Federal patronage. All he desired
of them was that they stand firm, and let the
record run along as It'll After lapse of a
short time Messrs Weber and Anderson con-
cluded to forward a letter to MIR. Sherman,
informing him that they were not satisfied with
their conversation with him as regards being
taken care Z, and requesting that he inform
them in writing as to whom they should look
for the fulfllment of his promises. Messrs
Hiscock, Butler and Cox, of the committee,
objected to the reading of what was claimed
by the witness to be copy of the reply to
their letter to Mr.. Sherman, taking the ground
that Mr.. Sherman should first see the docu-
ment, and, if he recognized it as copy of
his reply, then, and not until then, should it
be admitted in evidence. After discussion
it was determined by the committee to call
Secretary Sherman and allow him to testify
concerning the letter. After a recess Secretary
Sherman appeared before the committee and
the letter, which was claimed by Mr.. Anderson
to be reply to his letter, was shown to the
secretary, and he said: Mr.. Chairman, be-
lieve from my recollection of the views ave
} taken that never wrote such a letter. If it
was written, it must have been when the re-
} turning officers conveyed to count the returns,
} and do not believe / ever wrote this letter.
) At the same time there are things in this let
} ter would have written to these or any other
men engaged in such occupation; but do not
believe l wrote this letter." A vote was then
taken, resulting in favor of having the letter
read. The document was as follows:
"NEw ORLEANS, Nov. 90, 1876.
"Messrs. ID. A. WEBER and JAMES E. ANDER-
soN.--Gentlemen: Your note of even date has
just been received. Neither Mr.. Hayes, myself,
the gentlemen who accompany me, nor the
country at large can ever forgot the obligations
you stand firm in the position you have taken.
| From long and intimate acquaintance with
, Governor Hayes, 1 am justified in assuming
the responsibility for promises made, and will
guarantee that you will be provided for as coon
| after the 4th of March as may be practicable,
leave Louisiana, should you deem it necessary
Very truly yours, JOHN SHERMAN"
Secretary Sherman left the witness stand
and the examination of Anderson continued.
He testified that he came to Washington and
tried to obtain q suitable position through the
aid Of the Hon Stanley Matthews. Mr. Mat
|, thews asked witness what position he wanted.
and he replied: "Nothing in particular;
whereupon Mr.. Matthews advised him to pro-
coed to New Orleans and, If possible, secure
the original written promise of Secretary Sher-
man, guaranteeing that Weber and himself
would be provided for. He succeeded in OBJ.
tanning the copy, and forwarded it to Mr..
Matthews, but he did not succeed in getting a
satisfactory position. Witness was CROSS ex-
amined at great length by Mr.. Butler, but
nothing new was elected.
On the second day of the sitting of the COM
mittee the cross-examination of the witness
Anderson was continued by Mr.. Reed, of the
: committee. The examination was largely de-
voted to an endeavor to convict the witness
OF discrepancies between his testimony on the
first day and statements heretofore made by
HIM before the Senate investigating com
mittee that visited Louisiana last year. The