Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-14
POtte1'S Prod.

to-day, Immediately before the regular meet
ing.
Gen. Smith, late appointment clerk of the
treasury department, recalled, testified that
this morning he went to the secretary's Office
ut the executive mansion and looked over the
record Of letters, and found that there hed
been letter referred to the treasury depart
anent, March 10th, which had been written to
the President by personal friend. recommend
ing the appointment of James Z. Anderson.
Witness had but One interview with the
President in regard to Anderson's appointment.
lie produced a telegram from Stanley Matthews,
bearing date July Both, addressed
TO himself, taken from the files of
ths treasury department., which he
thought was the reply to telegram sent by
Secretary Sherman. The telegram read rs fol-
lows The letter referred to has been received.
No answer needed
Witness has written to Matthews and showed
him one OF Andersons letters, but did not
remember the contents of it.
Mr. Butler read from the evidence the letter
written by Anderson bearing date June 10,
1877, in which he said 'Any ward hummer
who desires an appointment as inspector of
customs, etc." the full text of which has been
heretofore published, and also a litter written
to Gen: Smith by Stanley Matthews, dated
June Goth, as follows:
L
10Th. No enc is under obligations to Ander-
son. saw him on the cars going to Baltimore.
40 :old me he was satisfied. If he DOESN'T
choose to take what you think is proper, drop
him.. l promised nothing but to do what I
f f0n to }s have him appointed Yours respect
Gen. Butler questioned the witness at length
regarding the letter written by Anderson de-
clining the position of inspector of customs
and ss to the time the letter forwarded to
Astthews. Witness replied to the best of his
recollection that he sent the letter to Matthews
the day OF It's receipt June Goth.
At the request of Gen. Butler, after having
said he had in his possession another letter
from Anderson, witness produced two letters,
and stated he had no particular friendly rela-
lions With Anderson. lie had advised him on
certain points and had appointed his brother
IN the custom house at Baltimore.
Another letter from Anderson to Smith was
read by Hen. Butler, inquiring whether SeDa-
Tor 0.atthews had said anything of his (Ander-
ton's) FRIEND a clerk in the Philadelphia Gus
to- tom house. and being intcrrogated whether he
(Smlth) replied to that letter, he said it was
his recollection he did, and stated he had not
heArd from Senator Matthews on the subject
Gen. Butler called the attention of the witt
ness to his testimony in which he stated that
Matthews had written the President from Gin
cannati, recommending the appointment of
Anderson. and asked him if that letter was on
HE. Smith replied it not.
q. Don't you think it very unfortunate that
letter was lost?
A. No, sir, do not.
Q. Upon whose recommendation did you
appoint Anderson's brother to q clerkship in
she Baltimore custom house?
A. Upon the recommendation of Matthews.
Ven. Butler asked Gen. Smith if he was in
conference with counsel last night.
Wltness-l do not understand the question.
Gen. Butler pointing to Judge Shellabarger,
counsel for Secretary Sherman: Do you know
that gentleman?
Smith-No, sir.
.. Do you know Judge Wilson?
A. l do not know whether do or not,
Mr.. Cox objected to the questions. and Gen.
Butler stated that he did not propose to be re-
proved by the gentleman from Ohio this being
the third or fourth time.
Mr.. Cox said when the occasion in his mind
prompted he would certainly continue to offer
his objections.
After further discussion, Mr.. Mcmahon adj
gocating the competency of Gen. Buffers
question, and Reed and Cox opposing, Gen.
butter stated his reason for putting the ques-
zion was to show that Smith was unwilling
witness and was in connection with the other
side.
General Smith stated that Butler IN his state
ment clings to the opinion from the beginning
of the examination that he (Smith) was an un-
willing Witness claiming as his reasons there
Tor the fact Of the receipt of personal letters
ler) to believe that Smith would not testify to
anything untavorable to Anderson, and as But
Ter did not know of the character of the letters
in question until within the last five minutes,
he surely could not have considered him an
unwilling witness from the commencement of
his testimony, and further he (Smith) asked
the protection of the committee.
Gen. Smith further said, the gentleman who
had been examining him had caused certain
statements to go into the record which he
tSmith) had not intended to UTTER
The investigation was resumed and witness
said in answer to Buffers question that he had
not been in consultation last night with either
Judge Shellabarger OF Wilson.
Mr.. Mcmahon then examined the witness re-
gardins the Matthews letter referring to the
appointment OF Anderson, but witness merely
corroborated his previous testimony.
BY McMahOn-In regard to that letter of
Secretary Sherman addressed to the COM
mittee. Did he show you the letter the COM
mitttec had addressed to him.
A. No sir.
@. Give the language passed between you
and Secretary Sherman the day you got to-
gether when this letter was written.
A. AS near as can remember when / went
in said to him had received communica-
ton from the appointment clerk requesting me
to send these letters. As he wished to examine
them had thought it best to wait on him in
person and bring the letters with me. The
letter OF the appointment clerk to me simply
designated the letters belonging TO the Ander-
son matter, believe, but gave no particular
description of them.
Q. Go on with the interview between YOUR
self and Sherman.
A. Secretary Sherman then said to me he
wished to examine himself whether these let
tiers were official or not. l replied that was a
matter had decided for myself, whether the
letters were personal or not, but had no OBJ
lection to his seeing the letters if he wished.
That is all the conversation. Then submitted
the letters to him and he read each one him
self. This occurred in the appointment room,
which is branch Of the secretarys office. An
derson was applicant in the State depart
ment for position as consul up to the last of
May.
@. Now. how was it the letter of Conn, written
on the 18th Or 18th of March to the President,
was sent to the treasury department. and then
to the state department? How did it come to
be sent to the treasury department, where he
was not applicant for position till two
months afterwards.
A. They may have sent it, not being aware
that he was an applicant at the state depart
ment. will say. as an expert, if you wish
that kind of evidence that the treasury being
department of the government in which the
largest number of offices at large are, that
when there is no special place named by the
applicant, they are very apt to send such let
tiers there. That matter is, however, discre-
tionary with the President secretary, and they