The daily gazette., 1879-08-18

WHAT is PAID FOR VOTES THERE.

WHAT IS PAID FOX VOTEb THERE.
NEWPORT, r. l., August 15.-The
Butler Investigating Committee resumed
their inquiry this morning at the Ocean
House, Senator Butler presiding. There
were present Senators Whyte, Beck.
Chandler and Rollins; also in attend
ance were Senators Anthony aid Burn
side, and Senator PendletOn, of Ohio.
DR.. j. B. Greene, who testified on
Thursday in regard to the interference
of federal officers at elections, and to the
use of money by said officers at the polls,
was recall d and presented an original
memorial which asks for an investigation
into the Custom House, where honorably
discharged and wou lded soldiers have
been removed, the witness alleged, to
make room for Senator Anthony's rela-
tives and political favorites.
w. II. Sheffield asked tue witness a
question, but the latter objected to an
swering the question Of counsel, particu-
larly as the gentleman was one of the
parties implicated.
The Committee then went into execn-
tive session, and refused to allow coun-
sci to appear on either side. The inves-
tgation then proceeded.
w. W. Henderson, Jacob Symonds
and half a dozen other business men of
Providence testified as to the good char
acter and efficiency of the deposed Gus
tom House officials.
John M. O'Ronrke told the Commit
tee that money had always been used to
buy votes. The highest price paid for a
colored mans vote was thirty dollars !;
did not know what white mans vote
was worth, bus supposed it was worth
more than that had seen checks and
cards given to voters who received the
money after voting; Postmaster Bray
ton and Appraiser Burroughs, who is
also clothing dealer, work at all cleo
tions and manage them; Brayion looks
after the men and sees that they vote !;
witness considered it part of Govern
ment officials business to assist in cleo
tioneering and doing all outside work !;
money was used openly; registry taxes
were paid in bulk, and until within a
few years there was an understood price
for votes.
Edward F. Prentiss, warden of the
Fourth Ward of Providence, said that in
the Sprague- -Padelford campaign votes
were bought openly, but witness refused
to tell all he knew about the transactions,
as he was Governor Padelford's private
secretary when Mayor Clark was elected.
Money was used freely, and here again
the witness declined to cri,ninate him.
self by testifying. He explained that
men whom he had seen previously given
numbered checks, afterwards received
money in dark room. He received
$50 from Postmaster Brayton for work
done at the representative election
Appraiser Burroughs and Rep esentative
Aldrich were present when BraytoI
paid the witness; he was told that HI
was paid the same as the rest witnes
had seen as high as $50 paid for vote
the price ranged from So to $40 for votes
The Republican side, he said, alway
wins Rhode Island. They have sta
actors, low commedians and supes il
Rhode Island politics, and Brayton wa.
considered a star actor. Most of the
purchasable men were registery voters.
| Some real estate voters sold their votes
the poor foreign born citizens is not al
| lowed to vote, but n'grO may vote,
and is protected equally with the richest
men in the State. Soldiers that served
in the Union army are not allowed to
vote, because they we're from abroa d,
and do not own one hundred and thirty
four dollars worth of real estate. Major
w. II. Joyce, the deposed Custom
House official, was a soldier in the
Union army, and was promoted from
the ranks to majors post for gallantry
and meritorious services at Fredercks-
burg, but is not allowed the right of
franchise because he does not own the
required amount of prop rty did not
know why he was removed; he had a
family, but a young unmarried man,
who is a relative of Senator Anthony,
was appointed in his place; he refused
to contribute to the Gorham campaign
fund in 1878, and he was informed he
was removed because he did not influ-
ence voters, although not voter him
self, and did not do duty in politics; he
was appointed on the recommendation
of Senator Anthony. Witness explain
ed how the customs officers participated
in State elections. Adjourned.