Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-01
IhvestiS ating Election Frauds.
THE WALLACE CoMMITTEE

The committee to inquire into alleged frauds
in the late elections met at 10 O'Clock am. to-
day, and examined MeSsrS. Baker and Fugttt
the gentlemen employed by the republican ma
tional committee In the campaign of 1878 to
solicit and collect subscriptions from employees
in the departments to aid in defraytng the ex-
peDses OF that campaign. No new facts Of i'm
portance were ELECTED their testimony being
corroboratory of that OF Mr. Gorham, the COM
mttees secretary, recently given to the public.
the Treasury department who received less
than 81 200 per year were asked to subscribe,
instead OF 81 600, the general limit mentioned
by Mr.. GOrham.
titled that last year he was an assistant mes
senger In the War department. He received q
copy OF the circular OF the 29th Of May, request
Ing contributions. He did not subscribe any
thing. He had been employed in the War de-
paItment six years, part Of the time In the gen.
eTal service and part of the time In the civil
service H HIS salary last year was $40 per month,
circular was $40 Soon after receiving the
ci-cular-namely, on July 1st-his salary was
reduced to $50 per month. He saw the circular
in the hands OF several other assistant messen-
gers and doorkeeperS, and also of labOrers in
the War department, whose salaries were less
than 81, 900, but knew OF none OF these men Who
contributed.
TO Mr.. Teller.-I first knew that his salary
was reduced by reading about it in the Congress
siondt Record. 1t was reduced at the begin
ming OF the fiscal year by action OF Congress at
the same time that other employees wages were
cut down.
To Mr.. Kirkwood Gould not remember ex-
actly when he was transferred from the general
salary was about $50 per month-over 81, 900 per
year. The was the case in 1877. Could not say
whether or not his salary was named in the
last blue book as over 81 900. He is still In the
service.
the effect that he was not much OF a party
no Tho
best. Did not claim to be democrat. Had
only voted three or four times in his life, and
then for republican.
TO the Chairman (Mr. Wallace )-Had been in
the United States army from 1887 until he was
transferred to service @ In the department, and
Mexican war, and in the late civil war.
F.A. G. Handy was the next witness. and In
reply to questions by the chairman stated that
post Office. His salary was at dIfferent times
$l25 and $50 per month. He received a circular
in the spring of ISIS, desiring him to contribute
not pay anyt thing. Could not remember exactly
when he received the circular, but 1t was some
tine before May lst, on which date he was dis
charged. TWO or three other clerks in the Of
hce told witness they had received similar Cir
culars, but he did not know whether or not they
complied with the request contained therein.
One OF the two ladies in the Office received one,
and had once told witness she declined to con-
tribute anything. She is stil employed there.
Nnness was told that his discharge was neces-
SdlJ III oiucI " uiluS IIle Oilce expenses WlJlln
the appropriation for the fiscal year. His place
was filIed by another clerk; witness Thought
ABOUT month after his discharge. He was
given 10 days notice Of his intended dismissal.
Hewas inclined to think that he was discharged
flrst because he was ademocrat-although that
fact was known when he was appointed;
second, because Of his failure to contribute to
the campaign fund. These were conjectures on
his part. Afterwards. however, In his business
capacity, he saw Postmaster General Key,
when the subject OF his dismissal was men
toned, and Mr. Key said he understood 1t was
necessary to reduce expenses to correspond
was not nnslt,ye that two montSs tuaght aFg IT. put
charge the number of clerks in the Richmond
postoffce was as great as 1t was before his dis
misSal