The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-17
ELECTION ABUSES.
HOW MONEY IS USED IN RHODE 1sLAND-FED-
ERAL OFFICERS ACTIVE POLITICIANS.

now MONEY IS USED IN RHODE 1sLAND-FED-
ERAL OFFICERS ACTIVE POLITICIANS.
NEWPORT. II. l.. August 16. 1879.
The third day of the investigation by the Butler
Committee into the alleged corrupt practices in thu
Providence Custom House aud the interference by
federal officers at elections opened with the testi-
mony Of Major L. G. Pomeroy. a Custom House in
spector, who stated that in addition to his duties
as inspector he clerk in a coal office. whore
he received SIT per week for his services; but in
this respect he followed the example of his prede-
cessor. who. besides being government officer was
ON the police force. Witness had taken particu-
lar part in politics since he was appointed to gov
ernment position.
William Foster. Jr.. told the committee that in
1865 he visited the Seventh ward room, and after
where he received envelope through trap door
and. upon opening it. found it contained $40. Did
not know VINO gave it to him; knew that money was
used at elections. He had been editor of newspa-
per in Providence and greenback candidate for
Governor. He had seen cards and checks used at
elections and upon returning them to headquarters
eral Brayton Mr.. Burroughs and others, had always
been more or less active at elections. rEt
VOTES BOUGHT AND Sold
Asa A. Ellis said that man who had not seen
money used ut I'LL elections in Rhode island be-
blind. Witness said it was used legitmately, ha
III.
openly and went off about his business In the
Spraguepadelford campaign it cost sprague $l3OO0O
and Padeltord $4,000 II was an open thing that
votes were bought and Sold He had never been
bought himself, but refused to say whether he has
bought voters. Federal officers-referring to Post.
master Brayton and Custom House oficers-were al
ways electioneerng and always at the polls cleo
ton days He supposed all federal officials po-
ltical workers the democrats were SO strong that
they were always in the market and always bought
Edwin r. Dawley. formerly chairman of the city
d ~ l,a<1t ao,
tician. He knew that Brayton, the Postmaster. and
Burroughs, customs officer, always engaged
money. but he believed that money had been used.
Mr.. Burroughs was also q clothing dealer; was not
much in the Custom House.
Charles @. Heath had seen aud given out checks to
voters who upon presenting them in dark hall
aud at rum shops, received So and $40 for yotes in
the Eighth ward, in 1875 81, 900 were used at one
election. Federal officers very active and par.
tcipated In this election but no had received
any money from them. saw Mr. Burroughs promise
. voter SO for voting.
FEDERAL OFFICERS DOING poIIrIML WORK.
Judge Irwin T. Case stated that federal officers at
Providence took al active part in politics.; did not
know that they bought votes had seen General
Brayton ut the Legislature and in the ward
doing political work; did not know about the use
of money.
William N. Brown said no had been engaged In
politics for twenty-five years. and had never seen
General Brayton take more than ordinary interest
in the voting on election days. Witness always
at the ward room on those days. and had never
government officers interfering ut elections.
Ex-oFFTcER's TESTIMONY.
William n. Richardson, former clerk in the Post
Office under General Brayton, said that the Post
Office was the political headquarters. and that
workers, wirepullers and politicians came at
all times to see the Postmaster and plan the
campaign. Drunkenness common thing in
the Post Office. He had seen the Postmaster andtwo
or three clerks drink repeatedly in the Office. He
knew that General Brayton was engaged in politics.
he had done political work for him while clerk in
the Post Office. Republican tickets arranged
at the Post Office and carried by the carriers
while the mails were allowed to wait. Clerks were
taken OFF with the Postmaster to go to Warwick,
twenty miles from the city, to do election work and
vote at caucus meetings aud election days. He
q soldier, and had been in the Post Office thirteen
years when he was removed by General Brayton.
Other witnesses testified. but they knew nothing
about Interference by government officials at cleo.
tions