New-York tribune., 1879-03-27
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

general business.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
MR.. GoRHAM GRATIPIEs DEMOCRATIC CURIOSITY
AS TO now THE REPUBLICANS GOT THEIR
CAMPAIGN FUNDS AND WHAT THEY DID WITH
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.i
WASHINGTON, March 26.-The committee to in
quire into alleged frauds in the late elections,
Senator Wallace, of Pennsylvania, chairman, met
at 10 o'clock this morning. all the members being
present.
Mr. Wallace offered in evidence the statute relat-
ING to political assessments and the order of the
President on the same subject
Mr. George c. GOrham, late Secretary Of the
Senate and Secretary of the National Republican
Executive Committee during the Congressional
contest of 1878 was examined in regard to the
means taken to raise money to carry on that
campaign.
In reply to Mr.. Wallace the witness testified as
follows:
Mr. Hale was at the head OF the National Committee.
but had charge OF Its practical management The
feeling the committee unanimous against assess
meuts upon Government employees. 1t WAS agreed that
all contributions should be voluntary. circular was
formulated by in May 1875 which met the approval
of the committee and was issued by their authority,
inviting subscriptions. These circulars were sent
to employees in the Interior Department, not
10 the Post Office Department, the Attor-
ney-Generals Oflce the Treasury Depart
ment. Probably not TO the Navy Department.
No circulars were sent to Senate employees The entire
amount contributed by Federal once-hoders about
500 OOO though all OF this in response to the
circulars. Many Government empioyes contributed
was issued by personally in July 1873, stating that
for the benefit OF emp owes unable under the rules OF the
departments 10 absent themselves during business
hours the treasurer OF the Executive Committee, Mr.
Austin who also assstant-casher OF the German
American National Bank, would remain at his office
over hours receive any subscription they might wish
to make third circular was Issued requesting thcse
pay the amounts agreed upon to fulfil their su6scrp
tOus.
FORM which filed out with figures calculated TO
m s s recnent Drovded is salary was over
81 900 and under $1,000. 1t considered that those
cent ana the committee would probably get more from
them by not mentioning any sum expected One per
cent was ed upon as guide the recipient. else
would perhaps be at loss TO know what proper
1t not considered at sl mandatory In addition
to the $4,000 raised from Office holdcrs ETC. $1,000
was collected from other sources, making 100000 IN
all which constituted the whole campaign fund Henry
Baker appointed by the committee TO visit the
Treasury Department aud ask those who chose TO sub
scribe t to pNs state sS SO 3 IN SSGh ASaST
and the Sixth Auditor OF the Treasurys office and else
where on similar Grand did not know that this
was made IN favor OF these gentlemen; think the
iege. will try aud produce the book containing sub
scrptOns tomorrow.
IL lady emplOye was asked, II was against the
orders ana Wishes OF the committee. Two or three
lady employees came 10 me and said they were Ddig-
nant at being excepted and insisted on contrbuling
All the circulars were sent by mall postage
paid. II these circulars were not sent to every
oee99deT der throughout the sCnnuy who reSeyed
neglected their duties The names were taken from the
Blue Book or course there we've exceptions, such
Cabinet ministers and foreign ministers,
The request for contributions was responded to more
generously ihan before. Though only per cent
on named, against per cent in 1876, the
committee received sum eqaai 10 three quarters OF
be attributed to the fact that employees felt under the
Presidents order that they were under pressure 70
give and, therefore. felt more literally disposed
personally know OF no where employe has been
discharged Noncompliance with the circulars
4 Democrat, employed IN the Sixth Auditors office,
who was cousin 20 the commander of the Confederate
war steamer Shenandoah. w0s asked 10 subscribe and
refused, saying he Democrat and did not propose
to p6n Gl W nnd E heard that month a
Waddell was no longer there But have also
heard that lie has another position under the Govern
meut and personally know nothing OF the truth OF
Tie 100000 raised was expended as follows For
documents POSTAGE etc. about $4,000; for eGployes
SS0rt Ss 600 for remittance to different States S54
oo9 and yT naymenI to speakers 81 300 or the bal
ance $4,000, $500 remains on hand, 5000 having
been lost by the failure of the German American
National Bank, in which it deposited. No contri-
buttons solicited from National banks. Mr.. Hale
from wealthy friends Of the cause $4,000 There may
have been bankers among the giycrs. <
To Mr.. Gafland-Tnc circulars we're sent TO employees
Of the Interior Department instead of solicitors being
def to the ascertaned wish OF Sec
retary solicitors should not be sent to that
department Wherever il was not thought TO be disa
gIeeable the heads of departments, solicitors
In the Treasury Department. The gentlemen who
solicited IN the Navy Department did not make much
headway. The head OF the department was away, and
Mr. Clark in charge, threw distractions IN thor way.
TO Mr. McDOnald-S9 900 was sent 10 ONO and 20 900
10 Indiana. / Will furnish the committee detailed
statement OF disbursements 10 states and Congressional
Districts
To the Chairman-I know nothing Of collections from
employees by State Committees In addition 10 those OBJ
talned by the National Committee BY special arrange
ment with the local organizations the National Com
Allegheny County. Penn, aud extended aid to those
localities from the general fund. similar arrange
ment was made IN Maryland wish 10 call tue atteu-
ton OF the committee TO the fact that was not
cutve officer Of the United States and therefore ola not
under the head OF those named In tho statute IN
regard assessments introduced 10y the chairman
To Mr.. HOar-The circular written with the
knowledge that IL could not fail 10 become public.
Measures taken TO ascertain whether the appoint
ing would consider circular violation OF tue
ncple OF voluntary contribution, ana the result was
the assurance, sde by the committee, authority
that would be objection in official quarter
10 voluntary contributions, aud there never was the
sghtest pressure body subscribe The refusal OF
persons to subscribe was never made known 10 any
person who had authority TO secure tueir removal
To Mr. McDODald-We were desirous TO consult the
propretes Of the matter in not calling apponteos
Of te President contributions In any manner VIII ch
would De diet tasteful TO hm Therefore member OF the
committee was selected 10 present this 10 the appoint
lug power, and / presume he acted upon knowledge
when he made a slight modification OF the language
q - sl.s lfaEn nj lAN