Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-01
THU RSDAY, JULY l. 1880.

know them on the street; am not aware that ever saw Mir. Nickerson before ; and if anybody in this business had any scheme relating to me it was never mentioned to me in the remotest way. It never was sug- gested to me that this matter could relate to FmW'datles as shmember of congress in any way whatever. All that 1 did was done openly. Everybody who called on me could have seen what was doing, and, if there was any in- tentlon or purpose on the part of anybody to eonnect he any sway with anyaring or any diShonorable scheme it was sedulously con cealed from me. As have said three years ago, joint committee of the two houses in- vestigated this matter thoroughly. Mir. Par sons was summoned was examined and cross examined; MT. 'Chittenden was examined :; Mir. NickersonAwas examined. When heard that my name was being used in the. matter went to the chairman on both sides, for it was joint committee. Senator Thurman of my own state was on the committee; MT. Jewett, now president of the Erie railroad, was on the 1 committee. l said to the chairman that, if there was anything in connection with the Case which reflected upon me, and that they thought l ought to answer, I would De oblg- ed to them if they would inform me. The Chairman on the part of the house, Mir. Will son, said that he had looked the matter all over, and that what had done was perfectly proper; but, if anything should occur to make any explanation necessary, l should appear | Oe1Ore the committee; he would send me word. He never did send for me- Very soon after that my political campaign in Ohio open | ed.
 Every man in public life is blessed with en- emies as well as friends; and no sooner had I my campaign opened than The New York Sun published thirteen columns, I believe, con talnlng almost every form of public and pri- l Vate assault upon me, among other things | quoting this testimony in such a way as to make It appear that what l had done con- promised my position as chairman of the con- mittee on appropriations. went before the people of my district and discussed this whole | matter; and in speech which was printed circulated by thousands every part and parcel ol thls charge was made as public as any thing could be. It was revived to some ex- rent in the campaign last fall. and all possible new light thrown upon it. In the course of the campaign of 1874, a gentleman from my district wrote in regard to it to Mir, Wilson the chairman of the joint committee on the part of the house. and received letter in re- ply which read
 CoNNERsvIILE, Ina, Aug. 1, 1874. Hon. Geo. w. Steele
 Dear Slr-To the request for information as to whether or not the action of General Gar. field, ln connection with the affairs of the affairs of the District of Columbia, was the District of Columbia, was the subject of con- demnation by the committee that recently had those affairs under consideration, I answer that it was not; nor was there in my opinion, any evide: ce that would have warranted any untayorable criticism upon his conduct
 The facts disclosed by the evidence, so far as he is concerned, are briefly these:
 The board of public works was considering the question as to the kind of pavement that should be laid. There was contest as to the respective merits of various wooden pave- ments. Mr. Parsons represented, as attorney the DeGoiyer & McClelland patent, and being called away from Washington about. the time the hearing was to be had before the beard of public works on this subject, procured General Garfield to appear before the board in his stead and argue the merits of this patent This he did, and this was the whole of his connection ln the matter. It was not ques- tion as to the kind of contract that should be made, but as to whether this particular kind of pavement should be laid. The criticism of the committee was not upon the pavement in favor of which General Garfield argued, but was upon the contract made with reference to 1t; and there was no evidence which would warrant the conclusion that he had anything w
 .l ~.e. Very respectfully, etc.,
 ....,.y ...---. ...,. J. M WILSON
 want to say this, further, that if anybody in the world holds that my fee in connection with this pavement, even by suggestion or i'm piicaticn, had any relation whatever to any appropriation by congress for anything con nected with this district, or with anything else, 1t is due to me, it is due to thls committee and 1t is due to congress that that person be sum- moned. If there be man on this earth who makes such charge, that man is the most in- famous perjurer that lives, and shall be glad to confront him anywhere in this world. 1 am quite sure this committee will not allow hear say and contradictory testimony to raise a presumption against me. New I will say very frankly to the committee that if had known or imagined that there was an intent such as this witness insinuates, on the part of anybody, that my employment by brother lawyer to prepare brief on perfectly legiti- mate questlon-a question of the relative mer- its of certain lawful patents any con- nectlon whatever, or any supposed connection In the mind of any man, with my public du- ties, 1 certainly would have taken no such en- gagement. 1 would have been very weak and foolish man to have done it, and trust that gentlemen who know me will believe that would at least have had too much respect for my own ambition to have done such thing. t .- ..- ar- a..
 By way of commentary upon this can alse be quoted from the same record the following from General Garfield's examination of man named Nickerson who was the chief accusing witness
 By Mir. Garfield: O. (Reading from the let ter of the vice president of the board of pub lie works to DeGolye &9 MeClcllatd, dated June %, 1S72)-'An additional amount of 90, 900 square yards will be awarded you so soon as the board are reimbursed by the gen earl government on account of expenditures around public buildings and grounds, or you will be allowed to lay it this season if you can wait until an appropriation is made for this purpose, at $3.50 .per square yard What do you say on yonr testimony that word appropriation means in your testimony? A! mean an appropriation by congress to pay for the work.
 Q. Do you understand that congress ap- propriated money to pay for this pavement A. I say that congress did make anappropria- tion. In the first place, the certificates of the board of public works, which are, simply certificates of indebtedness, have been as- suned by subsequent legislation by con- gress. That is what understand to be tue fact. 'i-f 'i,'-,'' '' '-'' f'-' @5t'
 Q. But ask you if this appropriation re- ferred to here IS an appropriation by congress to pay for this pavement? A. mean to be understood as saying that the 150 GOO square yards awarded there has come to be chargea- ble upon subsequent appropriations and I meant to say also that the 50, GOO square yards was awarded upon the express condition that the parties should wait until an appropriation should be made by congress which would GOV CT the expenditure.
 Mir. Garfield-Mr. Chairman, never saw this contract before, but l want to say a word in regard to the word appropriation" used iu it. It has no more reference to congress than it has to Great Britain., The board of public works (of tie District of Columbia), under the general law and the legislation of the dis trict government made, ,theb appropriations It. self, and taxed the peopleuof the districtG along the streets where these improvements mon with otber % properly hoiders in the he so dis trict paid by assesSrIfeht leyfe{f hv fEe hoard