The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-07-22
THE DE GOLYER CONTRACT.
An Old Slander ON Gen. Garfield Re.
vamped-lIis Own Explanation Of
the Matter.

~S~e NSSeS13&AC1
vamped-1Ias Own Explanation OF
the Matter.
[From the Chicago Evening Journall
A candidate running for Office cannot
escape calumny. Even so upright and
honorable man as Gen. James A. Gar
field is known to be has had his full
share OF slanderous assault, and will
continue to have. His defamers have
been aroused into renewed activity since
his nomination for the Presidency. They
make two specific charges to prove that
he is corrupt man First, that he was
dishonorably connected with the Union
Pacific Credit Mobilier, the falsity of
which was established to the satisfaction
of all candid men shortly after the in
vestigation Of that matter by Congress
several years ago; and, secondly, that
he was dishonorably connected with
contract for paving the streets of WASH
ington ten or dozen years ago.
The circumstances involving the facts
upon which the latter charge rests have
been twice investigated by special COM
mittees of Congress, and tho testimony
is matter of official record, which any
person may examine if so disposed. The
first investigation was by joint CON-
mittee of the Senate and House in 1872,
and the last by committee of the
House in 1874. One witness-a MI.
Nickerson that he had been
informed that Gen. Garfield received
S., 900 from the contractors, De Golyer,
McClelland, Chittenden and others, for
paving the streets Of Washington. as a
fee for an argument he made before the
District Of Columbia Board of. Public
Works in favor Of a certain patent pave
ment, and that, being at that time the
Chairman of the House Committee on
Appropriations, his services in the
premises were secured and rewarded
for the sake Of his great infu.
ence in Congress, which would have to
make an appropriation for the payment
of the street-paving contractors. This
is the general charge as voiced by Nick
erson, who, it seems, had a falling out
with his partners in the contract and
with the District Of Columbia authori-
ties, and was in quest of revenge, strik-
ing right and left, and hitting everybody
within reach.
While the investigation OF 1874 was
in progress, Gen. Garfield, learning of
Nickerson's statement, demanded hear
ing, and was called before the commit
tee. He acknowledged receiving a fec
for making an argument as an attorney
before the District Board, but emphati-
cally disclaimed any connection with or
knowledge Of any corrupt ring or any
improper action whatever. Here is an
extract from the official record of the in
veshgation. Gen. Garfield said:
Now the whole story is plainly and briefly
told. A day or two before tho adjournment
of the Congress which adjourned in the latter
part Of May or the first part Of June, 1872,
Richard C. Parsons, who was practicing
lawyer in Cleveland, but was then the Mar
shall of the Supreme Court, and an old ac-
said that he was called away summarilv by
important business; that he was retained in
case on which he had spent a good deal Of
time, and that there was but one thing re-
naming to be done, to make a brief Of the
relative merits of a large number Of wooden
had agreed that it would put down a certain
amount of wooden pavement in the city, q Ger
tain amount Of concrete and certain amount
of other kinds OF pavement; that it had fixed
the price at which it would put down each Of
the different kinds, and that tho only thing
remaining was to determine which was the
best pavement of each of these several
kinds. He said he should lose his fee unless
the brief on the merits of these payements
was made, and that he was suddenly
and necessarily called away home and he
asked me to prepare the brief. He brought his
papers to my house and models Of the pave
ment. I told him that could not look at the
case until the end of the session. When Con-
gress adjourned sat down to the case, in the
most open manner, as would prepare brief
for the Supreme Court, and worked upon this
matter. There were perhaps forty kinds of
wood pavement, and several chemical analyses
of the ingredients Of the different pavements.
I went over the whole ground carefully and
thoroughly, and prepared brief on the rela-
tive claims Of these pavements for the consider
alton Of the board. That was all did. had
nothing to do with the terms of the contract
knew nothing Of its conditions, and never
had a word to say about the price of the pave.
ment. Iknew nothing about It simply made
brief upon the relative merits of the various
patent pavements and it no more occurred to
me that the thing was doing had relation to
ring, or to body of men connected with
with Congress, or related in any way
to any of my duties in connection
with the Committee on Appropriations,
than it occurred to me that it was interfering
with your personal rights as a citizen. I pre-
pared the brief and went home. Mr.. Parsons
subsequently sent me portion of his own fee
A year later, when the affairs of the District of
Columbia came to be overhauled, Congress be-
came satisfied that the Government OF the Dis
trict had better be abolished, and this whole
matter was very thoroughly investigated by a
committee of the two houses. They went into
the question Of the merits of this pavement,
some claiming that it was bad, and some claim
ing that the Government had paid too much
for it. Mr.. Chittenlen was called as q witness.
l ought to say here that never saw Mr.. Chit
tenden until about tho time l made the brief I
did not and do not know Dc Golyer & McClel-
land :: I would not know them on the street I
am not aware that ever saw Mr.. Nickerson be-
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 my
duties as a member Of Congress in any way
whatever. AL that did was done openly.
Everybody who called on me could have seen
ton or purpose on the part of anybody to con-
meet me in any way with any ring or any dis
honorable scheme. it was sedulously concealed
from ME. As have said, three years ago a
joint committee Of the two houses investigated
this matter thoroughly. Mr.. Parsons was sum-
MIR. Chittenden was examined; Mr.. Nickerson
was examined. When heard that my name
was being used in tho matter, went to the
Chairmen on both sides-for it was q joint
committee. Senator Thurman, of my own
State, was on the committee; Mr.. Jewctt. now
President of the Erie railway, was ON the COM
mittee. said to the Chairmen that, if there
was anything in connection with the case which
reflected upon me, and that they thought I
ought to answer, would be obliged to them If
they would inform me. The Chairman on tho
part Of the House. Mr.. Wilson, 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 ex-
planation necessary, 1 should appear be-
fore the committee; he would send me
word. He never did send for me. Very soon
after thai. my political campaign in Ohio
opened. Every man in public life is blessed
with enemies as well as friends and no sooner
had my campaign opened than the New York
Sun published thirteen columns, believe, con-
tanning almost every form Of public and private
ass: assault upon me! among other things, quoting
pear that what had done compromised my
position as Chairman Of the Committee on Az
! preparations. went before the people Of nv
district and discussed this whole matter and