The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-07-02
GEN. GARFIELD AND THE FIVE.
THOUSAND.DOLLARB BRIBE.

ssIhe hrSc act was to capture Hunt
ington and the Governor; next, to par
alyze the paving companies. This has
been done effectually; alliance for the
future is entirely complete"
Huntington was the cashier OF Jay
Cookies bank, and tho intermediary for
most of the Ring corruption. The
sequently Huntington died, and on the
9Th of April, 1872, Chittenden tele-
graphed to Mcclellan as follows:
"Gov. Shepherd is my right bower
now in place of Huntington. Don't
whisper word; but one soul knows it,"
Having secured this influence, it was
necessary to enlist support in Congress
for the proposed raid On the Treasury.
At that time r.. G. Parsons was the
United States Marshal of the Supreme
Court, which Office he had converted
into a headquarters for the lobby. He
was known to be the next friend of
James A. Garfield, then chairman of
the appropriations. Chittenden brought
Parsons to Washington, and in letter
to Mcclellan he speaks in this language:
'Tuesday afternoon Parsons arrived.
We shall get 100000 yards, and how
much more is problematical. The in
fuence of Gen. Garfield has been Sc
cured by yesterdays, last nights, and
to-day's labors. He holds the purse
strings of the United States, is chair
man of the Committee on Appropria-
tions, and the strongest man in Con-
gress; and with our friends my demand
is to-day not hess than 100000 yards
more 1905 600 in all: The connection
is complete. can hardly realize we
have Gen. Garfield with us. 1t is a
success, and very gratifying, as all the
appropriations must come through
him."
Parsons was paid 5000 at that time
for the "connection'' which he estab-
lished, and before tho big contract was
signed. 1t was q bribery retainer. On
the 2lst OF June, 1872, Dc Golyer &
Mcclellan were formerly notified to
this effect:
ssThe Board have this day awarded
you a contract to lay 10000 yards of
wood pavement of patent known as
De Golyer No. 2, tho whole to be COM
pleted within five months from date.
An additional amount of $4,000 square
yards will be awarded you as soon as
the Board is reimbursed by the General
Government on account Of expenditures
about public 6uiltzi,sgs xasa grounds, or
you will be allowed to lay it this sea-
son if you will wait until an appropri-
alton is made for this purpose, at $3.50
per square yard"
The Ring was then applying to Con-
gress for an initial appropriation, and
this condition for the additional 90, 900
yards was to bind Garfield, whom Par
sons had pledged to Boss Shepherd and
his associates after full understand
ing with Garfield. The job aggregated
500, 900, and the profit on it may be
estimated by the following extract
from the testimony of o. II. Quimby,
the Superintendent of De Golycr 4
Mcclellan
"By the Chairman-Did I under
stand you correctly when understood
you to say that the total cost of the
pavement is 81 so per square yard, in
Guiding the blocks, labor, gravel, every
thing? Ayes, sir; that constitutes
the aUAole cost of the pavement, the
actual working cost of the pavement in
this CITY,"
Therefore, the contractors had $780,
600 for addition, division, and silence.
To procure this job, they agreed to pay
ninety-seven thousand dollars. Nc
Clellan, one of the partners, testified
on that point thus:
s.When Mr.. Chittenden came to
Chicago he said he wanted ono hun
dred Thousand dollars, but that he had
arranged SO that he could get along
with ninety-seyen thousand dollars,
and he said he wanted to pay his cx-
penses, and part Of the national debt"
John s. Cook, the attorney and busi-
nsss manager of the firm, also testified:
"My transit account showing a dis
position OF $97 700 is as follows: May
20, Col. p. Eneaning Col. Parsons],
$4,000; July -, bills payable, s72, 900
Cno explanation, but probable arrange
ment with the Boss and othersj; July
l2, II. G. p. [meaning Col. Parsonsl
$4,000 Lhalfot which Garfield receiv-
ed1; July II, w. G. B. [meaning tho
Rev. w. Colvin Brownl, $4,000"
When Parsons was called before the
joint committee in 1874, he swore as
follows:
"Before the Board had finally made
its awards 1 was called home to Clevc-
land by matters of a pressing private
nature, and feeling great soiicitude as
to the result of my labors, and, of
course, desirons of securing my fees,
called upon Gen. Garfield, and gave
him history OF the case as it then
stood, and asked him, as Congress
xx,C,,1I aHin,rn In foxu Cava if n