Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-01
fairfield Finds his Man.

| Garfield Finds his Man.
New York Sun.
Gen. Garfield went before the real es-
tate pool investigating committee Febru-
| ary, 1877, and swore that the s., 900 paid
him by DeGoyler & cClelland was cOun-
sci fee for an argument made by him be-
fore the board OF public works.
When pressed for specification Of the
legal services rendered by him to the firm
of contractors, he was unable to show that
his so-called argument amounted to any,
| thing more than speaking once privately
to Gov. Shepherd.
While under oath and protesting his in
nOcence OF corrupt action as chairman Of
the appropriations committee, Gen. Gar
field.
81 want to say this, further, that if
anybody in the world holds that my fee in
connection with this pavement, even by
suggestion or implication, had any rela-
ton whatever to any appropriation from
Congress for anything connected with this
district, or with anything else, it is due to
me, it is due to this committee, and it is
due to Congress that that person be sum-
moned. If there be man OH this earth
who makes such charge, that man is the
most infamous perjurer that lives, and I
shall be glad to confront him anywhere i'll
this world.'
Gen. Garfield now has the opportunity
he has SO long desired. Albert B. Kirt-
land was the man who secured for DeGol-
yer & McClelland the Influence OF Gen.
Garfield in favor of their swindl, Of
wooden pavement. MIR. Kirkland. in an
affidavit made OF Friday last, supplies the
secret history Of the employment Of Gen.
Garfield, and puts OH record as sworn evil
dence facts that have hitherto been mat
tcrs Of conjecture and inference. As 10
the manner i'll which Gen. Garfield earned
his $1,000 Mr.. Kirkland testified:
"He [Chittcnden] told mo that if
could obtain the contract for DcGOlyer &
McClelland, he would give me fifty cents
a square yard for all that might be award
cd. told him would see what could be
done, and Immediately called upon al in
innate personal friend of mine, who Vas
then a partner OF Alexander r. Shepherd.
at that time president OF the board OF pub
lie works in the district of Columbia. Ii
SAID he would See what could be done.
Subsequently he saw me at Shepherds
place of business, and told me that unless
the pending appropriation bill for some
SO, O0O, 900 for work already done and be-
Congress, which was tten rapidly drawing |
to close, 4 contract ii the District would |
be worthless, and that had better get my !
friends to aid Gov. Shepherd in passing |
the appropriation through Congress.
'Hc further stated to me that if the in
fluence of Gen. Garfield could be secured |
for the passage of the appropriation, which. |
was then hanging Gre, there would be no |
question about Gov. Shepherd awarding
the con tract to anybody that Gen. Gar
field night request.
II accordingly ut once sought to secure
Gen. Gariield's support Of the approprits-
ton, and, having succeeded, saw my
friend and told him that it would be all |
right. The influence of Gen. Garfield w&s
secured through Richard G. Parsons, of
o., to whom l was to allow
SIS, 5,Oco-s10, 900 for Parsons and $1,000 for
Garfield.
"After consulting with my friend, it
was then determined, in order to speedily
tho arrangement. that Gen.
Garfield should be invited to take rifle
ON the followin. Sabbath to Gov. Shep-
herds summer residence, and then and
there make the request that DeGolyer Il
should be awarded the con-
tract. We understood that Gov. Shepherd,
who was very anxious to capture Gen.
Garfield, did not wish to call upon the lat
ter if it could be avoided, and We felt sure !
that Gen. Garfield did not desire to sub |
.ject himself to public criticism by calling |
the office of the board of public works, or |
at Gov. Shepherds. This ride was taken |
on the I'd day of June, 1878, about ten
days before the adjournment of Congress, |
and while the District appropriation was
pending.
"The arrangement was consequently |
was procured for him aud Mr.. Parsons. I |
Garfield and Mr.. Parsons were driven out |
to Gov. Shepherds house alone.
IL then informed my friend of this a.
and III order that Gov. Shep-
herd might not be absent he went out to
his summer residence and spent the same
Sunday there that Parsons aid Garfield
called. After their return to the city he
reported to me that the matter had all
been satisfactorily arranged, and said that
rs he stepped to the carriage, with Gen.
Garfield and Mr.. Parsons after leaving the
house, about the last words uttered by
Gov. Shepherd were {: Gentlemen, pass
that appropriation bill and your friend
shall have the contract.
''By the agrecmenJ then entered into
between Gen. Garfield and Gov. Shepherd,
it was understood that Garfield WAS to be
paid for the contract in the manner indici-
ted :; and that in order to obtain the con.
tract he WAS to securc the appropriation
Tor some three millions of dollars, which
was accordingly donc.'
Here, then, is the man whom Gen. Gar
field processes to be anxious to confront.
But it seems that Gen. Garfield was not
'eally anxious to confront Mr.. Kirti:.iri.
At the very time when Gen. Garfield was
from the witness stand that hc
would be glad to meet his accuser ''any-
where in this world" he was privately urs-
nS Kirkland to keep out Of the way
Until the close of the investigation.