Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-11-24

| public service in the finance depart
ment of Massachusetts,, and had beer
! financial agent for Massachusetts in Eu
rope, and was q gentleman of high
character, widely and faverably known
| do not thing there are any ground:
for misunderstanding me.
Q.-I want to ask if it was expected
| and common in the distribution ol
those offices, to pass them around as
rewards for party services?
Al should say that was the ele.
ment always entered into it, and yet
not a conspicuous one. A great many
eligible missions abroad are held by
gentlemen who never did party service
at ALL
Q.-Do you mean to be understood
that on the whole this element of par
ty service was not prominently recog-
nized in the distribution of office?
Al do not mean to be understood
that 1t was not recognized, only that If
was not the sole basis on which such
thinss were done, and that gentlemen
who had nothing of these claims were
consigned to conspicuous public posi-
tions.
Q.-Was it popularity in Guiteau's
application for Office that he based his
claim or party service?
A.-Oh, no, that's common.
Q.-Was it not the almost uniform
mode Of application?
A.-As a rule | think you would
find that gentlemen who hold conspicu-
Gus positions in diplomatic stations are
not those who have applications for
them on file in the department.
Q.-To come nearer home, how
about collectorships in leading cities?
Al am not in the treasury depart
ment. (Laughterj
Q.-4Ou know nothing about it?
A A.-Nothing but hearsay, and that I
suppose would not be accepted.
never appointed collector in my life.
Q.-What was the condition of the
republican party as to unanimity and
harmony for six weeks before the
shooting of the president?
A. latter a pause)-There were some
dissensious in it.
Q.-These were considerable, were
they not?
A.-Yes, sir.
Q-They created a good deal of ex-
citement in the country?
Al should say not in the country.
Q.-I mean among the people?
A.-The dissention was largely local.
There were differences between the
president and some members of the
party about some matters in New York
Q.-They were agitated in the press
all over the country?
A.-They were commented upon.
Q.-I wish you would state thorough
ly to the jury the substance of those
dissensiOns here in Washington and
New York as matter of evidence. | re-
fer to the differences that eliminated
in the resignation of the senators from
New York.
Al do not exactly know the scope
of the question.
Q.-Where there any such troubles?
A'-Oh, yes, there were very sharp
differences Of opinion.
opinions?
A.-Yes.
Q.-What did they consist of?
A.-The act that created the differ
ence.
Q.-There was more than one act in
that connection.
Aft you will specify any particu-
lar one, give my opinion on it.
Q.-Perhaps if [ call your attention
to the conduct of certain individuals,
you can answer.
Q.-How was it with Senator Conk-
ling, of New York. Did he do anything
or say anything that led to that trouble
that famed the difference or promoted
it?
A.-What difference? (Laughter.)
Q.-In the republican party?
About what?
Ooh, of course, if you do not
know, you need not answer.
Aft Senator Conkling spoke he
must have spoken about some particu-
lar thing.
Q,-I do not want any long disquisi-
ton; [ simply ask you to state to the
jury the substance of the trouble in the
republican party.
Witness-I do not exactly see the
point about which the counsel desires
me to testify. | have no reluctance to
testify, and [ hope he will not construe
my answer in that way The president
had appointed Robertson collector OF
customs at New York, and out of that
and the propriety of it, there grew up a
feeling between him and his admins
tration, and the senator from New
York.
Scoville-Now, if you will go little
further and state what happened after
that disagreement grew up and what
resulted from it?
Witness-I am sure | can make a
political speech Of two hours and a
half on the subject. (Laughter). If
you will ask the specific questions [ will
answer them.
Ques.-What was done, if anything,
by the senators from New York after
the disagreement arose with the ad-
ministration? Did they resign?
Ans.-They resigned, yes, sir.
Ques.-When was that?
81 think the resignation was on the
28th of May. Of that [ will not be
positive. TO the district attorney
Am l correct?
District Attorney-It was earlier than
that, about the 18th.
Prisoner Quietly y)-The 10th of May;
Scoville-We will say the 10th OF
May. What was the cause Of their re-
signing.
Ans.-Discontent with the presi-
dents action in appointing Robertson.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18.-The Grim
inal court room was packed again this
morning Upon the court being open
ed, Scoville requested the court to take