The Portland daily press., 1881-11-11
JOHN SHERMAN.
Square Contradiction of Scan
dalous Report.
THE WORK ON HIS HOUSE PAID FOR
OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.

WASHINGTON, Nov 10.-The attention of
Senator Sherman has beenscalledsto the publish
ed statement of w. Paul Brown, who claims
that while employed as a carpenter in the
Treasury Department he did certain work on
the stables and residence of Secretary Sher-
man IN 1878 and 1879 and that his time was
charged to the different bureaus of the Treas
ury. Concerning this statement of Mr.. Brown
which purports to be part of the testimony in
the Pitney Treasury investigation, Senator
Sherman, says
1 have not seen the published statement by
Mr.. Brown and do not know such person. AS
regards my residence on *. street.-The only
house that l have built in Washlngton-l
know that it was contracted for and the work
wos done by Davidson & Co. paid him (Mr.
Davidson) for the work. and if any such man
as Mr. Brown did any work it was under the
direction of the contractor and paid for BY him
Ii he has ever done any work for me nave
paid him. / don't know what work he could
have done, for have certainly never employ
ed man by this name. AS regards the Fit
ney investigation, have never objected to the
testimony upon which it is based being made
public, provided such were accompanied by
the proper explanations. | did object to ex
parte statements going out without these ex-
plantations. There is nothing of what you say
Mr.. Brown states mentioned in the Pitney re-
port 1 never saw the testimony in this case
uor the names of the witnesses who testified
before the commission. The testimony has
Mr.. Brown is reported to have stated must
have come from some other source. As l have
already said while have no objection to any
other Senator or other person seeing the testi-
mony would desire the proper explanation
The testimony will be subject to examina-
ton and investigation by the Senate Commit
tee on appropriations. In accordance with the
resolution, which / introduced and which was
adopted, this committee is directed to inquire
into the whole expenditure of the contingent
md hoxra n lint that ruil ha
done. The committee has authority to send
for witnesses and papers and to examine all the
testimony and to sit during recess. Conse-
quently the testimony in the Pitney matter
will go before this committee
In reference to the statement published Sec
rotary Window says that no such evidence
was submitted to him by the committee ap-
pointed to investigate the management OF the
contingent fund of the Treasury department.
There are always persons ready to charge If
regularities on officials. especially among those
who are discharged from office. The investi-
cation which he ordered was not intended to
smirch the character OF anybody but to &C
quaint him with the methods of disbursing
government funds appropriated for contingent
expenses. A statement of what was expected
would be shown what was submitted to him
Subsequently he carefully examined the re-
port of the committee and came to the conclu-
sion that the report and the evidence was not
for the eye of lthe public because the state
menus were not maze unuer oaln ana the OK
animation, as far as IT'D went, was wholly ex-
parte. Now that the Senate had ordered an
investigation and both sides could be heard it
was probable that very many of the allegations
would be found groundless. Secretary VIM
dom repeated that the investigation was never
designed to pry into the management of the
department by his predecessors, but to Salty
himself as to what change, if any, was needed.
The result was the abolition of the office of
superintendent of the building and the dis
charge of Mr.. Pitney, who had filled that of
fee for many years.