New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-29
MR.. BEATTIE ON TRIAL.
WITNESSES FOR AND AGAINST HM
A STARTLING DISPLAY OF M0DEsTY-SENAToH
sPooNERs WITTY QUESTION.

Hans S. Beattie, Surveyor Of this port and ono
| OF the most notorious spoilsmen in the Custom
service, appeared before the United States Senate
| Investigating Committee yesterday and attempted
to prove that in the administration Of his Office ho
had actually lived up TO the letter and the spirit
OF tho Civil Service law" In support Of this
amazing proposition he offered his own testimony
and that Of a small army Of Custom House officials.
There was no scarcity of witnesses, and the evil
dence offered, especially that by Mr. Beattie him
self, seemed endless. Nearly all the testi-
| mony submitted was in rebuttal Of
that presented to the committee last week.
Only three or four witnesses were called by the
other side, but the statements they made in refer
ence to the scandalous performances of Deputy.
| Collector Davis in connection with the proposed
Federal Building at Binghamton and the politics
of Broome County, and also in regard to the case
of Examiner McElwee, proved exceednglc embar-
RAISING to the defender of the Reform Adminis-
tration, Senator Blackburn.
The investigation was held, as usual, in the
Equity Court room Of the Post Office Building.
Chairman Hale is still confined to his room with
rheumatism, and Senator Spooner had TO preside.
Mr.. Beattie occupied seat at the Kentucky Sena-
tors elbow and practically ran the Democratic
side Of the examination. I
BROoME COUNTY DEMOCRATS OUT IN FORCE.
Ex-COngressman S. G. Milliard, Of Bnghamton.
was the first witness He introduced the bill for
the new Federal Building in that city. He was CALI
ed to show that everything in connection with the
purchase of the site had been conducted honoraby
by the Davis crowd. He insisted that the Gov
ernment agent had not been bribed. On cross
examination, the fact was brought out that tho
witness was the son-in-law Of Mr. Bennett Davis's
partner, the man who paid the Government agents
hotel bill. Three other citizens Of Bnghamton,
Il. NJ Wilder, j. s. Ihurston and Byron Morgan.
were called by Mr.. Blackburn to prove that the
present site Of the new Post Office there is q
desirable one Thomas w. Lynch, townsman OF
Davis testified on cross-examination to the Dep
uty-Collectors activity in caucuses and conven-
Custom House employees. Thomas w. Lee, another
of the army of Democrats in the Custom House,
was asked how many Broome County people were
employed under Collector Magone. He said no
could not tell off-hand Senator Spooner told him
to reckon them up. The witness tried to do so.
but after mentioning the names of dozen or more,
Assistant Weigher John W. O'Brien, who was
on the stand last week, was rseaIled Like the
tempted to discredit the testimony given by James
w. Conway. Colonel OBrien had never heard
Of such thing political assessments but at
the request Of Senator Spooner, he afterward
produced the receipt for his contribution to tho
Democratic State Committees treasury last
year Mr. O'Fallon, superintendent Of the assistant
weighers, was mentioned by Senator Spooner, and
his fitness for the place was inquired into
o.-Is he a competent weigherf A.-No do NOS
consider that he has had experience wegher.
oThen he was appointed Superintendent Of Assistant
weighers and Weighers Laborers without having any
experience to qualify him for such postonf q
The witness nodded his head in acquiescence.
AFRIEND OF McoUADE APPEARS.
Peter Rafferty,, witness for Alderman McQuade
in that boodler's7 trial. had a good word to say
for the Surveyor. So had James r. MCGEE, an
other weigher, who was recommended by Register
| Murtha, of Brooklyn, and ]. X. Murphy, clerk
| of the Weighers and Gaugers' Department. Super
! intendent Whalen Of the Barge Office, who is
supposed to have had a great deal to do with tho
Widow McGui1ness's pig rattle denied all
connection with that affair.
Inspector Walter B. Styles was called to tell
the committee about Beattie's "roundsmen."
Politics had nothing to do with their reports, he
said He told of one roundsman who was dis
charged for remarking in1udiciously to O brother
official that he was after scalps' that day.
Such candor was not appreciated by MIR. Beattle-
Senator Spooner-You don't say that in max.
ing their reports the these roundsmen
Influenced By political considerations, do youi ANo.
I do not.
o-Do you remember what was done with that rounds
man said he after scapsi Al believe he gos
another place.
o.-Then be was not dischargeii A.-No believe
not
After O half-hour recess Peter Twomblcy. a
sugar-sampler of the Appraisers Department, who
had served under Examiner McElwee and made
the aflidavits that caused McElwee's removal for
had heard McEIwee call Appraiser McsIullen
IAN old FOSSIL" and denounce General
Grant as a thief and the Grand Army men as
suckers David b. Cook, sugar manufact:
urer of Binghamton, swore that the ground Of
the new Federal Building was frequently SUBJ
merged with water from the river. He is Demo-
crat, and one of the committee OF citizens thai
recontly went to see President Cleveland. The
petition laid before the President was offered as
evidence
THE SURVEYOR TELLS HIS STORY.
After some fulsome fattery from two or threc
of Beattie's subordinates the Surveyor himself
took the stand. He took office in July, 865, ha
said He had resisted all sorts Of pressure from
Democrats and Republicans. All the men under
him had been appointed in accordance with tho
Civil Service rules, except the few heads OF dc.
partments. "And," he continued, in the abb
sence of any serious complaint against me, feel
justified in saying that the President made no
mistake in appointing me, nor the Senators In
confirming my appoinsment"
" Do YOU state that under oath, Mr.. Beattie P
There was a general laugh. but the, witness
replied: 1t MAJ, seem vain, Senator'S, but 1t is
Then followed long address about the way
Mr. Beattie had managed the various departments
ganizing the force of spotters' not TO hound
down, Republicans. but TO ascertain that the Govs
eminent officials did their duty, S & lie ADMITTED dIi,,
considerations TO influence their reports, but when
he found man guilty of such q thing he dis
charged him. Mr. Blackburn, with profuse apolo-
gies for such question. asked If any Republicans
iad been bounded down. or discontinued agalnsh
Mr. Beattie replied that il was humiliatng' to
have TO answer such an inquiry but he managed To
control his feelings sufficiently to deny It utterly,
as we'll as everything else that had been said
against him. The inquiry will be resumed this
morning
MATTHEW'S, MeFARLAyEd d co. ACQUITTED
oswego, n. Y, May 2s.-The case OF Matthews.
McFarlane g. Co., grain dealers and owners Of thS