National Republican., 1888-03-07

HOui lHt bhtit cause, COupibu WIFI JDe re-
duced force and the fact that an insuffl.
Client amount Of Ice was supplied. He
tBenedlct) did not know that employees had
had to buy ice because the office failed to
furnish IL. He did not think that q reduc-
tion OF 500 or GOO in the force would cause
any reduction In the amount OF fee con-
sumed.
Mr.. Gallinger then proceeded to show
how, In the purchase OF minor supplies, the
defendant had eDdeavored to mislead the
committee Benedict claimed that he pur-
chased deXtrine for 63 cents per pound and
said that his predecessor had paid IL cents
for the same article. IL was proven that
only one small purchase (the fret one) was
made at 12 cents, it being procured at Gill
mans drug store at the regular retail price,
but when the next purchase became neces-
sary 314 pounds we're bought and the price
paid was st cents. Borax, which the de-
feDdant said he mad bought az s cents, was
shown to have cost any thing from IL cents
to 20 cents, not less. He had no explana-
tion to make as to how he had saved $50 per
cent. on his purchases Of crude petroleum
The entire amount expended for that ar
ticle was Sc.
Mr.. Gallipger asked him II he had saved
$21 on the SO purchase, and II his other saw
ings bad been figured up on the same arith-
metical methods. The fluctuations OF the
market on turpentiue were then shown
from trade journals by Mr.. Gallinger, and
he then proceeded to expose further the
misleading statements OF the defendant and
the petty animus he had displayed. Bepe-
dict had stated that his predecessor had
paid 75 cents each for oil stones while he
bad been able to get the same for As cents.
Mr. Gallinger then proved most couclu-
eively that those oil stones which had been
purchased under the lact administration
were bought for 25 cents each. This Bene
dict acknowledged, but he added sneeringly
"if he did purchase them"
The stereotyping question was then gone
Into at some length, and the defendant
came to the conclusion before he got
through that his alleged savings In that de.
partment were not savings at all. His
knowledge Of stereotypiDg was about as
extensive as that possessed by him on'the
arts Of printing or book binding. lie said
that the forms of the Ellenvllle Press (of
which he was editor, proprietor, compost
tor, Freeman, and mailing clerk were not
stereotyped. He said it cost $1,000 TO
wbitewash the Office. He did not know
whether 1t bad been done under his prede-
cessor or not. He thought the public
printer was responsible for the cleanliness,
or otherwise, Of the Office, and not Capt.
Brian.
The committee then "a. i:30) iiourned
until 7:30.
When the committee reatsembled for
the evening session all the members were
present. even Mr.. Gallnger's active and
energetic assistant, Mr.. Hestand, being on
hand. The cross ss-eyamination Of Mr..
Benedict was continued by Mr.. Gillinger,
but the informant ELECTED was OF the
usual negative and valueless character, so
far os boletcriDg up his own administration
was concerned. Mr.. Gallinger called the
defendants attention to the report he
lBenedicD made to Congress for the fiscal
nplipu lima m lSSR In which ha
said ~ take pleasure in saying that
found the office well equipped In many
respects, and It's vast machinery In intelli-
gent hands," and asked him to explain the
significance Of that part of his report for
1887 where he said that the Office was "a
slough OF discredtable inefliciency." This
he concluded he could not do, so he did
not try.
The session was brief one, as Mr.. Gal.
lipger was not prepared to continue until
certain information was given him by the
printing Office authorities.
Mr.. Gibson promptly objected o an ad-
journment, and wanted the Investigation to
continue.
Mr.. GallInger saId be had no objection to
that, but he would asked to be excused.
Mr.. Gibson glared over at Mr.. Hestand
and seemed to be asking him what he was
doing there IL he did not propose to inves-
tigate, but the courageous Pennsylvania
never quailed before the "mashing" eye OF
the Marylander; he did not move; he made
no attempt even to speak. 1t was evident
that he would not allow any one to coerce
him into meddling with the public printer.
Mr.. Gallinger suggested that Saturday
would be a good day for reopening OF
hostilities.
Mr.. Gibson (having nothing else to do)
objected.
Mr. Cummings said he thought Mr.. Gal
| lipger's request was reasonable one and
ought TO be egratifed
Mr.. Gibson tried to explain why he
wanted to compel Mr.. Gallinger to go on
with the examination, but he failed to show
how It could be done. He became quiet
when Mr. Gallinger suggested that all ap-
peal to the House might be necessary to
shut him up and to preserve his (Gallln-
ger's) rights.
Messrs. Richardson and Hiestand les
pecially the latter, who is evidently nom
combatant) took no part In the discussion,
ard it was finally decided to adjourn until
Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock.