New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-15
THE FRERET INVESTIGATION.
WITNESS FIsrER REFUSED TO ANSWER CUES
TONS ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC CAM
PAIGN FUND

PAIGN FUND.
Washington. Feb IL special-r Tho Senate Sub
Committee which has under Investigation the once
Of tho Supervising Architect had only three Witnesses
before 1t Thu morning. considerable portion OF
the time Of tho committee devoted 10 executive
business and the discussion, With closed doors, OF
the question Of putting under arrest one OF tho WI
ncsscs who was under FIRE to-day. Tho rccalctrahi
witness was Thomas A. Fiser, the assistant IN the
supervising Architects Office, and the questions to
which 10 had refused TO give answers wcrc in r>ia
ton TO tho collection Of money for Democratic cam
taSn purposes In tho Department. All OF Inc Wit
nCsses who had gone before had testified that there
we're voluntary contributions solicited in the De
partment and one Of them said that the money was
handed Fistcr, that he had seen pilo OF checks
The desk of Fister and 10 Isaac Maynards nams
led all the rest The testimony Of the Other Wit
nesscs had rot been printed and apparently FiS,er
did not know that the committee knew all about the
voluntary contribution system There Is only ono
other plausible explanation Of his conduct This morn
ing-that ne knows more than these witnesses, and
that he does not want 10 reveal IT, Whatever HIS
motive, when Mr.. Spoon'r asked him some leading
questions concerning the collection OF money fer
paign purposes 10 the Department, no fatty declined
TO answer.
During the questioning Of Mr. Fistsr By Senator
Spooncr SenatOr PaSco ondeavored several times 20
come 10 his rescue, and 3Ir SpoOner finally com
PEELED 10 protest that, while he willing 10 give
the witness every chance to explain aferwaId, he
going to have answers TO his questions that the W.T.
going to dictate TO the committee 10
him. II the Senate had power TO make the witness
answer the questions he going to have them
answered Throughout tho whole Of this hearing the
bearing Of Mr.. Fster was most aggressive Finally
Mr. spooner suggested, in response TO question Of
Mr. Daniel, that the committee proceed with closed
doors to tho consideration OF the validity OF the queS
tons he had asked. The cleared, and the
committee in secret session for some time Then
the door opened, and Senator Daniel came out
and had talk with Flster. He told him that the
committee had decided that he must answer the ques
TONS and that the consequences If he did not answer
would be unpleasant. Mr. Flsier stu disncncd.
Finally Mr. Daniel told him that he would not be
called on again to-day. and gave him some good advice
about humbllng his spirit and opening his mouth when
next he should appear before the committee
II Mr. Fiser perseveres I'm his determination to re-
main dumb on this subject, the matter VIII be re-
pored TO the full committee and the President of tho
Senate will be asked TO issue warrant for his arrest
The punishment for refusing to answer the questions
Of a committee of Congress Is fine OF not more IMAM
81 900 nor less than 500 and imprisonment IN
common Jail for not more than twelve months nor
less than one month.
The testimony given to-day was interesting OILY
as II corrobora,ed that Of other witnesses. Young
Freret was on tho stand for little time. He seemed
rieycd that The Tribune should have stated uaJ inc
testimony Of any Of the witnesses concerning MS
employment in the Office coniadiced that Oh MS
father and then he proceeded to contradict MS
fathers evidence in a most straightforward and manly
way lie said that he did not begin work on 'lc
Ott,lmwa plans until he was on the salary hst Oh
the Office while as Senator Spooner said the uhder
standing Of the committee from the testimony Oh MS
father was that he had been at work on inc plans
d b,d committed them before he received anything
from the Government IN return FOR his services.
Joseph A. Groves testified that he had prepared
the plans for tho Duluth building. lie obta'heu 'ne
contract through a friend named Linnemans ana nc
was TO pay Lnnemans $o5 for the use OF ms hainG
~, ~ dav II he did any work Oh the plans. lo
aid that he had been solicited 70 make younIa1Iy
contribution to the campaign und ana Az go SoiH6
annroarbcd two three times he h0l gwen T. ."
10 The cause of Cleveland and reform .. -
II the committee succeeds IN probing inc H d ~
oli,tcol contributions tho bottom II VIII uSCoNcI
Hal Mn Fister vas the medium through WHICH Song
~ 900 was transmitted 10 the DemOcr"'o N'''o"''
Committee fOr camp align purposes