Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-13


COLUMBUS, April 1.-THE Legislative
Committee appointed some weeks ago TO in
vestigate certain charges made against Rail-.
road Commissioner Cappellar, made their
report to the Senate this evening, and it
will be considered on Monday.
The investigation was asked for by Cap
pellar. 1t was made necessary by the
statements of r. j. flaming, chief clerk,
who was discharged. The committee re-
gret that they were unable to secure NJ.
E. Ingalls,, of the big -Four" as . witness,
whom they regarded important.
The report is divided into two branches
Mr.. Cappellar's official conduct and the
Mansfield Herald story. They find that he
did not give that ''close personal attention
to his duties which sound public policy
would indicate as proper" that he drew
funds amounting to $25 and 500 IN
1888, appropriated for outside expenses
named in ''the performance Of official
duties" without keeping an expense ae-
count. Mr.. Cappellar and Fanning's testi-
mony were at variance on this point. and
the committee draws no inference in the
absence of record, but they insist that the
system" furnishes no protection to the
public. fr-s,s
A PECULIAR INSTITUTION.
The American News Exchange was in
existence about three months when the
postal authorities, acting upon complaints,
investigated it and found that it was
carried on in violation of the United States
laws. The Postmaster at Cincinnati was in
structed to refuse to deliver letters containing
remittances and the exchange was frozen out.
The testimony of Messrs. CappeHar, j. N.
BOYLE and Guy Webber showed that no
management had been perfected to take any
news gathered, neither had any arrange
ment been made with q telegraph COM
pany to transmit news. Transportation
cards had been furnished, to honor
which no arrangement had been made
with any railroad company. Theatrical ad-
missions were also issued without any pro-
vision with proprietors to honor them,
though they were recognized at certain
places of amusement in Cincinnati.
The association closed, but, says the COM
mittee no efforts were made to reimburse
those who had contributed various sums to
become members. Advertisements had been
placed in the newspapers all over the coun-
try offering the advantages indicated above
to those who would become members and
contribute news.
IT PAID WELL.
A large number of contribution members,
paying from 81 to $40, were secured, and
they were promised a certain per cent Of
profits. The aggregate amount paid could
not be ascertained, but the committee thinks
the Mansfield Heralfs estimate Of s., SIS is
approximately correct. Mr.. Cappel-
lar was President, j. NJ. Boyle,
Secretary and Treasurer, and Guy
Webber, active manager, though
the name of NJ. Mccarthy appears on some
| Of the printed matter as manager. The tes-
timony shows that the exchange subse-
| quently made arrangements to transfer the
business, though no provision was made for
reimbursing the agents. The committee
declines therefore to dissent from the deci-
sion in the postal departments investiga-
| ton.
Mr.. Csppellar is Chairman Of the Repub-
lican State Executive Committee, and the
intimations in the report that he has misap-
propriated funds, neglected the duties of
his Office and been connected with ques-
| tionable news concern has created consider
able Of sensation in news circles.