Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-09-14


Stitute measure, mentioned above,
among other Things, said ernest
Seyd, of London, distinguished writer
and bullionist, is now here and has
given great attention to the subject or
minis and coinage and after examining
the first draft Of the DILL made various
sensible suggestions, which the COM
mttee accepted and embodied i'm the
bill.' (See Congressional Globe page
2304, 1872 } Why Ernest Seyd WAS
here, why be was interested in his par
ticulay bill, why he should offer any
suggestions 10 the committee, is made
manifest in the follo wing aiidavig Of
Mr., Luckanbach.
state of Colorado,
County of Arapahoe,
Friedrich A. Luekenbach being first
duly sworn, on oath deposes aud says:
| am 81 years of age. | was born in
Bucks County, Pa. removed to the
city If Philadelphia IN the year 1916,
and continued to reside there until 1866
when | removed to the city of New
York. In Philadelphia / was in the
furniture business. In New York |
branched into machinery and inven-
lions, and am the patentee of Luehen-
bach's pneumatic pulverizer, which
machines are now in use generally in
the Eastern part Of the United States
and in Europe. now reside in Denver,
having removed from New York two
wears ago am well known in New
York. | have been a member of the
Produce Exchange and am well ac-
quainted with many members of that
body. am we'll known to Mr.. Frastus
Wymar.
In the year 1865 | VISIT Londor,
England, for the purpose placing
there. Pennsylvania oil properties in
which | was interes ted. | look with
me letters of introduction 10 many
gentlemen in London-among them
one to Mr.. Ernest Seyd, from Mr..
Robert NJ. Foust, ex-treasurer of Phila.
delphia / became well acquainted
with Mr.. Seyd and with his brother
Richard Seyd, who, | understand, is
still living. / visited London there
after every year, and at each visit
renewed my acquaintance with Mr..
Seyd, and upon each occasion became
his guest one or more times-ioining
his family at dinner or other meals.
In Feb, 1874, while on one of these
visits, and while his guest for dinner.
| among other things, alluded to rumors
ailoat of parliamentary corruption,
and expressed establishment that such
corruption. should exist. In reply
to this he told me he could relate
facts about the corruption of the
American Congress that would place it
far ahead of the English Parliament in
that line. So far, the conversation WAS
at the dinner table between us. His
brother Richard and others were there
also, but this was table talk between
Mr. Ernest Seyd and myself. After the
dinner ended he invited me to another
room. where he resumed the CONVEX
sation about legislative corruption. He
said: III You will pledge me your
honor as a gentleman not To divulge
what am about To tell you while |
live, ! viii convince you that what |
said about the corruption cf the
American Congress ls true II gave
bim the promiSe,a he then continued:
Il went 10 America in The winter of
1872 -. authorized TO secure. il |
could the passage of "a bill demoni-
tlHng silver. Il was IN the interest Of
those [ represented the governors of
Tie Bank Of Engla q 60 have il done.
II took with me 100000 pounds
sterling, with instructions if that was
not sufficient 10 accomplish the objects
to draw for another 100000 pounds, or
So much more Is was necessary He
told me German bankers were also
interested in having ii accomplished.
He said Le was the financial adviser eff
the bank He said II saw the COM
mittee OF The House and Senate and
paid the money, and Staid in America
until knew the measure was safe Il
asked him il he would give me the
names OF the members To whom he paid
the money, but this be declined to do
He said You people will not now
comprehend the far-reacuiug extent of
That measure, but they will in after
years Whatever you may think of
corruption ii tho English parliament.
/ assure vou ! would ITO, have dared to
make such an attempt here as ! Gid in
your country, II expressed nv shame
10 him Of my couotrvmen in our legjS-
latiye bodies The conversation drif,ed
ialJ other subjects. and ST ar that
enough l met I'm masy times the
matter was never again referred to.
tSigned) FRrpRlcN 4. LUcKENBAcK.
Subscribed aad sworn to before me at