Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-05
QUINCY TssufIEs.
investigating Committee Hears His Statements
Abeut The Printing Contracts.

WASHINGTON. March 4.-The senate
committee on printing Saturday morning
resumed the investigation OF the alleged
irregularities in letting the contract for
printing The Patent Office Gazette.
1t had been arranged that ex-assistant
secretary of state Quincy should testify.
That gentleman sought to have the tax
ing of his testimony deferred until after
the testimony of the accusers had been
he did not put himself by that in the po-
sition of the Irishman who said. when
asked to plead. that he could not tell
whether he was guilty until he heard the
evidence.
Mr. Quincy took the oath and destined
as TO what he had done to secure the
award of the printing contract to tne
National Lithographing company. inns
contract he said had nothing to do with
the state department. with which he was
connected. He considered that he was
acting as an individual and not as an OIL
fetal. He entered general denial OF
charges that he was interested benenclaiiy
in the National Lithographing company;
that he knew beforehand that Mr.. Sey-
mour was to be appointed commissioner;
that he sought to secure work in the de-
partment for the National company in
April of last year.
Horace Kenney. personal and political
friend. discussed the work OF Autograph
ing for the patent office with him. lie
asked him Quincy to secure information
for him AS to the work, with view TO
undertaking and securing the work from
the present company. Mr.. Quincy re-
lated circumstances of several CONVERSE
tions he had with Commissioner Seymour
On the subject and his introduction OF
Mr. kenney to the commissioner 1t had
not occurred to him that it was inconsist-
ent with his position in the state depart
ment to make such IA recommendation to
an official in another department. He re
lated the facts OF his former acquaint-
anceship with men connected with the
National company. The commissioner had
furnished Mr.. Kenney in his (Quincy's s.
presence II copy of the contract for the
preceding year.
In reply to Senator Henderson, Mr..
Quincy said he had talked previously
with the commissioner relative to invit-
ing proposals from other companies. He
had known from Mr.. Seymour that the
Norris Peters company had told him (the
commissioner that they thought the rates
for the past year were fair rates.
Senator Henderson inquired whether
he thought it was in accordance witt Off
cial ethics that the competitor should be
informed of what the other competitor
would bid. Mr.. Quincy thought the
Norris Peters company knew that another
bidder was iE the field. hut made their
statement to Mr.. Seymour before they
knew this. .rs
He could not say, that it was not from
the commissioner that he learned that
the Norris Peters company knew of an
other bid being made. Mr.. Quincy went
On to relate how at one time he had loaned
money to Mr.. kenney He felt bound to
do this on account of a personal interest
in him, and because he had recommended
him to the commissioner. The greater
part of this money. had been paid, but a
part still remained unpaid.
In October, again he had Endorsed
Kenney's paper. which obligation had
been paid without witness assistance He
had also seen COMPTROLLER Bowloer re-
garding the vouchers of the Autograph
ing company. He, had not sought to in
fiuence the comptroller. He had also
seen Secretary Smith relative to the bond
of the company. Mr. Quincy said that
there were certain financial relations be-
tween Mr. Eenney and himself which are
we'll known to certain members of this
committee. but he did not think these
matters relevant to this inquiry.
Senator Henderson said he supposed
81 hin,
German said they knew nothing of it,
Mr.. Quincy explained that he had been
informed that man formerly concerned
in the financial relations had been fur
nishing material for this attack aud this
had come to certain members of this COM
n.tee.
Senator Henderson asked the witness
why speak in parabless"
Senator Ransom interviewed to say that
he thought Mr.. Quincy intended to indi-
cate his willingness to go into this matter
if it was desired He thought it unneces-
sary to go into that matter.
Senator German said he wanted to say
he had no knowledge of relations between
Mr.. Kenney and Mr.. Quincy, politically
or otherwise He thought Mr.. Quincy
ought TO specify.
Senator Henderson asserted that he
was not seeking the political secret of an
adversary, but thought the matter bore
on the creditability of the witness
Under examination by the commits
sioner, Quincy raid his talks with Ken
ney in April as to securing the patent
office printing. did not have in view the
securing of the contract for the corpora
ton with which Kenney (the National
Economist Publishing company was then
connected, but contemplated the forma.
ton of an entirely new company 1t was
proposed to obtain the plant of the Bell
photographic company. 1t was known
that the Bell plant was not adequate to
10 the proposed work, but it was intended
20 secure other presses. When the con-
'ract was let he did not know that Mr..
Aenney had an option on the Bell plant,
but he understood from him that the
Bell people were anxious for him to take
the plant.
Senator German said that the kernel of
this statement was that this contract was
secured through his (Mr. Quincy's, in
fiuence for company that did not have
facilities so do the work. The witness,
understanding this, Senator German
said, should make as full and clear a
statement as he pleased.
Mr.. Quincy said he had based his
recom m pndation on hia peasoual ha1ia f