Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-10-21
LONG CALLED DOWN.

The press story to the effect that Jer-
ry Simpson had ordered his (Long's
quota OF public documents turned oyer
to certain party III Washington after
his (Simpson's) term had expired and
that he (Lcng) could not supply orders,
and similar rot along that line Here
is one of the press reports which was
authorized by Mr.. Long and printed in
the Topeka State Journal of December
8, 1895:
Congressman Long, of Kansas called at the
document room today to inquire about some
Publications. He was informed that a tele-
gram had been received from his predecessor,
jerry Simpson, directing all documents to his
credit, up to the very last day be turned over
to some one in Washington
Mr.. Long instituted some inquiries but was
unable TO discover just what disposition was
to ba made of the publications by the party to
whom Simpson ordered them delivered.
These documents belong to the district. Mr..
Long has received letters from constituents
asking for certain publication. He cannot
comply, because Mr.. Simpson has turned over
everything to a man in Washington.
Mr.. Simpson enclosed this clipping
and wrote letter to the Superintend-
ent of the Clerk s Document room, but
In the meantime the superintendent
was deposed and the letter for a time
was lost sight OF. However, it has
since been found and the matter to
which Mr.. Simpson called attention
was looked up by Joseph Z. Hawley,
then Chief Clerk of the folding room.
Simpsons order was made Feb. 25, 1895,
before his term of office had expired
and had all parties been punctual the
documents would have been sent him
before Long took his seat.
Mr.. Simpsons order follows:
(CopyD
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Feb. %, 1895.
SUPT. FOLDING ROOM: Please send the fol
lOWlDg Public Documents to Medicine Lodge,
kans., and charge same to my account: All
documents to my credit.
JERRY SIMPSON, NJ. C.
Chief Clerk Hawley made a special
search after receiving Simpsons letter
and a few day ago returned the order
| and the following letter of explanation
Of the cause of delay. 1t will be seen
that Long admitted that he gave out
the report without authority and that
his accusation was false and without
any foundations:
Danbury, Conn, Oct. IL, 1885,
HON. JERRY SIMPSON,
Medicine Lodge, Kan.
DEAR SIR: In looking over my let
ters | ran across your letter to H. s.
Garfield, late Supt. of the Clerks Doc
ument Room, of December II, 1885.
The letter should have been addressed
to the Ii. r. Folding Room. Mr.. Can
field had been deposed at the time TIE
letter reached Washington and was Oh
the staff of some New York paper, and
[ think the letter went there before
received it, as it was late in the month.
Everyone, but myself, in the office
had been dismissed at the time and re-
pnblicans appointed in their places, so
that my head and hands were crowded
to keep things straight.
With three hundred and sixty inem-
bers OF Congress, one half of whom
were new to the capital. TO attend to
you can see 1 was IN trying position,
and can, perhaps be excused for mis-
laying your letter, il it was important.
Upon receiving your letter went to
the lille box" and looked up your orig
inal order (nclosed) and then to the
ledgers and copied the order numbers
and dates upon which books were ship
ped to you. Find numbered slip en-
0incnH oft oohoH RI inri, ArIa \
While looking the matter up 1 ran
across Mr.. Long, your successor, and
telling him | had received your letter
an / the clipping, and asked him why
he gave out such story to the press.
He was embarrassed and said 1.-The chief
clerk of the folding room had told him
So" / said to him., Il am the chief
clerk, myself, and l certainly did not
tell you So" AT this he was greatly
confused and said Then one OF the
clerks did, l told him L could not be-
lieve it as all the clerk had to do was to
turn to his ledger and order books to
| find what disposition had been made of
| the books.
Afterwards | met the clerk who had
your ledger account at the time the ar
ticle was published and he told me loft
| hand' that your books were sent to
your home.
There were three clerks in the office
| when Mr.. Long came to Washington,
and there never were three more eflic-
lent, painStaking. or careful young gen
tlemen, so that Mr.. Longs story is ut
terly improbable. II do not mean to be
! offensive to Mr.. Long. for do not con-
slider it my place to criticlse his mo.
tives.) | showed the letter and clip
ping to Mr.. Long, thinking he would
see the injustice he had done you and
desire to repair the injury. and asked
him before two other gentlemen what
reply should make 10 you, and his re-
| ply was as follows: Let letter 90
unanswered month and it will ans
wer ITSELF
After looking the matter Up threw
all the papers in my desk pending the
time when / could write you Before
| conld do so | was dismissed TO make
room for some good republican. and
my effects were bundled up, the letter