The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-12

Gives g History OF HIS COhheCtAOh
With the State Committee, and
Announces That Unless Federal
Officials Who Were Called Upon
to Contribute Come to the Front
With the story He VIII Talk.
CONCORD N. H, July 11.-A big polih-
cal sensation is promised here. Repre-
sentatives of the United States Civil Serv-
ice bureau began a sitting today for the
purpose of investigating charges preferred
against Senator Jacob H. Gallinger, of
Concord, by former Republican Gov.
Charles L. Busiel, of Laconia, alleging
violation of the civil service laws dur
ing the last campaign in this state. The
specific charge is that Senator Gallinger,
as chairman of the Republican state COM
pittee, distributed circulars appealing to
Republican office-holders for contributions
to the campaign funds
Civil Service Commissioner J. V. Mar
low and Mark S. Brewer, who arrived
here from Washington last night, are in
charge of the investigation. Senator Will
liam e. Chandler was among those pres
ent, as a party interested, though whether
as a prosecutor or defendant is somewhat
uncertain in view of the charges and
eounter-charges made.
AS the commissioners have not au-
thority to summon witnesses they could
dc no more than request the presence of
those whom they desired to testify. The
only witnesses at hand when the ses-
sion opened were Postmaster Knox, of
Carroll, of Warner, and T. Clifford, who
was assistant secretary of the Republican
state committee during the campaign.
This investigation is held to allow the
commissioners to examine the evidence,
and to decide whether it warrants the
further prosecution of the case. If they
decide it does the United States authori-
ties of the department OF Jusice will be
called in.
The principal feature of the session was
long statement by Senator Chandler,
previous to which, however, Col. Rufus
Baker Howell, collector of customs at
Portsmouth, stated that he had received
circular letter from William F. Thayer,
treasurer of the Republican state com
mittee, asking for contribution to carry
on the committees work
Ossian D. Knox, postmaster of Ports
mouth, also testified, but said he saw no
such circular, and had not been asked
to contribute to the 1898 campaign.
Senator Chandler then came forward
with his statement, which he preceded
with a short history of his connection
with political committees. He said he
retired from the national Republican COM
mittee in 1884, and from the state COM
mittee in 1890. Senator Chandler cont
inued as follows:
GIN ArVOD or N-1DT
81 said to Senator Gallinger in 1895, and
again in 1898, that he ought to leave the
state committee for violations of the civil
service law, but he would not go. In 1885,
much to my surprise, he took the chair
manShip Of the state committee. After L
had recovered from my surprise | went
to him to endeaVOr to cooperate in the
work Of the campaign. He talked over
the means of raising money both agree
ing that very little would be needed. We
spoke Of Individual and of nominees for
state offices, but nothing was said of fed
eraI oihcehOIderS. This was on Oct. 10.
Between that time and Oct. II | heard
that an assessment circular had been sent
to federal Officeholders. Gov Busiel ask
ed me if / kenw of this assessment. He
said that he had reason to believe that
a circular for an assessment had been
sent to officeholders, and he produced a
circular which had been sent to state Of
fcers, and said that some of them had
been sent to federal officehoiders. We had
long conference, the result of which was
civil service commission unless some 9TH
er way could be found to prevent these
officers from being assessed. Accordingly
Gov. Busiel, with my knowledge, asked
the commission about the terms of the
law. He came to me later and said that
he had determined to make a complaint.
In this 1 concurred and the letter of Oct.
"a was prepared. containing the names of
those to whom it was believed the circu-
lar had been sent. l did not go to the
committee again during the campaign.
My business during the campaign was all
done with the committee by correspond
ence. l wrote to the committee from
Washington, and this is substantially all
I wish to say. If I find federal officehold-
ers who have been required by the COM
mission to come here do not come or If
they come and do not testify, l shall tell
the commission all 1 know about the mat
ter"
At the conclusion Of Senator Chambers S
statement, he exchanged some warm
words with Senator Gallinger on his
(Chandlers) contribution to party funds
In 1894 and 1896.
James O. Lyford, naval officer at the
port of Boston, was the last witness, and
testified to receiving the circular from
Treasurer Thayer. He also stated that
the assessment circular was sent to fed
eral office holders in 1885,