The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-07-12
Assessed Federal Office
Holders.
ator Chandler Makes a
Statement.
Senator

Concord, July 11.-Ciyil Service Com
missioners ]. b. Harlow and Mark s.
Brewer opened an Investigation at the
Eagle hotel in this city this morning
into the charges made by Ex-Governor
Charles A. Busiel that United States
Senator Jacob Fl. Gallinger, as chair
man of the Republican state committee
during the last campaign, violated the
civil service law by assessing U nited
States office holders for political funds.
The investigation is held behind closed
doors, the attendance being limited to
the parties involved, one counsel for each,
and the witnesses, who are admitted one
by one for examination. Attorney Gen.
earl Edwin G. Eastman of Exeter acts aa
II. Shannon, Esq, of Laconia for Gov.
ernor Busiel. Senator William K. Chand-
ler is present as a party interested, though
whether as prosecutor or q defendant IL
somewhat uncertain in view Of the
charges and counter charges made.
The witnesses who were asked to be
present, the commission having no power
to compel their attendance, were William
+. Thayer, Concord, N. H.; Ira @.
Evans, Concord; John n. Walker. Wash
ingt0n; James y. Lyford, Boston; James
A. Wood, Portsmouth, N. H.; Orrian d.,
Knox, Manchester; Frank Gilman, La
conia; w. E. Chandler, Concord; I'd
ward N. Pearson, Concord; Thomas II.
Clifford. Concord; Edward II. Carroll,
Warner, N. II Rufus N. Elwell, Ports
mouth, N; H.; john A; Spaulding. Mas
hna Walah
H.; Henry Robinson, Concord, N. H.
OF these the only ones on hand when
the session opened were Postmaster Knox
of Manchester. National Bank Examiner
Carroll of Warner and Il. II. Clifford,
who was assistant secretary OF the Repub-
loan state committee during the cum-
paign.
This investigation Is hsld to allow the
commissioners to examine the evidences
to decide If it warrants the further prose-
cution Of the case. II they decide that It
does. the United States authorities of the
department of justice will be called in.
The charges which the commission Is
Investigating were made by Mr.. Busiel
during the last campaign and have been
actively followed up by him since that
time.
At the conclusion of the morning ses-
sion 1t was announced by the commits.
sioners that a report of the proceedings of
othSh cCobAoh WOuta 10 AuEnlsllou 6b buo
conclusion Of the session to the newspaper
men. 1t was given out that at the morning
session the only witness examined was
Ex-Governor Busiei who detailed the cir
oumstances attending his making the
complaint to the civil service commission
last October ana testified as TO the cores
pondence between him and the commits
sion. Senator Galiinger asked the oom-
mission II he was TO understand IL the
real complainant was Ex-Governor Busiel
or Senator Chandler. The com missioners
informed him that he might draw his
own conclusions.
Governor Busiel read long statement
as to his reasons for acting in the matter,
saying that he was animated by desire
to see the civil service laws enforced. He
was not actuated by any unfriendly feel
ing towards Senator Gallinger and he had
no desire for revenge upon MIN. Senator
Chandler said that he desired TO make a
statement aud the commissioners in
formed him that he would have an oppor.
tunity later in the day.
The morning session concluded with a
second statement frcm Senator Gallinger,
In which he affirms that IL was Senator
Chandler who had instigated the charge
and not Ex-Governor Busiel. The COM
missioners, at the opening of the after
noon session, announced that reporters
would hereafter be admitted.
1he principal feature OF the afternoon
session was long statement by Senator
chandler, previous to which. however.
Col. Rufus ID. Elweli. collector of ous-
toms at Portsmouth, was called. Col.
cuiar letter from William b. Thayer.
treasurer Of the Republican state commit
tee, asking for . contribution to carry ON
the committees work. Ossian D. Knox.
postmaster of Manchester also testified
but he said that he saw no such circular
and, furthermore, had not bsen asked TO
contribute to the 1895 campaign,
Senator, Chandler then came forward
with his statement which he prefaced Ly
a short history or his connection with
political committees. H said he retired
from the Republican national COMMITTEES
in 1884 and from the state committee In
1890. Continuing Senator Chandler
al said to Senator Gallinger, hin 1895
and again in 1896, that he ought to go of
OF the state committee for reasons con-
nected with the civil service law but he
would not 60. In 1898, much to my sur
prise he took tho chairmansihp OF tbs
state committee. After had recovered
from my surprise went to him to en-
deayor to cooperate in the work of the
campaign. We talked over the subject OF
raising money both agreeing that very
little would be needed and talked over
the means OF raising 1t. We spoke of In
dlviduals OF nominees for state Offices,
but nothing was ..said of federal Office
holders.
Tits was on October 10th. Between
that time and October 18th heard that
an assessment circular had been sent to
federal Office holders Gov. Busiel asked
me II knew OF this assessment. He
said that he had reason to believe that a
circular fur assessment had been sent TO
Office holders and he produced circular
which had been sent to state officers and