Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-12
GALLINGER, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
UNDER INVESTIGATION.
CIVIL SERVICE LAW VIOLATED
MR.. GALLINGER, AS STATE CHAIR
MAN, HELD RESPONSIBLE.
His Colleague, Senator Chandler, Is
Helping to Press the Charges,
Which Were Made by Ex-
Gov. BusieI-PrOsecu-
tfon May Follow.

2 CONCORD, N. H, July 11.-Representa-
tives of the United States civil service
bureau began sitting here to-day for
the purpose of investigating charges pre-
ferred against Senator Jacob II. Gallinger
of Concord, by Former Governor Charles
A. Busiel, alleging violations of the civil
service laws during the last campaign In
this state. The specific charge is that
Senator Gallinger, as chairman of the Re-
publican state committee, distributed cir
culars appealing to Republican officehold-
ers for contributions to the campaign
funds.
Civil Service Commissioner ]. B. Harlow
and Mark S. Brewer, who arrived here
from Washington last night. were in
charge Of the investigation. Senator Will
liam E. Chandler was among those present,
as party interested, though whether as a
prosecutor or defendant is somewhat un-
certain in view of the charges and counter
charges made.
This investigation is held TO allow the
commissioners to examine the evidence and
10 decide If Il warrants the further prose-
cution of the case. II they decide that 1t
does. the United States authorities of the
department OF justice will be called in.
Senator Gallinger asked the commission
IL he was to understand that the real com
plainant was Ex-Governor Busiel or Sem
ator Chandler and was told he might draw
his own conclusions.
Governor Busiel read a long statement as
to his reasons for action in the matter,
saying that he was animated by a desire
to see the civil service laws, in which he
believed, fnforced. He considered that the
lavish expenditure of money in elections
was menace to our national institutions.
he was not actuated by any unfriendIy
feeling toward Senator Gallinger in prose
cutting the charges and he had no desire
for revenge. - z i-,-a.--s--s5
~ The principal feature of the session was
a long statement by Senator Chandler
previous to which, however, Colonel Rufus
n. Elwell, collector of customs at Ports
mouth, stated that he had received cir
cular letter from William F. Thayer, treas
urer of the Republican state committee,
asking for contribution to carry on the
committees work. ossian d. Knox, post
master Of Manchester, also testified, but he
said that he saw no such circular, and,
Furthermore, had not been asked to con-
tribute to the 1898 campaign.
Senator Chandler then came forward with
his statement, which he prefaced by q
short history of his connection with politi-
cal committees. He/ said he retired from
the Republican national committee in 1884
tor Chandler continued
'1 said to Senator Gallinger in 1895 and
again in 1896 that he ought to leave the
state committee for reasons connected with
the civil service law, but he would not go.
In 1885. much to my sutsrise, he took the
chairmanship of the state committee. Aft
er had recovered from my surprise went
to him TO endeavor to cooperate in the
work OF the campaign. We talked over the
means OF raising money, both agreeing that
very little would be needed. We spoke of
but nothing was said of federal office hold
ers. This was on October 10. Between that
time and October IL heard that an as
sessment circular had been sent to federal
offieeholders.
Governor Busiel asked me IL I knew OF
this assessment. He said that he had rea-
son TO believe that a circular for ASSESS
ment had been sent to ofticeholders, and
he produced circular which had been sent
10 state officers, and said that some of them
had beep sent TO federal officeholders. We
was that he said he would, complain to the
civil service commission unless some other
Accordingly, Governor BusieI 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 COM
plant. In this concurred and the letter
OF October "a was prepared, containing the
names of those TO whom II was believed
that the circular had been sent. I did not
go again to the commission during the
campaign. The rest OF my connection with
the business was all in the correspondence
with the commission. called on the COM
mission when 1 went to Washington last
falf and told them that would be at their
service. This is substantially all / wish
10 say. II L find that. the federal office,
holders who have been requested by the
commission to appear here do not come or
IL they come and do not testify, shall tell
the commission all know. about the mat
,-. AT the conclusion of Senator Chandler's
statement. he exchanged some warm words
with Senator Gallinger on his (Senator
IN 1894 and 1896.
James o. Lyford. naval officer at the port
OF Boston. was the last witness and testi-
hed to receiving the circular from Treas
urer Thayer- He also stated that the as
sessrent circular was sent to federal Office
holders in 1886
The committee then adjourned until to-
morrow.