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Show LATEST" DISPATCHES. GENERAL. Orviile Grant Explains. Washington, 9. Orvillc M. Grant testified to-day before the committee on expenditures ot the war department. depart-ment. He said that he never at any time, either orally or in writirg, bad any authority from liclknap in relation, rela-tion, to post traelerships, and that he never, directly or indirectly, exercised through others the control of such tratlerchips. He obtained the post sutlership for a man appointed ot Fort Htevens. He was not interested with any parties who obtained appointments" ap-pointments" of post traderships from j the secretary of war? He was ! interested in contracts under the Indian department; obtained a post on his own account from Commissioner Smith. He made application for the ; trading post at 1 j t,rt Peek; received a letter from the ''president in reply, which was favor-( favor-( able. The president notified him : ! that there would be vacancies at , Fort Peck, Fort Belknap and ritand-' ritand-' nig Bock, and lie applied for these ' places in pur.-uancc of knowledge 1 given him by the president. These t wore the only trading stations in ? which witness has any interest; was a half partner with Joseph Leighton in 1 Standing Iioek post, though he never put in anything. He was not only ! required not to furnisji capital, but , not required to qo out to attend to ' any business. He had inlluence with the president to manage such matters i to some extent, although lie did not ; I always find the matter to be profit-j profit-j able. He had not prcesed traders on ' j the attention of the president. He, ' procured au oiiice from the commis-: commis-: siuner of Indian aflairs, afLer seeing L the secretary of the interior. Neither , t the president nor tho secretary of the j interior bad tho slightest knowledge 'of his receiving money. Witness ij testified that he was now in the 'employ of B.iaher it Co., Baltimore, as solicitor, at a salary of $-00 per month. His eolicitorship was connected con-nected not only with government, but with private parties. He ob- taincd a contract from Gen. Meyers j of the quartermaster's bureau, but' oniy to the extent of $100 or $-300. Adjourned. |