t what the coming one would be? He ridiculed the
attestations of Sanders as irrelevant, defiantly asserting that the only
question at issue was, were there five million pounds of dressed beef in
the tender of cattle by Field, Radcliff & Co. He insisted on the letter
in the bond being observed. The government bought cattle one year
with another, and assumed risks as did other people. Was there any man
present to challenge his assertion that the pounds quantity had been
tendered?

There was. Don Lovell arose, and addressing the special commissioner,
said: "Sir, I am not giving my opinion as an expert but as a practical
cowman. If the testimony of one who has delivered over ninety thousand
cattle to this government, in its army and Indian departments, is of
any service to you, I trust you will hear me patiently. No exception is
taken to your ruling as to who is entitled to deliver on the existing
award; that was expected from the first. I have been contracting beef to
this government for the past fifteen years, and there may be tricks in
the trade of which I am ignorant. The army has always demanded the best,
while lower grades have always been acceptable to the Indian Department.
But in all my experience, I have never tendered this government for its
gut-eating wards as poor a lot of cattle as I am satisfied that you
are going to receive at the hands of Field, Radcliff & Co. I accept
the challenge that there are not five million pounds of dressed beef
in their tender to-day, and what there is would be a disgrace to any
commonwealth to feed its convicts. True, these cattle are not intended
for immediate use, and I make the counter-assertion that this government
will never kill out fifty per cent. of the weight that you accept
to-day. Possibly you prefer the blandishments of a lobbyist to the
opinion of a practical cowman like Sanders. That's your privilege. You
refuse to allow us to show the relationship between The Western Supply
Company and the present holders of its assignment, and in doing so I
charge you with being in collusion with these contractors to defraud the
government!"

"You're a liar!" shouted Congressman Y----, jumping to his feet. The
only reply was a chair hurled from the hand of Sutton at the head of the
offender, instantly followed by a rough house. Several officers
present sprang to the side of the special commissioner, but fortunately
refrained from drawing revolvers. I was standing at some distance