The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-09

4
Special Committee Of Councils appointed TO in
yestigate the management Of the Highway De
| partment, while under Democratic rule in 1863,
made a report yesterday. With the testimony
before the Committee il is asserted that the evil
dence shows most CouClusveIy that more cor
| rupt and reckless administration Of the Highway
| Department, than that of 1868, has rarely been
| experienced. lt was proved before the COM
| mittoe that the condition OF the highways Of the
city generally, in respect 10 their paving cutters,
| and sewerage, Is annually deteriOrating.
| The work Is done hastily and dishonesty, In
order 70 make ns much money as possible with
i as little outlay as will escape exposure. But
little gravel is used; stones laid upon their
| Sides instead Of upon their ends, so As 10 cover
| as much surface rs possible; aud, what Is worse
persons without any experience In the work are
! selected as the contractors. One witness, who
/ had been q member Of Councils, stated most
| frankly that he never paved a street before, but
! got a contract because he was a warm friend of
| Mr. SChohcld and his political friend and sup
porter. One witness, James Reilly, testified that
lie gave Patrick O'Rourke, now member of
Select Council, fifty dollars for securing the
grading Of Cumberland street Mr.. ORourke
declined 10 appear before the Court and explain
the transaction. Another witness gave two hun
drCd dollars 20 Mr.. Spence, of Common Council,
for his influence in procuring contract.
Other instances Of the part taken by members
of Council are referred to by the Court and It Is
alleged that a charge was made and money re-
the contracts, the Committee say 1.-THE profits
these men made appear 10 be excessive. Thus
hr Geisslcr tcStiiies, in regard TO repairing, as
follows ;-'i get 81 cents yard at 30 cents the
profit Is about one half; mine cost me near Sl700
and came TO S330O.' And Mr.. Morrison, the AS
slshnt Commissioner, testified They get 80
ccnls 20 cents was a fair price Mr.. b. L Kelly
testified that while he got 80 cents a square yard,
he hired man TO do it, TO whom he paid Is or rs
cents. The contractors are allowed to keep the
stones removed from the Streets
The report closes with reference 10 the course
of Mr. Schodeld the Commissioner, in Iuiriug
the contractors TO pay him large per centage.
In conclusion, the Committee state The sim
plest sense of duty to the city requires that the
matters already detailed in this report should be
made the basis of further investigation. The
report is signed by Messrs. Spencer Miller aud
Alexander l.. Hodgson.
THE SHOOTING AT TWIssAHIcKoN.-This morn
ing Lloyd Douglass (colored), had further hear
ing before Alderman Beitler upon the charge of
shooting w. +. Slider at Wi,sahickon.
John Funder testified that he was in company
with Slider; Douglass came there and was boast
ing as to how much he was worth as TO his fight
ing and shooting; the party were teasing him,
and he got into his two-horse wagon. when he
drew a revolver, and fired four Shots one of which
struck Sidcr
Thomas Hall testified that he had lust put his
horse under the shed when he heard loud talk
ing; Douglass came out of the house, and while
unty ing his horse, some one accused him of hav-
ing pistol he held up both hands, and said he
had no such weapon; Jumped into his carriage
drew the revolver, and fired.
Ed. Roles testified o coming up about the time
Of the disturbance; heard some one say To Don
glass, you talk too much for man of your color
n, m.s amy sTs InoS S us I Groye
! Douglass was called NIGER and other hard
things before he fired.
The Alderman committed the prisoner to await
the result of the injuries inflicted. The wounded
man is not yet considered out OF danger
LAFcENf AND bIsAnf'-lhis morning. Mary
Ann buckley "'s Oeiore Alderman Fancoast'
charged wth larceny ana Di9amy' A man
named Smith appeared and testified, that he
knew the prisoner TO have husband still living