The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-17
THE CHARGES AGAINST THE MAYOR
Session Of the Committee Last Night

Session OF the Committee Last Night
Testimony OF r. II. Douegau. ESQ.
Relative 60 Grades OF streets-Tes.
timony OF Colonel J. =. O'Reirne-
A FUN and Fair Defence OF the
Mayor - Honesty Of tho Mayors
Intentions.
An adjourned meeting Of the committee Of
the Boards Of Aldermen and Common Coun-
ell, to investigate the charges preferred by
John II. Crane against the Mayor, was held
last night at the City Hail.
The proceedings were conducted as before,
with closed doors, but our reporter has
learned that the following Is the substance
OF what took place;
There were present Messrs. Hall, Holmes
and Tnney, OF the Common Council, and
Mcssrs. Connolley and Champion, Of the
Board OF Aldermen. Messrs. n. Wilson and
o. d. Barrett appeared as counsel for Mr..
Crane.
The frst witness examined was P. II. Dom
cyan, city surveyor, who read q statement
showing the width Of street, between
Tiber creek and North Capitol street, to be
SO feet; between First street east and Tiber
creek, Of feet; between Delaware avenue
and Second street, 95 feet; between Second
and Third streets, % feet; between Fourth
| and Fifth streets, 90 feet, and between Fifth
and Sixth streets, 95 feet. lie testified that
| X street should be 90 feet inches. The
gravel at the west side Of the Tiber was Q
| Inches at the gutter line, and inches In the
centre; on the cast side X inches, and
inches In the centre; First street east az
inches, and AZ inches In the centre; Della
ware avenue inch on the side, aud inches
in the centre; Third street 9 inches on the
side, aud 6 inches in the centre; Fifth street
inches In the centre, inches on one side,
and none on the other. lie stated the gravel
should be inches to the centre, and to the
| gutter line.
Mr.. Doncgan reported that G street aver
aged eight feet too narrow, with gravel of
an inferior quality, and not half as much as
the law requires. He stated that Mr.. Glea-
| son was present when he measured the street
on the esd Of July, and that he had been in
Office but a few days, and supposed his pre-.
decessor had seen that the work was done
according to law, and measured Il, giving
Gleason full width Of street and depth of
gravel. Witness was unable TO say what II
would cost TO do the work according to con-
tract, but that the contractors had been paid
the full worth Of the work II done In accord
ance with the law.
lie stated that yesterday he had measured
the excavation and embankment on X street,
from North Capitol to Boundary street, and
found the excavation measured 1900 cubic
yards and the cmbankment $1,000 yards,
making surplus Of earth on X street Of
1900 cubic yards.
Mr.. ID. was hero asked why 50 great diff
ference existed between his measurement
and that OF Mr.. Bliss, when he replied that
he had gone over the work carefully with
| the grade-book and was confident he was
correct. He also said he never knew a con-
l..f -.
| a street. lie said at many points there was
no gravel at all.
Col. James X, O'Beirne was examined
and was asked what he thought OF the cou-
tract under consideration. Before he re-
Piled TO that question, he asked that the
charges and resolution under which the COM
mittec were acting be read. He said he had
just returned to the city after..several days
absence, and he found upon his return GER
tain groundless and interruptions reports as
to the character Of certain transactions.
These reports were, evidently made by in
tcrested parties, and he, therefore, desired 10
have the charges as well as the resolution OF
authority under which the committee was
acting read. His request was compiled with.
lie then replied to the question propounded,
aud said so far as he knew, not only all per-
sons connected with the contract, but the
Mayor himself, was controlled by honest
ascertain shadow Of wrong-doing, or any
thing that looked like wrong upon the tax
payers or the corporation.
The committee, Mr.. Crane, and his coun-
sci elaborated the whole matter, and, It is
understood, asked the most absurd questions.
Colonel O'Beirne demurred to many of the
questions as not being gcrmane to the sub
ject under investigation and that many OF
the points referred to were not contem-
plated In the authority delegated to the COM
| mittce by the city councils. He added, how
ever, that If n thorough knowledge OF all
particulars In relation to the contract was
desired, he would tell all that he knew with
out concealment or reservation, but he must
demur TO being compelled TO make subject
matter for gossip and malignlty, by answer
Ing questions that were not pertinent to the
matter at issue.
Colonel O'Berne further on gave free
and unalloyed statement Of his knowledge OF
all that pertained to the contest In ques-
ton. He also explained what he had
observed TO be the general rule OF the
city government In these matters, and said
that, as In other cases coming under his OBJ
scryation, the law was fully compiled with
In this case.
With reference TO the allowances, about
which much had been said, he stated that 1t
| had been the habit of this corporation for
| years to make allowance on the estimates
| generally covering moiety Of the work
done, so that the city was secured by the
moiety unpaid, and there was no prejudice
to the interests of the city or the taxpayers.
| He was thoroughly convinced of the open
| candor, honesty aud integrity of the Mayor,
not only In this but in all other transactions,
and II fraud was discovered anywhere he be-
lleved 1t would be found on the other side Of
| the house.
Mr.. O'Beirnc was asked If he did not
know that G and First streets were not done
according to contract. lie replied that they
were done we'll, so far as he was aware.
Witness said he met Mr.. Crane In the
Mayors Office on the morning of the 2+th of
April, but did not recollcct the conversation
that took place between himself and Mr.. C..
on that occasion.
Mr.. O'Beirne was also asked a multiplicity
of questions with regard TO filling and exca-
waiting, but, as he was not fully conyersant
with those subjects, he did not answer. He
was willing to stake his reputation, how
ever upon the conviction that everything
had been honestly done, and the oxactions
OF the Mayor with reference to the contract
were often regarded as severe.
When asked how he explained the con-
duct Of Mr.. Crane, and his evident aninus
with reference to this contract, Mr.. O'Beirne
replied that he did not know what had actu-
atcd him, unless II was his (C.'s) disappoint-
! llCut ~ lOt tue CONTRACT LOT n
and favoritc. Mr. Crane had always acted
with unaccountable mallgnity toward the
parties having this contract, and had always,
1t seemed, endeavored to ombarrass their
operations, and he seemed to be coalcscine
with the Wallach clique.
The witness knew that some of Mr..
Cranes friends had received advances the
same as the parties TO this contract had; but
all was done In an open manner, and there
was no concealment or disguise about II, and
he believed an examination Of the books Of
the corporation would show that all had
been done fairly and honestly.
Mr.. Dennis Fitzgerald was examined, who
confirmed previous witnesses relative to dirt
being taken out Of X street and put Into G
and First streets.
ELECTION or OFPICgRs.-At meeting of
Excelsior Lodge No. II, Knights of Pythlas,
held last evening, the following were elected
officers for the ensuing term: Venerable
Patriach. John A. McLeanj Worthy Chan
cellor, A. Z. Grey; Vice Chancellor, Charles
W. Brown; Recording Secretary, Thomas D..
Lewis Financial Secretary, A. D. Cannon;
Banker, L. c. Hewett; Guide, A. T. II.
Lacey; Inside Steward, VIM. Murphy /;
| Outside Steward, Alexander d. Keen. This
lodge was recently organized, and the officers