The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-25
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
THE CHANGES AGAINST THE
MAYOR
Mr.. Bewen ON the siand-Lctter OF
Mr.. Crane.

The committee to investigate the charges
brought by John ii. Crane, late commits
sioner OF the Fourth ward, against his honor,
Mayor Bowen, met last night az SIty nan.
Holmes secretary. W. A. Cook and +. l..
Stanton, esqs., appeared as counsel for the
defence, and o. ID. Barrett, esq, for the
prosecution. Mr.. Crane, the prosecuting
witness, was also present.
Mayor Bowen having been notified during
the day that n meeting OF the committee
would take place last night, and requesting
his presence, obcycd the call and appeared
al an carly hour, signfying his desire and
willingness 10 answer any and all such qucs-
lions relative to his official conduct as the
committee might PROFOUND.
Mr.. b. was then called 10 the stand, and
his examination occupied about an hour,
mainly In answering such questions con.
nected with the matter at issue as were con.
sldercd pertinent by the committee. He
stated that the charges brought against him
were unfounded, as he would prove to the
satisfaction of the committee at the proper
time.
At 0 o'clock the committee adjourned.
The following Is II letter of Mr.. Crane to
the Mayor
wAsHtSaroS. Sept. u. ls61
Hon. =. J. Bolo,n, Mayor!
SIR Early this morning sent to your
Office by J. Sayles Brown, esq, corporation
disbursing clerk, the Fourth ward pay rolls
for tho months of June, July and August,
1869, which l have certified to as the law re-
quirc,.
have Just learned that you refuse to pay
of the corporation laborcrs In this ward, on
the ground that have not turned over to
Mr.. Patrick Crowley all the books and papers
In my possession which are In any way con-
nectcd with the corporation. declined to
give up to Mr.. Crowley said books and papers
for several reasons, one of which Is that ]
have received no official notice from you to
do so. ! have no knowledge officially that
Mr.. Crowley Is commissioner of the Fourth
ward. l have not seen his commission, and
do not know that his name has been sent to
the Board Of Aldermen for confirmation.
When you and Mr.. Crowley comply with
custom and the law In this matter, shall be
pleased to turn over every thing belonging to
the corporation now In my possession, cx-
cepting one book containing an account of
orders given sundry parties in favor of said
laborers; this book being the only evidence
now In my possession of any Indebtedness
by the men for orders. Another reason Is
that about six weeks ago you instructed Mr..
j. Sayles Brown, In my presence, to disrc-
gard the orders, amounting 10 about 81, 200,
that have been Obliged to give the Fourth
ward laborers to keep them from starving In
consequence Of your having paid $4,000 OF
the Fourth ward funds 10 James X. O'Beirnc
N w. III pam NlOIlllOu VI lAN' lGuIG--NA
you note about two weeks ago asking If
you still adhered to that decision, but up to
this time have received no reply.
BY your silence infer that you still intend
10 carry out that policy. Those orders were
given and accepted in good faith, and | feel
bound 10 see them paidi and do not intend
TO allow the only evidence of having given
said orders to go out Of my possession until
they are paid. Another reason is that have
received Information from reliable source
that you have recently stated that you would
not pay my salary. Now, In order TO take
away any excuse you might possibly be able
to give for not paying the laborers in the
Fourth ward, have sent to you, by hand Of
Mr.. A. VI. Green, the tlmc-book as given TO
me by the foreman, which contains correct
statement of the number OF days work per-
formed. You will learn by these books
whether the number OF days work certified
10 by inc on the pay-rolls is correct. | have
also sent, by the same party, a book contain
ing coupon duplicates of all the orders glyea.
BY adding up the gross amount of these
orders, you Will be able TO determine whether
the amount OF orders charged TO the men on
the pay-rolls is correct.
You now have all the information on the
subject that can possibly be Of service to YOU,
or that II Is In my power 10 give you; and for
every hours delay In paying the men the
responsibility will rest with you, and with
you alone, and intend that you Shall shout.
der 1t. Do not deceive yourself with the
Idea that by this trick you will be able to
make me unpopular with the men, or turn
the attention of the public from the iuycstI-
cation into your oillfIal iGH(pdTagGt Tlic,, t.
OF the Fourth ward do not need to be told
who Is their friend, and l think both they
and the community at large are beginning tC
understand who is their enemy.
have heard it limited that you intend ,r
prefer charges against myself. Nothing
would suit me better than to have n com
inittee appointed to investigate my official
conduct from the time entered upon the
duties OF Commissioner OF the Fourth ward
up to the day received your undigninCd
notice OF my dismissal. You tried Il last
summer, and the result was my complete
ylndcatlon. Do not continue making in
slndatiOns, but proceed at once; welcome
and promise 10 furnish you with every
facility.
Respectfully, yours, J. H. CRANE.
OBsTRUCTtONs TO STREErP.-On Page .Si,
Wcbh's Digest, Laws of the Corporation of
Washington, act Of March ~, 1904, will be
found the following law, which it would be
well for those who are Violating, a. well ~
for the police magistrates of the city. whose
imperative duty il is to enforce The same by
imposing fine for the Violation thereof, to
take special notice:
---.:Slction /. Upon information lodged with
any police Magistrate that any avenue,
street or public alley, or any portion OF the
same. or the free passage thereof, Il oh.
structcd Except as now allowed by law for
the erection or repairs of bulldlngs) by any
fence, ditch, wall or building, or by amy
other means or thing whatever, in the city
of Washington, Il Is kcrcLy Ud,is he daty Of
said police magistrate to summon the person
or persons so enclosing or OOstructing said
avenue, street or public alley, or any part
thereof, and require said person or persons
to have said enclosure or obstruction re-
moved within such time as to the said police
magistrate shall seem reasonable and proper,
which notice shut not c<ccrd t"cnty days. aud
should the person or persons so notified re-
fuse or neglect TO remove said obstruction OF
enclosure within the time specified In said
notice he or they shall lie subject TO ilnC Of
not less than $40 nor more than $50; and
also a fine OF not less than sl0nor more than
$50 for every day said enclosure or Obstruc
ton shall be suffered to remain after the cy,
piration of said notice, said fines to be col,
lccted and applied us other llcs of this cor.
poration are collected and applied"
Police ADMINISTRATION IIuu,r.
hey, for assault and battery on Henry Nil
Ter, gave bail for court before Justice
Schmidt.
Peter schloscn, was sent to Jail for his mp.
pearance at court.
Brightwell Braxton, for using unstnmpcd
scales, was fined 81 by Justice Thompson.
Hugh Brown, assaulting Armistead Ward,
was fined IS by Justice Maryman.
Ellen Lawson, a little colored girl, for the
larceny Of child's dress, was locked up ut
the Second precinct statlon.housc for twelve
hours.
James Mcdaniel cOIorcd. charged with
assault and battery on Thomas Brown, was
sent to jail for court by Justice Mills.
Z. W. Halves, for assRuItlng VIM. Ken
ncdy, gave bail for court,
Robert Watson, colorcd, charged with
petit larceny by John y. Baker, was com.
mitted to jail by Justice Harper
RIVER SEws.-The following arc the ur-
rivals and departures from our whaycs
yesterdays
Acknowledgement Thomas F.. CahilI, with
freight for the merchants Of the District;
gChOOnprA H. nrnIlpv fran pLiIa6plDhIn