Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-27
THE INVESTIGATION Committee.
TByT9 YErIyG LAST NIGHT.

esme-Clese Of the Testimeny.
The committee toinvestlgate the charges pre-
ferred against Mayor Bowen held q meeting at
the City Hail last evening, Oouncilmen Hall,
Holmes, and TInney, and Alderman Champion
being present, with Mr.. o. ID. Barrett counsel
for the prosecution. and j. H. Crane, prosecu-
nLg witness % ana Mr.. Bowen, with his counsei,
Mr.. John +. Cook, City Register, was the
nrst witness called, and he testified that he ad.
yised the payment Of SOD on the 2}d of July,
that being the amount for which the Mayor
authorized Mr.. Huntington TO retain the Incom-
ing taxes. He had never been consulted in re-
ference 10 paying money on the Donovan con.
tract, and knew nothing aboutit
Mr.. Donegan, City Surveyor, was recalled,
ana testified that the statement thar el2,OW
worth Of work had been done, a. made in his
estimate 70 Mayor Bowen, was true; that while
part of the work was not completed according
TO the contract, there was other Work done
which he took in his estimate, and IL fully
came mp 10 the amount. The report was true
and not false. Up 10 the present time the con-
tractors had presented NO claim that they had
completed the contract
Mr.. Crane was recalled. and stated that the
he (Crane) had advised the awarding of the
contract TO John Donovan or Andrew q leason,
was positively false, couid be corroborated
BY the testimony OF both O'Beirne and Gle,-
son, who swore that Crane was opposed 10
giving them the work. and that he was Offend
ed because the Mayor would not give It to
some one Of his (Crane'sl friends. He submitted
calculations as TO the grading and graveIing
OF the streets in question, which the committee
refused 10 yeceive. He further testified that the
contract was signed in the Mayors Office, and
ne CO. took 1t down stairs, attached the bond,
specifications. &C., and returned 1t 10 Mr..
Meacs with the papers attached. He also POSI-
lively afbrmed that Mr.. Bliss was not present
when the bids were opened, As stated by Messrs.
The defence declined to cross examine Mr.
Crane. remarking that his testimony was SUIT
f1ciently contrsdicted by the other witnesses.
At The conclusion Of Mr.. Cranes evidence the
prosecution rested their case. Mr.. Barrett STA.
ting that he had three important witnesses,
who were out OF town, and whom he would ike
70 pave present. but that he would consent TO
close without further delay.
The defence referred TO law of the Corpor-
alton in relation to the duties of the Mayor aud
offered to present additional testimony. Mr..
Holmes Objected. when the defence said IL any
objection was raised they would not press It.
Subsequently Mr.. Holmes said that he
was willing that the defence should offer this
testimony. The defence remarked that having
been once refused they had no disposition 10
put themselves an the position Of the man who
wired in and wired out.
MI Stanton read the following letter and o.
fered II In testimony. but the prosecution OBJ.
Jecied and II was ruled out;
COMMISSIONS 's OFFICE, CITY HALL, WASH
ISGTos, ID. q, March 10th, ls69.-Hon. S. J.
Botcen, Mayor, Sir Since you informed me yes.
terday Of your fixed determination TO resign
the office OF Mayor Of this city, have thought
much upon the matter and have come to the
conclusion to venture remonstrance in
writing against such . step, trusting you will
receive my suggestions in the same friendly
spirit, they are given
First. the Republican party OF this city en-
tered into . contract with you TO serve as
Mayor for two years and have a right to insist
upon this contract being carried out, unless
sickness shall prevent. Your friends paid YOU
in preference to several other gentlemen who
would have been glad to have got the nomIna-
ton.
Second. The condition of affairs here at this
time are such to make II extremely risky 10
60 into another election. 1t would be pretty
state Of things If, in consequence Of your resig-
find DEMOCRATIC Mayor saddled upon us. II
would take but three Repu bllcan votes 10 bring
about this very state Of thIngs. After what we
witnessed in the jeint con vention last summer,
occur. Now, that Mr.. Kelsey is away, both
Boards in joint invention number but thirty
TSe Sss . 10 choice, egn;sen
Will have to buy but three votes to put in their
man. The Democratic party has plenty of
money at its command, and what is more know
out OF the nineteen Republican members there
are not 0ree who can De bought over l make
no charge or insin1ations against any individ-
ual member. will assume that all are above
bribery; but confess that, in view of the
past, / would tremble for the result, if an
election were TO come of now.
after eigbt months close observatory the labor
VI your office IL at least double what il should
be. You have enough to do 10 break dozen any
man. You receive twice as many visitors
every day as the President of the United States.
At least full one half of those visitors, from
my observation, have Nc real business with
Of other large cities do, and appoint Mr.. New.
ton, or IL he has not tine. some other intelli-
gent gentleman, first TO see all visitors other
than those who are known to have business
md Toll hfD
to bore you? Why should your time and pa
tienee be used up, listening 10 little trivial mat
tiers that after all have to be referred to your
$ nbordinatesi Awning that 1 can do To
tighten your iabors will do, and 1 have no
doubt other corporation officers, from what
hear, feel as do In the matter.
i want TO see the school question disposed of
before you leave the Mayors office. There are
also many other reforms that wish to see con.
summated under your administration.
i earnestly hope you Will reconsider your
benefit Of your services tor at least the remain.
der Of the term.
With considerations of the highest regard and
esteem remain your friend and 9gedient ser.
p. s.-sinse Writing the foregoing i have
been informed that you have decided not to
resign. hope this Is SO. ana that we will hear
lSigned,l JHC.
Dir. Crane said that was a first.rate letter
for tie time IL was written, but he could not
see VIVA, II had TO do with the John Donovan
contract. He suggested that Colonel Cook
produce and read for the edificatioa of the com.
mittee certain resolutions passe last March by
the Republicans OF the Second Ward, which
were highly eulogistic OF the Mayor, they
having been written by him, fCrane,) at the
the suggestion of Mr.. Cook, who stated to him
(Crane) that the Mayor wished 10 be Endorsed
by the Republicans OF the Second Ward, and
would like him TO write some strong resolu-
tons, putting the Mayor as much as he thought
the people would stand.
Mr.. Cook denied ever having made such
request, when Mr.. Crane said that ne could
prove what Nj. Cook denied.
Mr.. Cook remarked that u would require
more than the mere assertion Of a man whose
sta 'emeEts before the committee bad been con
tradISted oy number Of his own witnesses, TO
induce him 10 believe il. Mr.. Cook also said
that The letter OF Mr.. Crane, complimsntng
and praisIng the Mayor, was dated March Both,
out, and while much that he now complained
OF was known 10 him, il was therefore proper
10 admit this in evidence, 10 contradict Mr..
Crane.
Twas sugges ted that the doors be thrown
open TO reporters at the meetil1 on Friday,
when each side will be allowed one hour and
quarter 10 argue the case; when the defence
remarked that IL might not be best; ana with
out deter mining whether to admit reporters or
not, the committee adjourned.
Messrs. Jonn Grinder, Henry NJ. knight,
and Il. Gleason were present as witnesses, but
were not called.
MT @. NJ Barton had been summoned as a
witness, and appeared IN the Conc ell chamber,
Sut not before The committee In ans wer to
MIA summons. he sent letter 10 the commit
I'm ,irh he ~ vnr1r SIM