The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-23
THE CHAReEs AaArHsr THE
MAYOR.

hAnOk.
Another Mecsing OF the Iavestigat.
Ing Cemmittee-Mr. Miss Again on
the stand. -
Yesterday afternoon the investigating
committee appointed on the part Of the
Board Of Aldermen and Board Of Common
Council met at the City Hall 10 take further
testimony In the matter Of John II. Crane
vs.. sayles J. Bowen, Mayor Of Washington.
There were present Of the committee Alder
men Connolley and Champion, and Council
mon Holmes and Tlnnoy, and also Messrs.
W. A. Cook, corporation attorney, and c.
II. Bliss, Inspector Of sewers, &c.
or counsel, o. d. Barrett and Nathaniel
Wilson, esqs., appeared for the prosecution,
and Z. l.. Stanton, esq, assisted Colonel
Cook for the defence.
The first witness called to tho stand was
Mr.. J. b. Fry, who repeated the testimony
heretofore published In the REPUBLICAN, the
notes Of which were said to be stolen from
the phonetic reporter. Mr.. Fry, however,
stated TO the committee that he was Of opin-
ion that the contracton were not entitled TO
pay for tho embankment In @ street, because
the dirt was taken from X street.
Mr.. Charles II. Bliss next took the stand,
who testified that tho surplus earth taken
from X street and put Into @ street was all
needed In X street within three hundred
feet from the place from whence II was
taken, together with several thousand more
cubic yards. The witness said the contrac-
tors wero, therefore, entitled to pay for the
embankment made In @ street, notwith.
standing the terms OF the contract.
To question put TO Mr.. Bliss relative to
the grading Of q and First streets, he re-
piled that the contractors had right to re-
ceivo pay for that work as there was no sur
plus earth on X street.
lie was further questioned whether or not
he sent his assistant Mr.. Demaine) on Sat-
urday last to measure X street, and that Mr..
d. reported 10000 cubic yards more cxcava-
ton than cmbankment1
Witness replied that no did not know
whether he instructed Mr. Domaine TO meas
urc said street or not, but finally said he did
hut that all the surplus earth on X street
would be needed In said street.
Witness was then asked how he came to
that conclusion, when the street Is already
graded and graveled the entire distance,
from North Capitol TO Boundary street, cx-
crossing Of the railroad at Seventh street
east, and the deficiency Of width Of street and
depth Of gravel
Witness answered that large quantity Of
Garth was needed at the Tlber.
Mr.. Bliss was further asked to state the
distance from where the earth was needed to
that part OF the street where the contractors
first made the excavation.
Mr.. b. replied about three hundred feet.
lie was then asked what the distance was
| from X to G and First streets He answered
about one thousand feet.
He was then asked upon what principle OF
economy he could explain that contractors
would cart earth one thousand feet, when
the same earth was needed within two hun
drcd feet
Witness said he didn't know anything
about II.
Mr.. Bliss was then asked If he did not
know that X street was graded and graveled
to the very edge Of the bank on the east side
Of the Tiberl
lie answered that when bridge should be
constructed at street, over the Tiber, q
large quantity Of earth would be needed.
The committee here asked when said
bridge would probably be constructed.
Witness answered: Not before next sum.
mcr.
lie was asked whether II was expected
that Contractors would wait until next sum-
mer to have their work approved.
Witness answered that he supposed they
would.
To question whether there was any law
| for bridge over the Tiber, at X street, wit
ness answered he didn't know.
The committee then inquired of witness
whether he had any conversation with the
Mayor lately regarding the contract in
| question:
lie replied he didn't know.
Witness was then asked If the Mayor did
not tell him that he had not made the csti.
mate Of X street half large enoughl
| lie rcpliel he didn't know,
| A number OF similar questions were put,
| TO which no satisfactory answers were oil
cited.
The committee, after a session Of moro
than Ave hours, adjourned.
Mcssrs. Bliss aud Fry were recalled as
| witnesses In consequence of the "mystcrlous
disappearance Of the official report of their
testimony.
In the coarse Of the Investigation Mr.
| Crane objected 10 MIR. Cook appearing as
counsel for the Mayor, who Is the defendant,
when his duty was TO defend tho corporation
against a charge of fraud, as he was tho
paid attorney of the corporation.
GRAND ARMY or THE RRprBLIC.-Thc fol-
lowing order has Just been Issued from
Headquarters Grand Army Of the Republic
Adjutant Generals Office, All + streets
GcHcrdI Orders No. 8.
!. The National Encampment of the
Grand Army, assembled In stated meeting
at Cincinnati, Ohio, on tho l2th and 18th Of
May last, having failed TO designate place
for the stated meeting of the National Coun.
ell OF Administration, which, In accordance
with the revised rules aud regulations
should be on the first Wednesday Of October
1t Is hereby directed that such stated meet
Ing will not take place on the fret Wodncs
day OF October, 1869.
II. It is hereby ordered, In accordanc,
with Soc. 0, Art. VI, Chap. ", Of the re
vised rules and regulations, that tho Ma
tlona Council of Administration convene II
special meeting on the fourth Wednesday o
October proXimo, at IL o'clock noon, In the
city Of New York.
III. The National Council of Administra
ton having, through majority Of It's mem
bers, approved by letter Of the recommends
tlon of the committee appointed by tn
National Encampment TO examine into tn
practlcabllity Of organizing q scheme Of co
operative llfo insurance for the Grand Army
namely, TO call an extra session Of the Ma
tlonal Encampment,l ii IL hereby ordered that
special meeting of the National Encampmen
assemble on the fourth Wednesday of 0ctobe
proXimo, II O'Clock noon, In the city of New
York. The following subjects will be sub
mittcd for action by this special meeting
viz;
IL nc CNtcIhlOn OF llmc IOr muster Dc
You'd the first day OF September to old com
radcs.
2. To adopt or reject the report Of til
committee appointed to look into the practi
cablllty of connecting life insurance plar
with the Grand Army Of tho Republic.
Q. To adopt badge, commission and Ger
tincatc Of membership for the organization
4. To consider several other subjects o
Importance which will be brought before tn
Encampment.
". It Is manifest that a joint meeting o
. the two highest powers Of this organization
must be of the grayest Importance to the In
tercsts Of the entire organization. The Com
maudcr-in-C hief feels that he cannot plac
too much stress upon the importance Of TIL
meeting, and the necessity for a full attend
ance Of all Departments, and to this end Il
+ would call upon Department Commander
TO at once place themselves In communca
ton with the delegates of their respectiv
Departments. Where there arc any dele
gates who cannot attend this meeting thel
alternates should be furnished with tn
proper credentials authorizing their attend
ancC.
During the sessions Of this meeting til
headquarters of the commandcr-ln.chlef an
staff will be located at the Hoffman house
, New York city, where delegates and officer
arc requested to report to the adlutnnt gcu