Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-05
TINE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings before the Hease Com.
mittee To-day.

The Congressional investigation into the
| charges against the Board Of Public Works and
the new District government was resumed this
morning before the House Committee on the
District Of Columbia. Mr.. j. j. Coombs con.
Quoted the examination on the part OF the me-
| Mr.. Phillips said in answer to requests from
| the counsel yesterday, he would now furnish
them with the information in reference to the
| canal, which, with other information already
| furnished the memorialists by the District gov
| eminent, cover more than 400 pages, and he de-
1 slant demands made, it would not be proper now
! to fix some time for closing the investigation
| unless these memoralists propose to carry it on
| Tor weeks in the vain hope Of finding something
| against the District government.
| Mr.. Starkweather to Mr.. Green.-How much
| longer will you take before closing?
mr.. Green.-We hope to get through in a
| MIR. Starkweather.-Ih hope the gentlemen will
consult among the mselves and to-day nix some
Goa James A. Nagruder recalled:-Regarded
the office OF the treasurer Of the Beard of Pub
lie Works as separate and distinct from his pO-
bond to the District government; the Oficers OF
the Board Of Public Works we're created by the
law of necessity; did not understand the Board
OF Public Works had legislative power; officers
of the United States government when they
were put in charge Of work, employed the Ne
cessary force to carry on that work.
Mr.. Coombs read the section of the organic
act providing that the Board of Public Works
should not have any power to make contracts
for improvements, except in pursuance Of ap-
preparations made by law, and asked the wit
ness under what appropriation the improve
Witness answered that in the first place the
board commenced work under the apprOpria-
the "A 600 600 BILL did not think the Board of
Public Works had authority to give out work
amounting to $40 ,000, 600; the board had power
to vary any particular work and exceed the an
afio N M m foil
appropriation, but they had not power to spend
more than 81 900 600; had authority to I'LL up the
canal by . Law Of Congress.
OWN you give me the law?
Al will if you give me the deficiency bill
passed at the first session and the act providing
for the canal commissioners of the present Con-
gross, last spring; the intention of the act was
to allow the commission to arch or fill up a pOr-
ton Of the canal, and do away with it as a
canal; all the powers held by the canal com
Bissioners had been transferred to the Board OF
Public Works.
Q.-Undsr what law did you do the work ON
F, q, 18th, 18th and 18th streets?
Under the ge2eral impro vement OF
[Col. Magruder here referred to the plan OF
general Improvement OF the Board of Public
Works, and explained at some length the esti-
The work on the It'll street road would cost
more than $25. 600; would cost SlOO GOO; thought
the expense justifiable.
By Mr.. Crane:-knew nothing about the act
Of the cid city councils for
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CANAL;
did not know If q wall was laid along the canal
the engineer; witness understood that the con-
tractors were doing the work very satisfactorily;
had very little conversation with Mr.. Stevenson
in relation to the canal; did not propose to have
been expended on the canal; the board
did not assume the right to set aside
any law 81 but they had 1sh.
that of the memOrialists; had dredged the canal,
as required by law; the money for the work was
paid by the board, upon the certificate OF the
engineer that SO much work had been done,
according TO contract; the Tiber arch was esti.
mated for at $50 per foot, but e102 was being
paid; as the work progressed the arch would be
upper end it would probably be about a 9-foOt
sewer; issued an order requiring people to keep
the cutters in front Of their premises clean, by
ell Streets the salary of the auditor OF the Dis.
a ,OCO.
BY Mr.. Eldridge:-The canal has been
an intolerable nuisance for years, and
DR.. Joshua Riley, one of the mos intel
ligent physicians in the District, expressed the
could be carried through an arched sewer would
make the city more healthy; Prof. Henry 10 an
other gentleman who said the canal should be
filed up; Gen. Babcock also expressed that
opinion; Mr.. Dawes, Of Massachusetts,, had said
he never would favor an appropriation for q
stioDal park while the canal was there's
would Be and the health Of fD the sa ety
be improved by filling up the canal; the Missouri
avenue sewer could be flushed out; had the
man, but did not ag1ee with him i. regard to
keeping the canal Open witness was very much
surprised at the testimony that Governor Cooke
had expressed himself In favor Of keeping the
press any such opinion; the board was unani-
mously in favor OF filling up the canal.
By Mr. Roosevelt.-Witness knew nothing
being advertised abroad as authorized BY the
United States government; thought that i'm
preston grew ont or the fact that the bonds
read "the seat Of government Of the United
States" never had anything to do with the ne
collation. Of the loan; thought the improvements
BY M. Crebs,--There was no formal consult
alton with the advisory board in relation to fll-
ing up the canal; advised with GenI Babcoek
On the subject; invited members of tho advisory
board to conference, but could not get ma
jority Of them together.
Mr.. Crebs read from letter of Prof Henry,
Of April, 1870, endorsing Q plan OF Edward
Clark to keep the canal open. This letter was
addressed to Senator Hamlin.
Col. Magruder said Prof. Henry had Endorsed
yember OF October last; his last opinion was pub
lished in the newspapers; witness thought he
could procure copy OF it; no bonds have been
100000 loan bill; il the board wanted sny
more money they would 60 before the people.
By Mr.. Chipman.-Professor Henry's letter to
Senator Hamlin IVES written q year before the
Board Of Public Works came into power; MI
C0rcoran, Mr.. Riggs, j. C. Kennedy and others
had petitiOned for laying an asphalt pavement
along Lafayette Square.
BY Mr.. Phillips-There is no doubt In the
world that the canal WAS entirely useless for
commercial purposes, on account Of bars form
ing, &c.
Question BY Mr.. Phillips:-Can you give an
approximate estimate Of
THE INDIBrIDNI se OF THE pIsrRIcr?
Al can, sir. There h the old indebted
ness Of the three corporations, AMOUNTING
~. .ssss' - xl0 $50 n
Deduct assets which can b col =
ss.ss..................... 32o.l30 90
Total indebtedness OF the three cor
PciSuons ..:... ...... IS $50 l02 q
NoO INC AeW tosn:.ss.ss.s.......s.. 4.0O0yOOO "
NeI water man loan ............. 10000 90
Market house bonds............... 100000 90
Cnacaeo reiie1 fund... ............ 1o0,0Co %
Total indebtedness ............ % $40, 1872 q
MI. Roosevelt--Have you included the Pied
mont railroad loan?
Col. AAgruder.-No, sir; hat must 10 through
the two Houses Of Congress; = the District is
not allowed TO lend In credit 10 anything,
therefore IL n not indebt< dness yet; the esti
mated value Of the property in tho District Is
about 1890, 900; the corporet,oa owns about
1000 ooo worth Of properly; lunches partaken