Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-01
TINE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings before the House Com
mfitee To-day.

morning before the House Committee on the
District of Columbia
THE ORDER THAT Mr.. GREEN DREW Up.
When the committee was called 10 order, Mr..
williams (of Ind, y q member of the committee,
read the following paper:
Reos OF rBx CoNH rrsE OF rms H,rsE or
irssia' WhsHIxeroS. sd seornary, ,sa
s sn me S sns
lire executive eommittee Of the Cit.zsns Memorial
to inspect, me sure, and report upon any work
Icing done under cent? act With, orders from the
Rs,S To m h TO they
and further that ..id .sss1t. are authorized . IN
:ss Sc.5s s e a 'on 'aeh work '' tn
ISisntd] w. WILLIAMS, Chairman pro tew
Ordered BY the executive committee Of the I'LL
Ieps Memorial Association that Fmil Frederiek,
De Main with such assistants as they may require
and select; are hereby selected and appointed to
C3Smittsss on the District Of Cclunhis.
Chairman Executive Committee.
Dir. Williams stated that he had signed the
paper surprising It merely gave authority TO
measure the work as authorized by the conmit-
tee; the paper was presented to him at his desk
in the House after the adjournment of the COM
mittee, and supposng it to contain what was
authorized by the committee of which he was
chairman pro TEN, he signed it without examin-
ing it. He, therefore,
ASKED THE COMMITTEE To RRscIxD THAT
AUTHORITY.
Mr.. Crane said Mr.. Hardness was q member
OF the District legislature, and had a right TO
examine all books and papers.
Mr.. Williams said that MIR. Green drew up the
paper and sent IL to him in the House. He (Mr
W. signed it not knowing that it contained
authority Tor any thing else besides what was
authorized by the committee. He wanted to
put himself right before the committee, and
therefore, now asked to rescind that authority
and that the committee take such action as they
Mr.. Green said he had asked for the appoint
ment of board Of experts-heretofore men
measure the Tiber creek work, and they were
driven Off by force and violence. Affidavit to
that effect was made. He wanted to call the
attention Of the committee again to the fact
that the memorialists had had no opportunity
TO EXAMINE THE CONTRACTS.
Mr.. Eldridge.-Mr. Green, did not the COM
n,ittee say to you that IL You would designate
you should be furnished with them?
Mr.. GreeD.-I did so, sir.
Mr.. Eldridge--l distinctly saw Mr.. Stanton
hand You one or two contracts.
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures for Mr.. Ordway and
contracts.
MT. Chamberlain. stanton's clerk is here.
with the contracts.
Mr.. Williams again called the attention of the
committee to his motion to rescina the author
Mr.. Green said be had written the paper and
read it.
MI Mhlams sald ne dld not charge any trick
upon Mr.. Green.
Mr.. Starkweather thought it entirely proper
that the authority be withdrawn. He did not
proposed to send men to the Board of Public
Works to examine all their papers.
Gen. Chipman.-Mr. Green, If you will point
out any contracts which you have asked for,
and which have been refused to you by Mr.
Chandler or Mr.. Stanton, / will make a motion
that they be committed for contempt. have
no recollection that they have failed in this par
ticular.
LETTER FROM THE EXPERTS:
WASHINGTON, d. c.. February a. ls72
H,H ~ III. Sfnrkpsa' ksr, Chairman OF ne Com
wtEes on me Dtstria 0 Columbia, U. S. House of
, SIR: We, the undersigned experts, having been
Oiizens emoriai Association to carly out nj ,hs
order issued under date Of FebI uary sd 1872, BY
tract with orders from the Board Of Public Woris.
sent that We have actually cemuencsd Operations
on ss E e
and confirm the same by our testimony.
tsisned GJxo. q. HalxSFss, EMIL 3. fREpK.
Rio K, A. GRANT, W. W. DEMAINE, Experts.
Mr.. Chandler objected to the reception Of the
Mr.. Starkweather said these men did not pro-
pose to make the examination before the 10th
Mr.. Chandler said these memoralists were
not content with taking the time of this COM
mittee for long weeks, but now they
WANTED BOARD OF THEIR OWN,
not one appointed by the committee-to make
certain examinations, and report here at some
future day. Here Mr.. Green puts i'm an order
going beyond anything authorized by the COM
mt,ee, and have have right to feel indignant at
comes here this morning and for the purpose of
creating diversion from
THIS FRAUDULENT ORDER
OF his. (reterring TO the one above presented by
MI. Williams makes charges against Mr..
stanton and others. Mr.. Stanton has been here
day after day.. and is ready now to allow Mr..
Green TO examine any contracts he wants. IT Is
time now that these reckless charges which Mr.
Green has INDUCED in should stop. have en-
deavored to be courteous, but cannot submit to
Kind, endeavored to be perpetrated on the COM
mittee without my protest hope the commit
tee will not allow these memorialsts to ge and
upturn the whole District government
Mr.. Starkweather.-Thec committee win hear
in mind that a few weeks ago the memorialists
had gentleman here-Mr. Bliss as q witnes,
whom they wanted to examine and measure Ger
tain work. 1 signed an order for him to examine
and measure any piece of work which the me-
morialists designated. Now at this time to
aaihorlze any men to make these examinations
and measurements and report on the 18th of
March, if we agree to that, then the whole case
will be opened anew, and We will be as far from
the end as ever. think there is
NO SENSE OR JUSTICE IN THE RRouRsT
and no good viii come from 1t. To take this in
yestigaton out Of the hands of the COMMITTEES
ana SUBMIT N 70 these men AZ asked by the me-
for one will not submit to il I
think we shouldrescind the authourity given nv
Mr.. Williams as he requests.
General A. Grant arose to explain
Mr. Starkweather.-Weu understand the whole
matter, MI Grant, and do not propose to have
any more Of our time taken up this mornin1
With these explanations. If you wish to TESTIFY
further you can do so.
MI Crane said the memorialista had des;o-
mated MT. DeMaine to do the work for Nh. /
Bliss. o' "i'
Mr. Eldridge said he had no recollection of |
agreeing to the appointment of a board of |
experts. He did not believe the committee had |
hat power. 1t was apparent to him that Mr..
Grant had very strong feeling, and had mads |,
up his mind-whether rightfully or wronofnIiy
was not for him (Mr. Eldridge) to say-but II |
Vas clear be was
Nor A SUITABLE PERSON
or the committee to appoint to make exam;na-
lions to guide them.
,1ran!.-Mr. Chairman, 1 hope you will |
Mr.. Starkweather-Mr. Grant, you have |
counsel here and we can hear them, but we will |
not hear every memsralist. |
Mr.. Eldridge said, in regard to the books of |
the Board OF Public Works, the committee were
experts enough to examine them. He was op- |
posed to waiting sixteen days more to take testi-
mony on the part of these memorialists. There |
were complaints now that the committee We,e
not pursuing this investigation with the rapids
~ they ought TO. He had neglected other i'm. |
r,Ort mmfttees Which he N, c-la. a. |