Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-24
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings before the Committee
To-day.


hearing the arguments of the counsel for the
memorialists and the District government, and
closing up the investigation into the charges
against the Board of Public Works and the new
District government.
Peter Campbell said as the testimony of Mai
Morse reflected upon him he would like to max.
a statement in reply.
Mr.. Coombs said he would withdraw his prop
ositiOn, made few days since, 10 delay TIA,
submission of his argument until after the testi
m9ny should all be printed, and he would nov
ask that time 10 print his argument.
MIR. Chandler said in compliance with IN
suggestion of the committee lie was ready {,
submit his argument.
Several members OF the committee thought
best 20 90 on this morning and close up tn
case.
MIR. COMBS said he was ready, but wantedt
make a few corrections.
MIR. Starkwea;her.-what about Mr.. Camp
bells application?
Mr.. Eidridge...I think the controversy be
tween him and Major Morse a personal matter
Mr.. Chandler said he had suggested that NJ
Campbell should have an opportunity TO reply
MIR. Eldridge withdrew any objection.
Mr.. PETER CAMPBELL's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Campbell was then called, and, in auSwe
10 questions OF MIR. Chandler, testified that b
had no interest whatever in the 18th street cor
tract; did not cause that contract TO be writer
in the name of Lewis K Hewitt, and had no I'M
Outstanding with those gentlemen that he was {
have a fourth interest in the contract; in Nj
Shepherds store one day witness was waiting Z
u.
Major Morse came in and took seat by his side
he (Morse) began to find fault with Hewitt 4
Lewis, and growled very much; witness replied
major am astonished to hear you talk so abou
your friend MIR. HEWITT" then started to leav
him, and was going TO Mr.. Shepherds room
when he (MCrse) hailed witness and said, "Hay,
you an interest in that contract ?" witness re
piled, al have not" did endorse a check OF so
drawn by Hewitt; was in his Office when Hewitt
asked him to take a check for $500 TO Hallet'
kilbouTn;- consented TO do il, aud the check wa
do 40 90
stood it was a contribution TO the political fund
never took any interest in the contract except {,
have the Beard of Public Works recognize
when they came into power. as Hewitt & Levi
were friends oil witness; the statements OF MajO
Morse were not correct; did not mean to say tina
Major Morse swore false, but thought his min
like his body was iseased, and he was sufferinl
with kind of morbid insanity.
II. {. HsUiU was recalled, and testified tina
Mr.. Campbell was not interested in the l4th
street contract: never said he intended 10 Civ,
Campbell 10 per cent, or that he was TO hav,
one fourth of the profits; Major Morse has re-
ceived Si0,i 40 from the company's funds, an
which mnst be accounted tor by him in their
final settlement; witness gave 500 as a contri
button 10 the election fund from Hewitt, Lewis
x Co, after consultation with the members O.
the firm.
VIM. A. Cook testified that on the 9Th of Ma,
the old corporation of Washington made a con
tract to pave 18th street, with Hewitt n Lewis
subsequently the Board OF Public Works cor
tnued the work, and on the 18th of August wit
with Lewis & Hewitt; MIR. Campbell had no in
terest in the contract; a paper was drawn us
giving Morse one-fourtb; nothing was said
going to show that Campbell was interested
witness understood that under the old corpora
ton Mr.. Campbell had an interest in the work
but when the Board OF Public Works came int,
power and Mr.. Campbell became a member o
the Territorial Legislature he positively de
clined to have anything to do with it.
Mr.. Green asked that he be allowed 10 reca.
Mr.. Mullett to ask him a few questions.
Mr.. Chandler.-I think he has gone to Men
Orleans.
Mr.. Starkweatber.-wen, am afraid If W
recall Mr.. Mullett. Capt. Grant will interfere.
Mr.. GreeD.-I will have Capt. Grant put unde
bonds.
Mr.. Grant.-It is important, | think, NJ,
Chairman, that Mr.. Muliett explain tn charg
he made against me of offering 20 divide.
Mr.. Starkweather to Mr.. Grant.-YOu can cal
him to an explanation outside.
Mr.. Grant, shall do that, sir.
Gen Chipman.-Mr.M uiett WAS on the wi:
ness stand and you had ample opportunity &
make / i'm explain then.
Mr.. Starkweather agreed with Gen. Chip-
man, and the committee decided not to reca-
Mr.. Mulett.
Mr.. CoCmbs then proceeded to read his aryu
ment.
ARGUMENT OF MR.. CooMBs
The argument OF Mr.. Coombs commences b.
reciting the charges of the memorialists agains
the Board OF Public Works and the new Dis
trict government. The 81 III section OF the OF
ganic act provides that "said Board of Publ
Works shall have no power to make contracts {,
bind said District to the payment OF any sam
of money except in pursuance OF appropriation
made by law, and not until such appropriation
shall have been made" They respectfully sub
INIT that the PLAIN intent of this provision is tina
no public work shall be contracted tor until th,.
Legislative Assembly shall have approved, no.
only of the proposedwork but Of the price to b..
paid for il. 1t could not have been the intention,
ofCongress that the Legislative Assembly shout
appropriate millions of dollars, in gross, to b
expended by the Board of Public Works at IT
own discretion. He argued that the Board o.
Public Works had violated this section of tn
organic act and the act OF the Legislative A.
sembly in regard to the expenditure of publ
money for improvements.
The act of the legislative assembly, Aug IL
1871, was passed simply to supply the means TO
commencing work in pursuance OF the apprO
priation previously made in the four million
act, and not for the purpose OF putting 500 ,00l
into the hands OF the Board OF Public Work.
to be expended by them without limit or re
stralnt. MIR. Magruder and Mr. Shepherd a.
mistaken insuppOsing they expended said money
under the authority of the act referred to. i
comparison of the list of contracts made by Ii
board with the "plan of improvement" sub
mitted to the legislature and Incorporated i'm.
the four million act, will show how utterly tn
board has disregarded said plan in letting i
contracts, in respect TO the location of the wors
well as its character and cost. On the 1T.
street road the board have exceeded their au-
thcrity by at least the sum Of $4,000. The a
the improvement of F, 6, 18th, 18th, 18th, 2O. /,
and 2lst streets west, and the actual cost ..
those improvements, which shows, he contende,..
that the excess Of expenditures on the stree
mentioned over the appropriation is Sl56, 1924
Add the cost of paving q street, from 2lst T.,
9th streets, and the excess of expenditures oyer
the appropriation is S206, S02. IA.
Mr.. Coombs then referred to the F, 18th, 49,
and 18th street improvements, at some lengti
and said the Board OF Public Works attempte
to justify that act under the miserable preten>
that IL was done in pursuance of an ordinan.
Wi -
testimony in relation to that improvement, D
claims that the mem0Iialists have shown th
the improvement was commenced and pros
cuted before the passage of the 81 900 900 To-
bill. In concluding his argument on this pou
he says" Ii is a significant fact that the sapi
member OF the Board Of p ublic Works who ow,
farm and country mansion near the terminl
Of the It'll street road; also owned at the tim .
said Improvements were commenced q block -
valuable houses on F street, between 18th a.
18th streets, the only property, it is believed,
any Of said excavated streets that has been be-
Gifted or has not been seriously damaged by {,
excavations. He next refers to the Nilsson i
avenue sewer, and claims that il is not includ 4
in the general plan, and that the whole expen.i =
ture therefore 10 without authority OF law. a..
also claims that the filling up of the canal :
without . shadow Of lawful authority, and Il.
fagrant violation Of the act of Congress Pr,
viding for the cleaning.
To finish the work Of filling up the canal ~