Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-09-24


Of the present cumplainants were memOrlnlisti
against the board before Congress, and, It Is u
be presumed, participatorS In the Investigation
against II.
Thus triumphanlly was the accusation o.
fraud met and encountered: and even ], J
COumbs, attorney for the memoriAllsts, declared
IN his argument that no charge Of fraud wal
made and no evidence OF fraud offered.
Mr.. Coomb7, t'0io rOcc.) No, sir; that is a
mistake,
Mr.. Mcrrlck (So'O rOce.l Get up and say so.
MIR. Cook. II Is useless. Here Is the record
FRAUD AND CORRUPTION.
"Hho examination, throughout this inVestl
CATION has been conducted on the part Of the
defence rs II the main question to be inquired
into was, whether the board Of Public Works,
ar others holding official positions under tho
District government, has been guilty OF any
fraud, corruption ur poculallOn.
The newspapers In the interest OF the govern.
ment have been continually prOclalming that no
corruption OF fraud had been proved against the
BoaTd OF Public Works.
"lfthey moan that no evidence has been ad.
ducyd that members Of the board have taken
brbcs, VI have shared In the pronts OF contracts,
and that no evidence has been given that they
have converted TO their own use the public funds
placed In their custody, We have TO say that no
such charge Is made Ia tho memorial.
with all the accounts and vouchers relating
To tho paying out OF money kept In their own
hands and under their exclusive control, II
would he impossible to prove any such fraud OF
corruption, II any existed. But inasmuch as no
such charge Is made In the memorial, We submit
It II a fraud to represent that tho Investigation
has failed because tho memOTlAllstB have not
proved what they never alleged" (Argument,
page 25.)
The Investigation OF Congress and this admIs.
sion OF Mr.. COOmbs was after the completion OF
the Seventh street improvements. II Is re.
served Tor these cUmplainants, In this month Of
September, li72, to UNANIMOUSLY charge that the
members OF tho Board Of Public Works, To-
HethcF with Llnylll0 and Gleason, combined TO
ruin and delraud those accomplishments; more than
that, 10 take tho profits arising from the Sew
enIh street work and put II into their own peck.
etsi more than that, that they each and all
gathered up tho old rubbish and material and
converted 1t TO their own use; and they do that,
ton, In direct conflict with the atiidaVits, which
shy that Maulngly and others sold tho very ma.
teTill which they assert these defendants took.
This Is, indeed, extraordinary recklessnesG, II
your Honor ploaso-almUst unparalleled. But
II Il not thus that charges Of fraud can DO sus.
talnod, or tho regulations Of men OF the distinc-
ton and character VI the Governor OF the Die.
tTict and the members Of the Board OF Public
Works can DO blasted, The purpose is sum.
cionily malignant and base; It's power Of execu.
uun IN the ability 10 carry Il out Is feeble.
There ls perhaps, an additional purpose In
this BILL and one TO which II Is important to dl.
rect your HOnOF's attention. Il Is not openly
AyOwed, but II Indicates II, as the veins Of the
body undorllo tho human skid, and II IL more
than suggested, II not set out IN the answer OF
tho board, and II Is forced on the attention OF
the court by the act Of Congress Of the 2lst Of
February, 1871, and tho legislation OF tho DIS.
trlct Of Columbia oI 10th Of August, 1871.
Your Honor wIlalIow me to read paragraph
And In further denial Of tho statement of
tho said bill, that the court may become fully
acquainted with tho facts Of the case, and the
true character thereof, they say that all that
they did In connection with said work was done
tor the Interest Of the property OF the complain.
ants aud the welfare Of the public In said Vicin.
ity; that no private purpose or gain controlled
or Influenced them In any respect; that said work
was commenced and openly and publicly carried
on Tor about SIX months by able aud experienced
contractors and workmen, and that this was done
N a. hbRWhnpN If az ha al
ants and under their daily observation, and
with the full knowledge Of all Of them, and with
tho board Of Public Works. and employees OF
either, VI easy access and at all times ready and
willing to receive suggestions or Information
oOncerning tho mode In which said improve
ments were being madei that during all this
timo none OF tho cOmplainRnts complained TO
said board Of the plan Of said work. or OF the
notifications and additions 10 the original con.
tract between Linylllo and the late corporation
OF Washington, or tho manner Of the execution
Of tho work, or presented any objection thereto
That, on the contrary, as far as possible said
oOmplAlnant5 acquioscod In the execution Ufsaid
work, which was completed on or about the
month OF December 1871, and that II was only
amer they were regularly and properly assessed
for tho same that they objected TO the cost
thereof, and presented thelT said bills with the
nyOWed purpose Ut escaping and eyhding pay.
ment therefor, either In part or In whole; aud
these defendants respectfully submit that after
such laches and ncqulosence as aforesaid, It
would he manliostly against good conscience
and equity To now allow them TO attain the
purpose OF their Faid bill, and to possess the ad
vantage Of said improvements without paying
the cost thereof, and thus 10 embarrass tho said
hoard In tho performance uI ia dulles and 10
iepfiye II Ot means Justly due FROM said com
llhiuants aud necessarily needed In order TO
AIRY on and complete essential Improvements
n said District
Now, your Honor the act Of Congress In tho
7th section distinctly requires that upon the
completion OF the Improvements, or Immediately
ieFeaftor, ono third thereof, or an amount mot
rnNNfllUEH ttIFtl anull liza assessed IV the !
holders and paid by them. And the !
Il " tho 10Th Of August 1871, Of the District, |
'OYides tho mode 10 which that assessment u |
DO made, aud provides for carrying Oqt that