Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-22
the DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION
Proceedings before the House 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
the District OF Columbia.
BEEF CONTRACT.
Ih'1aoS b. Cross, Jr., swOrn.-Is com missioner
of the Washington Asylum; knew nothing about
a contract TO supply beef to the asylum being
Gus tom TO advertise for bids.
MI HaTmer-What connection is there be-
tween the commissioners OF the asylum and the
Board of Public Works?
Mr.. Green.-There is none, sir.
NT. Harmer.-Then what have we to do with
investigating beet contracts for the Washington
Asylum.
Witness resumed Was not in town when tho
beef contract was awarded.
Question by Mr.. Crane.-Mr. Cross, did not
Governor Cooke over Lle the commissioners and
award the beef contract to a member of the
legislature, and did you not become INDIGNANT
and threaten TO resign?
Ava out OF town when the matter was
up; II The committee will require me to detail
private conversations will do so.
Question by Dir. Crane.-What does Mr.. Car
roll get for beef?
A-l2H cents per pound.
Q-What was Mr.. yarnell's bid?
Al DO not know.
Q.-YOu state here upon your oath that YOU
do not know what Mr.. Narnelis bid was?
MIR. Crane-we may prove here that you do
know.
Mr.. Chandler.-Mr. Crane, you will please
cOnfne yourself to the examination, and not
thTe aten the witness.
Mr.. CrOss.-I take no threats from Mr. Crane;
may have 10 do 20 in here, but outside 1 will
not.
THE PRICE or HKRRINGs
WHAT DO you know about the price paid
ioI some herrings for the asylum?
MI Williams, (acting chairman of the com.
mlttee.)-Well, cannot see what we have to
do with examining into the Washington AsyIum.
MI. Crsne.-We expect to prove that the best
beef could be furnished the ASYLUM for 6 or =
cents per pound, and that the commissioners
wanted 10 award the contract at that price but
the Governor Overruled them and awarded the
contract TO member OF the Legislature at I2I
cents Pea pound.
Witness resumed;-Mr. Carroll was a member
OF the Legislature.
Mr. EldIidge said if the Governor had been
guilty. OF any such conduct IL was the duty OF
the committee TO investigate the matter thong
he saw DO charge 10 that effect.
BIT. Williams submitted that there was no tes-
umOny nor any such charge against the Cow
eTnor; and unless there was some testimony IN
connect Governor Cooke with this matter this
testimony was Irrelevant.
MT Chandler said the Board of Public Works
had no more to Go with making purcb.sas o.,
beef for the Washington A sylumn than they had
70 DO with building the Capitol, and he respeet-
July submitted 10 the committee that these me-
morialists had NO right 70 rove over this Dis,r;,
plcklng up eyeryiitte scrap Of testimony to bring
before the committee.
Question by Mr.. Harmer-Do Won know
10 influence the action Of the commissioners?
Ale said lie thought no one could furnish
beet ut TO eat at l-5 cents per pound.
BY Mr.. Eldridgc:-Witness woa,ld not like Ia
give his opinion as 70 for what sun beef could be
purchased for; did not know the price of beef:
butchers whom he had faith in said they could
furnish beef for 10 cents per pound; the Gov
ernor said be did not believe good beef could be
furnished for that; witness
Would NOT LIKE TO EAT THE BEEF
which cost is cents per pound; had never seen
the beef purchased for the institutions; witness
knew nothing of his OWE knowledge; get his in
formation from the butcher.
MI Roosevelt--Mr. Cross, will YOU give us
inc conversation you had With the Governor?
ton. e0'sS~
MT: Rooseyelt.-ltis your duty to do so.
Wnness resumed.-Governor Cooke said he
uu not beheve good beef could be Furnished for
10 cents Per pound; witness found no fault
WIN me Governor, blamed his associate COM
missloners ior Withdrawing the adyertisemept:
Anderson and Simns are the other Commission,
ers; In the conversation which witness had Win
Governor Cooke about giving the beef contract
to Carroll, he 1.-THE Governor5 said that if an
thing was TO be given, it should be 10 thar
friends.
BY Mr.. Poland.-Witness did not beh.ve th.,
tx cents per pound was an exorbitant price for
beet, witness had confidence In the Intendan,
OF the Asylum who examined the beef; the com
missioners looked after the interests Of the in
stitution.
Mr.. Cotton said be now desired to raise the
question