Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-08
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION
Proceedings before the House Gem.
mittee To-day.

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.
Charles +. Peck sworn.-Was q member of the
Council or upper house OF the Legislature of the
District of Columbia; was appointed by the
President; was an abolitionist and republican
in politics; resigned his position as q member of
been accepted; might be technically q member
of the Legislature now, but had taken no part
i'm the deliberations since July last.
MT. Green.-What we're your reasons for re-
signing your position?
Gen. Chapman thought that question an i'm
proper one, and the committee so decided
getting through bills which he believed to be
just and proper.
Q-what influence was brought to bear upon
ing just and proper bills?
Mr.. Phillips inquired under what charges this
testimony was offered.
Mr.. Green.-Under the 9th and eth. The COM
mittee decided that 50 far as the testimony re-
ferred to those charges it could be offered.
Witness resumed:-It was matter of opinion
a. to what we're proper and improper measures;
his opinion was that the a 1000 900 act was an
improper one; did not know that the Council or
Legislative Assembly were ever paid or induced
for its passage were made by different individu
ais, who were members Of the Board OF Public
Works; thought the majority Of the Council
agreed with him upon the act, but did not like
to speak OF those with whom he was associated;
made a speech against the 8 900 600 loan from
his seat in the Council; saw M ullett, Shepherd,
and Brown in the Council while he was making
the speech.
Question by Mr.. Crane.-Did any of, them
your speech?
Al saw two of them manifest disapproba-
ton by their looks.
you come down to persons manfesting disap-
probation by their looks the testimony is very
thin.
Mr.. Peck.-I answered the question, Mr.
Chairman, because it was put to me.
Witness resumed.-Bills which he considered
important for the public usually passed the
which the Board OF Public Works took interes.
usually passed; was satisfied that the Council
and House OF Delegates were wholly subservient
to the win of the Board of Public Works; his
opportunities for Observ alton were in the Coun-
ell especially.
Q;.haye you got = list of the appropriations
made by the legislature?
Ayes, sir. Witness then referred to a list
OF Appropriation bills, which he said he had
prepared not for the purpose of laying before
the committee, but for his own use; he figured
up the whole amount of appropriations OF the
District legislature at s12 02s. 900 50.
Gen. ChiPman-DOes that include the second
81 600 600 loan act?
Ayes, sir; that includes
BOTH FOUR MILLION LOAN ACTS:
TO this add s., 900 900 which the law permits to
be assessed on property by reason OF special i'm
10 Appropriation OF this amount Is
required. it being One-third Of the cost Of the
Improvements. Witness here referred to the
various appropriation bills, and said sixteen OF
them were indefinite as to amount, but they ap
PrOpr1ated sufhcient money to carry certain
things into effect; he estimated the amount APP
propriated by these sixteen bills at 81 600 600.
Gen. Chipman.-Did you include the Pied
mont railroad bonds in your estimate?
Ayes sir.
Gen. Chipman.-That loan must be enlJksed
by Congress, and therefore is not an indebted
ness yet.
Witness resumed. Estimated the whole
amount of expenditures and appropriations at
SI' ,0cO,COO; to reach that sum he allowed
600 200 for the sixteen bills, 81 900 600 for as
sessments On property for special improve
ments.
Gen Chipman.-If but one OF the $1,000 900
diminished?
Answer.-Yes, sir.
Witness resumed.-When the 81 900 900 bill
was before the Council the Board of Public
Works sent in an estimate of the cost Of all pro-
posed improvements, amounting to about
SS,Oo0,O00; from this they deducted 20 per cent,
cash, and one-third to be paid by the property
holders. Witn IS also included in his S17 O0n 900
estimate, $4,000 for wooden pavement on NJ
street. $40 OO for the payment OF interest and one
instalment Of the principal on the water loan.
100000 Piedmont railroad bonds, $3.50 900 for
the payment Of the interest on the first issue of
loans amounting to SO, iO5, 900, including the
two 81 goo 900 loan acts.
By Mr.. Crebs:-Witness did not know il the
$500 900 and $3.50 900 anticipated had been paid
Mr.. Phillips said both Of those loans had been
liquidated
Mr.. Peck.-Did not zee how money enough
debtedness; thought the taxable property in the
whole District was SS5, 900 600 when the new
government came in; since then there had been
new assessment, ard witness understood the
amount had been increased; did not thipfthere
was any room to increase 1t.
By Mr.. PhilliPs.Witness was never improp-
erly approached while a member OF the Council;
had always been in favor of liberal improve
ments; only demanded that the money should
be economically expended, and every safeguard
thrown around it, was willing to give $40, 900 600
Tor improvements; members OF the Board of
Public Works used strong personal arguments
with witness to have him vote for the a .OOO 600
loan bill; thought they went beyond ordinary
argument in their efforts; they used rs an arpu-
ment to have witness vote for the bill that the
personal honor Of members OF the Board of
Public Works had been attacked, and therefore
he should not vote against it; witness prepared
ms statement OF figures above referred to while
he was sick in bed, and did not know for certain
that they were right.
Ccpt. w. w. Moore recalled.
MI StaTkweather.-Make your statement as
condensed as you can, Mr. Moore, SO that you
can get through this morning. Give us all the
facts, but make your statement condensed.
Mr.. Moore.-The expense for
SALARIES PROPER UNDER THE OLD CORPORA
TON,
except me mbers Of the police, fire department.
and public schools, amounted to Si2s ,320: thai
was ueemed an enormous sum ut that time: now
they amount to e119, sI3; the Governors state
ment OF salaries OF the cid corporations of Wash
iLgton, Georgetown and the Levy Court witness
footed up 1t e4Z3 ,004; witness proceeded to read
iron ms tatement, giving some OF his views
MI. Phillips.-h not that argument, Mr..
Chairman MI
Mr.. Starkweather.-Yes,i ii is.
Mr.. Cotton.-We had better hear this at the
close of the case
Mr.. Starkweather.-Give US the fgures, Mr..
Moore, and not your comparisons.
BY Mr.. Green:-The old levy court was COM
posed OF nine members; believed they received
salary Of 500 per AMMAN each; thought the
omcers OF the old levy court received salaries a
I0llows: Surveyor, u 200; clerk and treasurer;
hundred dollars. ~
MT Moore sid the next subjec in his paper Wa
relating 70 expenditures; the new government
nad expended, 20 Tar, % 0o4 OF; the expenses of
me OLD corRoratton for the came period Of tine
were $50, l33-leaving q balanoo aeainst tho
new eovereDent Of 81 ,l24 ,ssa. The MT thins
wipes referred to was statemoSk of ~
Baker, the comptroller, which va not satsfac.
M. Starkweather.-Wait one moment. Won
are discussing the character Of this evidenee
Mr. Moore. Mr.. Baker has sent In one state'
nent, and We have called upon him for addi-
tcnel ones. We are satis6ed that Mr.. Baker