Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-13
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION
Proceedings before the House Com.
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.
Thornton Smith, (the owner of a patent con-
crete pavement) re-called:-Witness WAS not in
the city when Col. Msgruder was examined; had
heard OF his testimony; would like to hear hi
testimony read; witness was bidder on the con-
tracts for concrete pavement.
MIR. Eldridge.-Well, YOU stated all that when
you were on the stand before.
witness resumed:-Had a talk with s. p.
Brown, who told witness the reason he did not
get the contract was tb at he did not ang around
the board enough; witness was too independent;
TO do thar; property holders on G street came to
witness and wanted him to put his pavement
down there; witness replied that he could not do
1t as the board would not accept him if he would
offer to 60 the work at 80 cents per yard; witnes
said the smaller the price paid the less Opportu-
nifty there was to divide; Mr.. Brown told witness
the ward politicians were too heavy against him.
Witness here produced a copy of the agricul-
tursl report of 1868, and requested Mr. Green 10
read therefrom paragraph
LAUDAToRY OF THE (sMITH) CONCRETE PAVE
laid in the agricultural grounds.
Mr. Green next read letter or recOmmenda-
ton given TO Mr.. Smith by Gov. Cooke Gov
Geary, Senator Scott, 5. P. Brown and others
recommending him for position under Gen
Babcock.
Gen. Chipman.-well, Mr.. Green, what has
this to do with pavements?
MIR. Green.-The witness was aSsailed.
Col. Magruder.-There is not one word in nv
testimony derogatory TO the character OF Mr.
Smith.
Mr.. Eldridge.-Col. Magruder said nothing
against the personal character of the witness,
The witness (Smith) then commenced a trad.
against the placements throughout the city. say
ing not one had been laid according to specifica-
tons, and especially the Scharff pavement.
MIR. Phillips objected to this proceeding; he
did not think it the province OF the committee
TO inquire into the rtlative merits of Smiths
pavement as compared with Scharff's.
The witness then stated that he did not tell
the committee of the conversations he had with
Mr.. Brown when he was here before, because
he was not asked; at the first conversation no
one was present; at the second conversation
several were present; could not give their names;
did not know where they lived; did not know
how many were present; they heard the CONVEX
sation; Mr.. COwan, a property holder in G. street
spoke TO witness about laying the pavement
there; he is ROW dead was certain that there
was TO stone foundation to the pavement i'm
front of the Arlngton; was not a broken stone
put there; all stones put there were mixed with
bitumen before being put down; witness had had
nothing to do all summer but TO watch these
pavements.
BY MIR. Crebs:-Bid 1928 for AZ street; had
two other bids in for other streets; made no
other bids except for his own patent.
Edwin l.. Stanton, Secretary OF the District
stated that he had been informed that at the
close of the session on Monday Mr.. Green had
made
VERY UNJUST MUTATION
against him, and he was surprised at t, as Mr.
Green, in conversation with him, had made no
such insinuatiOns, nor even expressed An opin-
ion that he Mr.. StantOH) was dilatory in FUR
nishing the memorialists with all information in
his custody as Secretary. He spent the princi-
pal part OF an afternoon here with Mr.. Green
in order that he might examine all the CON
tracts, which he did, and asked for a COPY OF
but one only, which was furnished promptly
Mr.. Green wanted the original contracts left
with the clerk OF the committee; this he (Mr.
Stanton) could not do, as the law made him re-
s;Onsible for the contracts, and he could onl,
be relieved by the law. lie wrote to Mr.. Green
on Monday, out of courtesy, telling him he
would forward to him i'm medateiy certain pa-
peIs which he had asked for. Mr.. Green had
asked fer blank forms Of the contracts to b.;
filled up. He (Mr. 81 told him the Board OF
Public Works had those forms, but he woulo
consult with the members and get the blank
for him. ii possible.
Nh. Green said he meant to attach no blame
TO Mr.. Stanton whatever.
Mr.. UaTmer.-The committee are entirely
satisfied, MIR. Stanton. that you have shown m,
miwiliingnoss to furnish any information re
quiIed OF you.
Mr.. Green read letter written by himself T.
Mr.. Stanton, requesting certain papers, and
Mr.. Stanton's reply there'O, expressing his will
lngness to furnish such information, and stated
that all the information he desired in regard t..
the contracts had been furnished.
H. +. Zimb,ermGR, rcca.ed-Witness had ex
amined
THE FURNITURE IN THE MORRISON BUILDING
and MetZerOtt Hall, measured the CARPETS
counted the furniture, and estimated the prices
as they would sell them at RETAIL if they had a
contract tOfurnish the articles as Mr. McKniph;
had they would make deduction of from 10 to
10 per cent. on the retail prices; in Metzerott
Hall they found discrepancy of 15i yards in
the carpet, and in Morrson's building q discre
pancy of "a yards; witness understood that the
carpet from the platform in MetZerott Hall had
been removed to Mr.. Meningitis shop, on Il
street; went there with Mr.. Moses and found
the carpet, which twas said Mr.. Mcknight
held subject to the order Of the Board of Public
Witness here
made by himself and Mr.. Moses, as follows
S14 ,5i1 SO for the furniture and carpet in Nor
rison,s building and 81, s56.G5 for that i'm Metze
rOtt Hall; the estimates were according to retail
prices; had not seen Mr.. Meningitis furniture
warehouse: saw shop he has on street, near
1iber creek; the carpets furnished are good
thought they were fine enough for any place; a
cheaper carpet at about 81. 30 per ward might
have been better suited for those rooms.
Mr. Green.-Was IL not piece of extraya-
gance TO put such carpets there?
MIR. Phillips objected that that was matter
to be deter mined by the committee and not BY
the witness.
Witness explained that the carpet which they
found deficient at Metzerott Hall they subse-
quently found at Mr. Meningitis shop. but they
could not find that which was short in the Nor
TisOn building.
BY Mr.. Phillips:-The first day thew wen,
through a man by the name of Marshal pointed
out the furniture; did not call upon MIR Nc.
Knight TO point out the goods he furnished; wit
ness had furnished goods for the government de-
y
cess OF the government; from 10 to 10 per cent.
higher.
BY Mr.. Harmer:-Witness allowed a good
margin for turning under carpets Oh the floor ir
making the measurements had no knowledge Of
Mr.. Mcknight being an agent for the sale O.
any furniture dealer; believes he makes it his
business to sell furniture by a book OF patterns:
called MIR. Meningitis attention to the discre-
Fancy in the carpet; he said he furnished it and
II must be there; measured all the CARPET twice
VIM. b. Noses, re-called:-He thought the
charges of Mr.. Mcknight were the same a any
other dealer would charge; witness would have
made deduction of 10 per cent if there hal
been competition, but if there had been no com
petition he would have charged the same prices
as Mr.. Mcknight he thought Mr.. McKnight,s
prices generally were fair.
a. Il. Shepherd, sworn.
Shepherd, to bring certain papers with you.''
Mr.. Shepherd.-''I had the subpoena served
on me at 91a a. m, to-day, though dated yester-
cay. / came by the Office and put men to work
in making copies OF the papers required; they
will be before the committee soon as finished,
Witness then went on to testify that he WAS
selected by the Governor to examine
THE BILLS FOR WORK ON THE MORRISON
BUILHNG;
the bills As rendered amounted to about SS4 900:
this was deemed as very large, and measures
were appointed to examine the wOrk-Nessrs.
Rankin & Cluss; they cut the bills down
about $4,000; all the bills had been settled
except MIR. MAYORS and that of the archi-
tectural iron N