Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-27
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION
Proceedings Before the House Com.
miftee To-day,

Sdmuel ForIer, who testified a few days since,
appeared and was allowed to explain his testi-
mCny in relation to the contradictory state
ments of himself and Mr. Gulick.
Dir. Fowler said: i am here as an unwilling
witness. i have taken no part with the in
juDctionists and am not one OF the memorialists
in this cause, therefore / have no animosity
against any one. i am here to deny in toto
what Mr.. Gulick has stated. He has stated
falsely. have no recollection in the world of
calling on Mr.. Gulick and leaving my card for
him requesting him to call on me. 1Witness
here produced a note from Mr.. Gulick, pub
lished in The STAR few DAYS since, request
ing him tFowler) to call on him (Gulick) the
next morniBg.l The property alluded to by
MI Quick as purchased of me was purchased
on the 9TH OF January, 1871, and net few days
before the time MIR. Quick called upon me, as
stated by him.
Mr.. .Eldridge.-He did not say that he pur-
chased II % a few days BEFORE" but that he
purchased il before" and did not know
annually.
Mr.. Fowler.-when received Mr.. Gulick,s
note did not know what he wanted. and called
upon him. He said the change could be made
IN the location OF the maIket-house square, and
that $4,000 would make the change. / said
something about seeing other members of the
committee. He gave me the names of the other
me mbers, but not in writing, and said he would
rather that would see them. Prior to the de-
parture of the Governor for Europe waited on
him, and he stated that he was in favor of ac-
eepung MI COIcoran's offer, and would use
his pest efIorts 10 have the market on that
square, and so informed Mr.. Gulick. Seeing
that he was so much in favor of it we felt easy,
ara look no more trouble about the matter.
Mr-6ulek states that he called on me the next
day after writing the note, and by reference to
the calendar il will be seen that that day was
SUNDAY, therefore was not at my office. Again,
MI Gulick says told him he could have the
corner lot at his own price. Gentlemen, own
no corner lot, and therefore did not saw he could
have 1t. 1t Is untrue that told him to tell the
committee that each one of them could have a
lot. Again, be says / followed him from the
council chamber, and importuned him to say
nothing about my proposition to him. That is
false. never spoke to Mr.. Gulick in the legis-
Iauve council but once, and then 1 said few
words to him after the meeting; but not one stem
dld walk with him, and not once did say any
thing about him not mentioning anything which
Il said He said TO me SO OF course this is he
tween ourselves" i replied =" Certainly"
In answer TO questions of Mr.. Crane, Mr.
Fowler said that if the interest on the notes had
been made payable semi annually it would have
been due in July, and it was instead of that dine
IN September.
Resuming witness said:-Mr. Gulick called
upon me. Mr.. Gulick had taken up ten of the
notes already and had them in his pocket when
be testified, or should have had them in his safe
AS 10 saying he could purchase lots cheaper in
that neigh bOrhood / dare say I did iokingly
rS marx that he could purchase property there
cheap.
Mr. Eldridge.-You said that Mr. Gulick told
you the Savage party was bidding high. He
denies making any such statement as that.
MI fowler.-Well he has forgotten it
MI. CIane:-What is the assessed value of the
SI2O, GOO ~ pay
Mr.. Harmer-what is your opinion as to the
value OF that square?
Alt has large double house upon it. but as
a speculation would not like to give more than
20 cents per foot tor il.
BY Mr.. Eidridge:-I pay a large amount of
taxes real estate in this city; some pieces are
assessed at the full value, others are not. l |
at $1,000 and the lot at So 600. A gentleman |
next door, whose house was more valuable, |
sold his for 500. That was the assessment |
under the old administration.
BY Nr. Harmer:- The average assessed value
of my property is not greater than its real yalue
j have two houses 1 built in 1851; they cost me |
ss,ceo and are assessed now at Sic 600; contend
that the style OF house, the age and decay of a
house are against its real value, and the assess
ment should not be above the original cost: 1 /
have lots on II street assessed at s. cents per |
foot; have offered them on long time at that /
price, and cannot get it; a man has no redress |
from the Board of Public Works, and do not |
believe Congress intended to invest four men
with such power.
Mr.. GULICK EXPLAINS.
MIR. Gulick being present was permitted to
make his explanation and said: II there is
l would like TO know it. II it we're possible to |
have the Almighty Being here, who knows our |
thoughts and reads our hearts, / would be |
glad.
Mr.. Starkweather.-He is here.
MI. Gulick.-Yes, but mean visible to us all. |
As to the note left by Mr.. Fowler Tor me, 1 am |
II
left the note and my young man told me that |
he had been there two or three times to see me. |
/ canhc- DC mistaken. j had right to presume |
that Mr.. Fowler wanted to see me about the /
as stated the other day. All the ap- |
proaches ever made to me were made by Mr.. |
Fowler, am most positive. never gave him any |
andnever gave any man any en- |
coura cement that would support the purchase |
OF the COrcoran square. i could not have dont |
so, as had seen the premises and felt satisfied, |
and do feel satisfied now, that the Savage |
10 ~bA .atN L.,
Mr.. Fowler offering me a lot, / saw he did. | /
am not so sure il was a corner lot, but have that
impression. When refused to buy il he offered |
me lease upon il tor ninety-nine years. He Id /
follow nae part of the way home from the |
Council chamber on two evenings, and asked |
me TO say nothing about what he said.
In answCr To questions by Mr.. Crane, Mr. GU
lick said he thought sl2o, 600 fair price for the
Savage square. Personally. he knew but little
about the value ofproperty in that locality, but
took the evidence OF others. He was getting |
he supposed that the Savage square was worth /
81 per foot. He supposed the house on the Saw
age square was worth so 600.
BY Mr.. Eldridge knew something about /
the rates of assessment; thought property was
assessed below its cash value; would not take
has; for the property he bought from MT.
Fowler he had to pay more than its assessed Il
value; man called on him the other day and i
desired him to appear before the board Of ap-
peals to have his assessment reduced on a GER |
tain piece of property; witness asked him what /
be would take for IL; the man said he had re-
fused fifty cents foot for it; the property was /
assessed for only 20 cents; witness told him to /
clear out; wanted nothing to do with him If he /
was complaining OF an assessment of 20 cents a /
foot when he refused fifty.
By Mr.. Crane Mrs Woodward, one of the
Savac, heirs, called upon witness he was a /
me mfer o, the committee, and asked him to saw /
that they wouit, take sI20 900 for the property;
be did so, and then sent word to her that she |
must employ some one a. agent, as 1t would be |
Improper for him to act for he, being mem /
,sr n, the -. -"mittee. She came 70 witness
Mr. staTkweathe asked MI Cree: e he hao /
any witnesses.
MIR. Green said their board of experts was
NOT QUITE PREPARED
TO report. and he asked the committee to adj. |
iourn until Saturday, and then they could close |
their case OF Monday next. |
Mr.. Chander.-I have summoned no witnesses
for the defence for this morning, supposing that |
all the time would be taken up with the expla-
nations of Messrs. Gulick and Fowler and the
testimony OF the board of experts. hope the
board OF experts will be examined tomorrow, so
that We can commence on Saturday, and think
we can make some Roadway then.
Mr.. Green put in evidence plans and specih
cations of the canal improvement
Mr.. Chandler inquired If he should summon
.iafa 10