Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-14
the DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION
Proceedings before the House Com.
mittee To-day.
s4NsusTs or G0rsraOr Cooke to the
.HsmOrtaifsfs.

.1Hsscsrs or Gorsra0r Cooke TO the
.HsmOrtalfsfs.
The Congressional investigation into the
charges against the Board OF Public Works and
the District government was resumed be ore the
House Committee on the District of Columbia
this morning.
George Foitdnsbee, sworn.-The workmanship
OF the I'd street sewer is good, but the cOnnec-
tons imperfect; il has needed alterations, which
alterations witness explained; they entsiled an
additional cost on the city; witness had another
contract flor Missouri avenue); had to bond for
proper performance Of duty, and submit to a
retention OF per cent. Ofthe amount of contra
the Missouri avenue sewer level is nine inches
above T1ber creek, reports to the contrary not
withstanding; had told Mr. Crane that he did
not consider Green a competent engineer; had
hve engines pumping water out or the Missouri
avenue sewer three times; in every case the
loss had been his, and not the Eoard of Public
Works; the bill for making the sewer in I'd st.
deeper is in the hands of the auditor; has no
doubt 1t will be paid; the damages were from
$500 to $500; has requested the work measured,
in order that he might be paid at the usual
board prices; he will not be paid twice for pipe;
the second digging was nearly as expensive Is
the first; i'm case of freshet in the Tiber the
water would run back in the sewer; don't see
how this could have been obviatesl; the Missouri
avenue sewer will not necessarily prevent food
ing in case of freshet; in the judgment of
witness
THE BEST WAY TO DRAIN THE CANAL
is by the present plan; i'm his opinion it would
he the best way to keep the canal dredged-say
from sd TO 18th street; witness men voted at
THE LAST ELECTION
to suit themselves; he never instructed them to
vote for or against the loan BILL he voted for the
loan; perhaps i've or six feet Of dredging would
be required in the canal from 9th to 18th street
no member OF the Legislature to the knowledge
OF witness, has had any interest in the work;
MIR. Mcknight had frequently bothered him to
give employment to certain men, but he (McK.)
had no interest IN the work; there were other
bids for the work; there were some higher and
some lower bids than his; the price he receives
Is not too much; 1t is q fair compensation; the
price of bricks has gone up 81 a thousand since
the general system of improvements has been
inaugurated; the Board Of Public Works never
ordered him where to buy materials to carry on
his work; never bought bricks from $. p.
Brown.
MR.. GREEN ON THE LAW.
MIR. Green, Of counsel for the me m0rialists,
carriageway shall be paved prior to the ist Of
March, or after the LIST of November. He also
read from the same authority, that it shall not
be lawful to gravel any stre cts after the LIST of
on the clerk of the court for the record of the
injunction against the District government, and
learned that it was in the hands of William A.
Cook. ~ -
Mr.. Chandler said he had no objection 10 the
production OF the entire record; in fact he de-
sired it. SOS
Mr.. Green said 1t had been stated that
THE PRESS
bad been subsidized. How much truth there
was In this assertion, he did not know; but one
paper in particular had assumed a mil,ler tone
then read the following abstracts from the Office
of the recorder of deeds:-'sA. r. Shepherd to
Ella Piatt, October 1. recorded November "a,
lss1, lot A, subdivision of square i6s, for
Mr.. Harmer:-" Who is Ella Piatt?"
MI. Green.-"We propose to show that she is
the wife of Dom Piatt. The skating rink, CON
tanning 164 Geo feet, was sold January -, to X
n. Hall, for a, 600 cash; Han conveys to f. l.
Stanton, Secretary Of the District. and the pur-
chase money was furnished by A. 4. Shepherd
making Stanton merely trustee" go I
Mr.. Green said he would show a little more Of
the press work IA. X. Shepherd to John Nj.
Morris, Of the Chronicle, July 1, Is, l, recorded
October 8, 1871 lot A, sub. OF square 4ti, for
"a. 4. Shepherd to N p. Chapman, May 10, lot
3, square 222, afterwards made a club house,)
recorded August 25, Isl for $1,000 Septem-
Der u, Chapman to Shepherd, the same prop
erty, In consideration Of the sum of 81 received
December II, 1871. shepherd to Washington
Club, December ], 1871. lot 8, square 222 for
s4i, 600; james I. Ward to A. X. Shepherd,
sheraton Of s3,i57. j. r. Ashley to shepherd.
November 10, lot A, quare 164, consideration OF
$40. VIM. b. Todd to Shepherd, December II,
1871, same rs above, tax title considered"
Mr.. Chapman here asked Mr.. Green if he had
any objection to his being sworn. Mr.. Green
replied in the negative, and
MR.. CHAPMAN WAS SWORN.
He desired to say he bought the property
where the club house now is with a view to
making it residence; Mr.. Shepherd sold it to
him reluctantly; all OF his friends advised him
not to make it his residence; he had gone to
about 500 expense, when he subsequently, re-
leased the property to Mr.. Shepherd, at a NOM
inal price; the property had been a source Of
loss to him; no money had passed between him
property had been sold for club house, and he,
MIR. Chapman, held one share; the club is a pure
ly social oreani zation il is in nowise connected
with the District government.
Mr.. Chandler wanted to know why Mr.. Green
brought in the record in this case Of the club
house. ~ ~ -" 'F.fF
Mr.. Green said In compliance with the wish of
the executive committee. He had no special
purpose in introducing the record
MIR. Starkweather said he thought it very I'M
wise and very unjust to bring in such thing.
He, as member Of the committee, could not
countenance any insinaation against honorable
men. 49,
Mr.. Green disclaimed any insinuation against
Gen. Chapman. He didnot himself believe that
any particular significance attached to the
transaction between Gen. Chapman and Mr..
Shepherd.
Mr.. Chandler said that whoever made up the
case of the committee put in the record for some
improper purpose. 81 8EEE o.
MIR. Green put in as evidence the report of
THE COMMITTEE OF sEvkNTY
in New York to show the cost of opening streets
He would not take up the time of. the committee
in reading the account Of this extrayagance. He
simply wanted. to say that this extr.yagance
Public Works since they came into power. He
next put in rs evidence q list Of " Jobs and con-
tracts" accompanied by statistics, and pro-
ceeded to read an explanatory paper.
MI. Chandler said the counsel ON the other
side should not submit their argument by piece
meal Heobjected to 4uch . mode Of procedure.
Mr.. Green insisted that his paper was simply
explanatory. He then read his statement.
After he had concluded, Mr.. Chandler sub
mitted statement OF Gov. Cookein answer to
on the 18th inst. 20
a. The eon~istss then adjourned until 70 O'Clock
G0yERHOR COOKIES ANswERs.
The following are the questions propounded
to the Goyernof together with sanswers there
to-: % . = y - "
EXECUTIVE 0REicH. pIsr1ic1 or OoLuassA.{ e
NAsHiHGr IN, February IA, 1874. -
Hos n. h. &nsk usathes, = Chai sasea n Tim mir.
Tee o. District Of ColMssbis. iz ara "a vi q 7las
si,:.IDDu1soAnDoo o. the foQuest Of your commit.
tee. ehose ehe hgnof - submit. herewith, yTissea
snswsas % ths submitted BY 1essrs
Ceombs - Green q lhszth hit VI - ~ Y
~.. !. isr ixrEh8eQktYnx. '.a &C., 49,. = .
pril en6 November slsc&eps sDsc3fyinG the tesns
in each ease, together with . etaoen6of a. The
res sons for holding two elections in one year.
ANswKR.
% The total cost Of the two registrations was
-, a. viii appear from the statements Of the
CtDtroN' OF the District, herewith submitted,
Marked" b. This statement gives the details Of
~ cost Of each registrst on.
H.. a 81