Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-27
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.
Mr. Crane said
THE LIST OF OFFICERS
furnished by the Board Of Public Works yester-
day, embracing sixty-eight names, was not
were persons employed by the board whose
names did nos appear on the list.
MIR. Eldridge.-well, you can be sworn, Mr..
Crane, and prove this fact if You know il.
MIR. Chandler replied that they had furnished
what was believed to be complete list of per-
sons employed by the Board of Public Works.
on the next, may have been omitted from tn,
list, but no regular employe was off the lis
unless ii was by mistake.
MIR. Crane said the names of VIM. Norton,
JOS Fletcher, and Gen. Greene and his corps o.
engineers were not on the list.
Mr.. Chahdler.-I will inquire about it, but am
sure if any name has been left of it has been by
accident.
Mr.. Crane wanted to know. what had be-
come of
THE CONTINGENT FUND
of 81 600 for the Governor aud Sl02 ,O60 for the
Board OF Public Works
Mr.. Chantiler.-The Governor has answered
that every department OF the District govern
ment has a contingent fund from the amount
above named, and If you will inquire as to the
contingent fund Of any particular department OF
item, he will furnish YOU with the Information.
you, Mr.. Crane, that he will furnish you with
information if you will specify what you want.
There is no use in your taking up the time OF the
committee every morning Ask MIR. Chandler
for what you want, and if he declines to furnish
you, then you can prove the tact in any way yO1
6hoOse. l, aSan individual member of the com
mttee, would he willing to allow you to do so.
Mr.. Green desired TO offer in evidence pub
LEGATION that twenty employees of the Board OF
Public Works had been furlOughed. He said
this publication had been made in the ring
that such persons were not employed now by
the board
MIR. Eidridge.-That is not evidence, Mr..
Green. There is no use in taking up the time OF
the committee. Let us proceed to the eXamina-
ton OF the witnesses.
Mr. Chandler am perfectly willing.
j. ". Barker, re-called:-Witness thought the
wagon in front OF the Morrison building on
ELECTION DAY
had 1900 tickets in il; believed persons could
not vote against the loan because they could not
the loan bill carried by such means; the
Citizens Association was organized to defeat
the n, 0O0, coo loan bill; thought majOrtyo of the
Ie@pie OF the District were in favor Of the loan
polls; did not know any one who did not vote
because they could not get tickets; thought men
may have went away from the polls because
they could not get anti-loan tickets; could nor
give the name of any person who went away.
there was no obstruction in voting at the polls,
was plenty OF time for all to vote.
inspectors of election were appointed by the
governor; supposed two republicans and one
democrat were in each precinct, all the judges
Of the election were in favor of the loan; did not
know If voters were imported; thought there
were about 20, 600 voters in this District; did no
know how many votes were cast for the loan, OF
how many against it; could not recognize colored
people like white ones; it was understood that
voters had been imported from Virginia and
Maryland; witness did not know il ii was true;
the registration shows the residence Of each
voter; had noticed the work on New York ave-
nue; saw the curb raised between 18th and 18th
streets; subsequently sawit lowered.
Mr.. Chandler.-Mr. Chairman, this has all
been proved by Mr. Gardner; he stated exactly
the sa me thing.
Witness resumed-Resides on II street. a shed
at the intersection Of street and New York
avenue obstIuc the street.
Gen. Chipman.-Oh. wei, Mr.. Oh airman, no
body disputes that fact
sir. Eldridge No. Members of the commit
tee have seen it.
Mr.. CRANE AS A WITNESS.
Mr.. Crane desired to state, under oath, that
on cleo ton day he was served the meanest trick
ever served an American citizen; he waited
until O'Clock on that day to get an anti-lOaD
ticket; then had to vote for the candidate, but
could not vote against the loan because he could
get no anti-loan ticket; resides in the 18th dis
trict; saw a wagon-lOad Of tickets, but none OF
the m were against the loan; in his own district
two or three corporation officers acted as Judge
OF election; VIM. L. Bramhall, deputy collector
was one; James NJ. Tally, superintendent O;
streets, was another; there were one or more
corporation officers acting as judges in each
district; believed the loan bill could have been
defeated if the opponents to it had registered:
believed the Board OF Public Works had more
men employed than there were votes for the
loan; the District government bought up all the
newspapers i'm the District, and had everything
their own way; all the voters who did not regis
ter were opposed 20 the loan; all the papers in
the District approved the loan, except one.
Mr.. Eldridge.-What one was that?
A little paper started, which stumbled
along six weeks; 1t was called the CitizeR, the
Pat, opposed the loan at first, but finally fell
into line; at the time it fell into line he be
iieved Vim. NJ. Tweed owned most OF the stock
Gen. Chipman.-Mr. Crane, you have sworn
the newspapers were bought up.
Mr.. Crane.-It is my opinion.
Gen. Chipman.-Then it is an opinion, not
Gen. Chipman.-Do you believe the editors of
Al do; / believe they fell into line on ac-
count OF getting the advertisements.
MIR. ROosevelt.-COuld the advertisements
have been in erted in smaller space?
Al don't know that thev could.
Mr.. Eldridge.-Have you any knowledge of
money being paid to procure votes for the loan;
this committee? You are a lawyer and should
know what is evidence.
Mr.. Crane.-I am not a lawyer.
Mr. EIdridse.-Isit your belief that the Board
of PUBLIC Works used public money for this
purpose?
Al don't like to say; had heard that fund
was put into the hands of Hallet Kilbourn by
the Board OF Public Works to influence the
election; from the means used to get the bin
through Congress, believed the men who got it
through would do anything.
Mr.. Edridge.-What do you mean by means
used to get it through Congress?
Al mean entertainments and suppers to
which members Of Congress were invited, and
especially entertainments to members of the
District Committee.
By Gen. Chipman:-Did not think any mem
Der OF Congress was corrupted by entertain
ments; had beard that soon after this inyestipa-
ton commenced an entertainment was given At
Gov. Cookies house, to which none but mem
beIs Of the tive District committees were i'm
vited.
Gen. Chipman.-Do you not know, Mr. Crane.
that Gov. Cooke 5 house has been closed ali the
season on account Of sickness?
Al do not. Capt. W. w. Moore told N
there was such an entertainment.
Mr.. Roosevelt.-Do you know. Mr. Crane, OF
any invitations having been issued to the com
mittee since this investigation commenced? be-
cause If you do, L don't. have not received
my share yet. (Laughter.]
E Al do not. /
By Mr.. Chandler;-Held Office under Mayor
Emery and Mayor Bowen; had q controversy
with Mayor Bowen on accountOf Q stupendous
fraud perpetIated by him; acted with Mr. A. r..
Shepherd in having Mr.. Emery elected; the
Citizen newspaper was conducted BY Q fund
raised by citizens Of the Dittricf; witness wa