Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-20
TIE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Before the House Com.
mittee To-day.

against the Board OF Public works and the new
District government was resumed this morning
hy the House Committee ON the District OF
Columbia.
walton on 10Th street, north OF +, about one
week prior TO the LIST of July; observed the exea-
walton while on his way to Mr.. webb's house TO
attend a meeting of the executive committee OF
the Bar Association.
VIM. b. Webb, recalled:-The meeting of the
Bar Association executive committee at his
house was on the 9th OF June.
WA. HemphM Jones, recalled.
Question by Mr.. Coombs:-State what are the
condition of Mr.. s. p. Browns account.
Mr.. Eldridge objected. The committee wa,
not authorized to investigate MIR. Brown, NO
more than VIM. A. Cook. There had been ar
effort here constantly TO blacken somebody,
between Mr.. Brown and the Treasury had
nothing TO do with this investigation.
Mr. Williams conceded with Mr.. Eidridge.
The committee ruled out the evidence.
Mr.. Coombs said III. s. Davis was to have been
here to-day, but on account of illness he could
not attend. He submitted a statement of Mg.
Davis to the effect that his real estate under the
old assessment was assessed at S1ls,5l5, and
under the new assessment sls4,5.1, an increase
OF ST, 056.
Mr.. Chandler objected to the admission of
this tatement az the Off cisl record OF the As
sessment was before the committee.
j.. A. Gushing sworn In the central and east
ern portions OF the District, with the exception
OF few localities, the value of property has de
creased; the Columbia railroad had been the
canse OF some property increasing in value; gen.
orally the appreciation did not cover the de-
probation; witness residence is assessed a,
COO; did not think ii would bring over L. oOC
on favorable terms; thought the District gov
eminent paid salaries at least fifty per cent
higher than the general government.
BY Mr.. Chandler:-Witness is clerk in the
Post Office Department; had bought and sold
real estate; pays taxes ON property valued al
5000; did not belong to him. but he represented
it; never was real estate broker; is one OF the
ME norialists, and had
FELT BITTER AGAINST THE DISTRICT GOV
ERNMENT;
had denounced them; accompanied the commit
tee and the memorialists the other day, and 20,
excited on that occasion.
BY General Chipman:-Couldn not charge fraud
on amy member OF the Board OF Public Works.
could not point to any fraudulent act on the pari
OF any member; thought they had used the pub
tic money TO accomplish their own private ends
thought the money would not have been ex-
pended Gu the 9Th street road had il not been to
benefit the property of a member of the Board of
Public Works; had no knowledge of private
property being improved at the public expense
MIR. Gushing was about to make a regular
speech, giving his views, when Mr.. Stark
weather directed Mr.. Crane to call the next
witness.
HARD SHELL DEMOCRAT.
DR.. j. III. Atrord, swOrn:-Witness could not
get an anti Improvement ticket on election day
in the 10th district; went to Mr. Polkinhorn's
printing office and had large number printed:
saw a colored man attempt to vote a white
ticket, and a man inside offered him a colored
the man who offered the ticket was not one OF
their number; witness asked what he was doing
inside, and they said he had been invited in to
take a drink.
By Mr.. Eldridge: is a hard shell
democrat. Laughter
BY Judge POlaDd:-rhe cOOred man voted
the white ticket; witness stood by and watched
them; could not name any one who desired TO
vote against the loan ana could not get an anti
loan ticket.
Mr.. GEO. W. RIGGS ON THE STAND.
George W. Riggs sworn Owns real estate;
the new assessment is larger than the old one:
some OF his property has been assessed much
higher than formerly; some far beyond its value;
had not observed the effect OF the mprovoIns nts
upon property; only attended to his own prop
erty; had not time to look into other peoples
affairs; the law of Congress recently passed in
creasing the rate Of interest in the District had
brought large amount Of capital here; thought
the debt OF the District had increased too fast:
voted on election day; could not get an anti-loan
ticket; wrote the one he voted.
Mr.. Green offered a statement prepared by
himself as TO amount realized from the District
bonds in London.
Mr. Eldridge objected. There was no testi-
mony before the committee that the District
government sold bonds in Europe. on the con-
trary, the testimony shows distinctly that the
bonds were sold in New York.
MIR. Riggs resumed, and in answer to ques
tons of Mr.. Eldridge testified that the taxes
paid by him amounted to something over
$4,000; thought the assessment OF property here
was higher than in other cities; thought Gov.
the sale very high; witness pays taxes in New
York and St. Louis. and in proportion to the
value OF the property the taxes here are higher;
in New York his property is assessed at about
two-thirds OF its value; likes the old govern
ment best, because it was more economical;
favored governing the city entirely by commis-
sioners; would not recommend that We return
to the old svstem now; would prefer being gov
erned by commissioners entirely and do away
with this voting; would not stop the improve
ments; thought Congress ought to limit the in
dc of he had M oh.
the men who now govern us.
DIR. BLAKE EXAMINED.
DR.. j. b. Blake swOrn:-Is president of the Ma
tional Metropolitan Bank; represented a large
amount OF property As trustee; could nor say il
was affected by the improvements now going
Oh; voted at the last election; did not see anti
loan tickets; did not vote against the loan: did
BOT question the integrity OF any member OF the
Board of Public Works; knew Mr. Shepherd in
timately; would as soon call into question his
own integrity as that OF Mr.. Shepherd; thought
he was above suspicion; had known him since
lie was boy.
DIR. GUNToN ON THE STAND.
Or. Wm. GuRton sworn:--is president OF the
Bank of Washington; is familiar with the value
or property; witness property was assessed
about $4,000 higher under the new assessment
than under the old one; did not think the streets
were benefited by being paved; thought the
wooden pavement an injury to Pennsylvania
avenue, a. there was 80 much racing upon il:
thought Congress should have paid for the
pavement; had serious apprehensions OF a panic
in the city OF Washington; voted at the last
election against the loan; had to write his tick ct
NOT FOB SALE
Jesse b. Wilson, recalled:-Wtness had read
the testimony of the real estate men, as pub
lished in THE STAR; his views did not accord
with theirs; his property is assessed about Is per
cent higher than lat year; is ssed at 900
paid $50 900 for the Avenue House, corner OF
eth street and Market Space; it is assessed a;
/ $50 eco.
Q,-By General Chipman:-what viii You
take for il I?
Alt is not for sale
By. Mr.. Chand!er:-Witness had been before
the Appeal Board in reference to his assess
ments; bought the Avenue House five years ago,
and had improved 1t since; receives 500 per
anHum rent for it.
MR.. BROWNS HORSE.
J. w. Buker, sworn:-Witness never bought A
horse from Thornton Smith; bought one from
Mr.. Pumphrty; paid s225 for il; Mr.. s. p.
Brown was in the buggy with witness and Mr..
Smith trying the horse; witness bought the horse
with Mr.. Browns money; Mr.. Smith acted i'm
the capacity Of an agent; Mr.. Brown was not
familiar with all the Details and honestly thinks
he bought the horse from MI. Smith.
SUPERVISING ARCHITECT MULLKTr RE-RxAM-
Ar. A. B. kuUet, recslled:-Mr. Green pro
ceeded to ask questions in reference to the New
York post Office.
General Chapman objected, and the objection
was sustained.
Mr.. Muiiett then testined in relation to the
former difference between himself and MI