, 1874-06-18
THE DI9TnICT INVESTIGATION.

This result Of thu District Of Columbia inyesti
paper. Tho Investigation WAS SO protractod,
and tho time for mixing tho report 90 Rholt.
that the Committee lnve been unable to glvo
any moro thnn briof atntement Of their conc}u-
sions, with Bomo recommendations for tho tenn
porary protection Of ths public interests. pend
ing tho abolition Of the present aud tho substi-
tuition Of another Govomment.
Tho Committee find that tho Government Of
tho District, at q worry early day in its history,
delegated ita general authority, in all things
pertaining to expenditures, to the Vco-prosident
Of tho Doard Of Public Works, Nr. Shepherd, and
TINT from that tiulo, in October 1871, Mr. Shop
herd has baen absolute rulor and dictator; TINT
thero Inns boon no pretenso Of attempt on his part
or Of that OF his associates, 10 comply with any
formal regulation; thero have beon no meetings
Of tho Board, no auditing Of bills or oxpendi-
lures, no balancing OF tho Treasurer's accounts;
in fact, no accounting and. responsibility Oh tho
purt Of any officer whatever; and TINT at this
time the accounts Of tho olicors aro in such
hopeless confusion TINT the Committee recon-
mend tho appointment Of two accountants to tako
possession Of the books and report tAs actual
facts at the next aoBsion.
Tue act Of Congross expressly limited and re-
sttaincd tho District Government from incurring
any dolt in oxcees Of $4,000, 600. Nevertheless
that Government, in supreme contempt for the
1aw and disregard Of its restrictions, havo con-
tractod debt which, 20 for aa has boon aBoor-
tnined, o1coodB S2ooo0,o00. and Is far in oxcoBs
Of the ability Of tho District to pay. Tho original
! comprehensive plan Of improvement" was es-
timatol to cost e6.b78, ,397; the Board has e1-
pcndod or contracted to oxpond (and that docs
not include tho whole plan) 918.872.00o.
or moro than 312,000.000 III excuas OF
tho original estimated cost. Tile Commit
teo utterly reject all tho theories upon which
further condemn tho ayaten by Which the
Board undertook to crowd the completion Of
such vast work into sucl1 short Hpaco Of
| tune. Willie the city las baeu improved, it
haH been done at sacrifice Of public aud private
| interost, Us woll as in violation Of law.
| Tho system adopted by tho Board. the Com
mitteo aay, prepared the way for the vioioua
| mode Of letting contracts, without competition
| and by tho moro award Of tho man Shepherd.
Contracts wero let as matter OF fayoritisns,
leading In Tho ond to tho aslos OF oontractH at
large prices. Tho oaao OF tho "adyenturor "
| Chitteuaen, WHO was authorized to pay $97. 900
for "inhueuoa" to get contract calling for
only a700000, is instancod aH one result Of the
Byatom. Tho names OF tho "adyonturers In
Congress- who co-oporatod with him ara moi
! mentioned.
The Committee review tho loose and It.
responsible way In which tho whole bual.
ncaa was done. It WAS all conduoloa b.
Shepherd, and the Auditor md Treasurer
wero both az irresponsible 10 Shepherd
himself. In this way oyor s20,ooo.o0(
layo beon expended, 80 far as has been asoer-
tainod, and there Is not a book nor III officer IL
tho District which can ahow how it was erpondot
III dotai Shepherd has let contracts, uul th
Auditor approved bills, md tha Treasurer paiI
money, without either officer knowing what til
other Lad dono, aud without any consultation
with eaoh other, or without any evidence tia
would onable one ol1lcor'a accounts to chso|
those Of tho others.
; Under those circumstance, the Commits
raoommend tho immediate abolition Ok sha