Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-01
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of The Joint Congressional Commute.


before the Joint Special Committee inyestigat-
ing District affairs closed, Benz n. Needs, a
former auoitor OF the Board OF Public Works,
testified that he classified the bids for work nv
contractors to the board in September, 1871.
and that from all the bids general avera Se was
arrived at, which MAS the basis upon which the
schedule Of prices adopted was arranged; that
in no instance did the price agreed upon by the
board exceed the average price of the bids.
Governor Shepherd exhibited the cross sec
lions Of the streets OF the city called for by the
con mittee.
Lester Bartlett, contractor, testified to being
present at the opening ct the bids at the Off 9,
OF the board, September /, 1871, and that no
one was ordered ont of the room aJ the time. rs
had been stated, and that a crowd was present.
and nothing done in secret.
W. X. Smith, chairman of the parking com
mission. testified that six dollars per tree was a
far price to be charged, and produced state
ment showing in detail all the expense attached
10 uee-planting in this city.
TO-day's Session.
The committee was called to order this m orn-
ing at half-past ten O'Clock.
l.. b. Townsend swOrn.-Am superintendent
OF property under the Board OF Public Works;
have charge OF receiving and dstri butink mate
rial OF all kinds used under the board.
WITNESS explained the duties Of super
intendeDt of streets under the board ami the
manner in which the property was used and
Witness explained hat the footwalk for which
Mr.. Hogan claimed allowance had been DO wn
seventeen years, and was not fit for use to relay
in sidewalk.
COLLECTOR CLEPHANE RECALLED.
Lewis Clephane recalled--Q. You are charged
as being one OF several conspirstors to combine
to secure contracts unlayfully from the Board
of Public Works; state about that. A. There
IL no foundation for such q charge. and regard
1t as malicious slander; was in New York at
the time mentioned in Mr. Kilbourne's letter:
was there with him and Mr.. Evans, but not
with Brown; was a street contractor, and was
in New York as business man to select the
best patent Iavements, and arrange with the
patentees for the right to lay their pavements
IN this District arranged to pay royalty.
q. Had you done any street paving before the
Board Of Public Works came in? A. Yes, sir;
paved portion Of Pennsylvania avenue AMI
NJ street.
Witness explained that an extra charge was
allowed for laying the Miller pavement on &C
count of the very bad condition of the street,
(lSth street;) an extra price OF twenty-five cents
ayard vas allowed for putting on f1oOr uu Ter
the street. The original contract was So psr
yard for the Roberts pavement.
GOV. SHEPHERD AND THE METROPOLIS PA
WING COMPANY.
y. Explain the organization of the Metrop-
oils Paving company and Mr. Shepherds con
nectiOn with it" A. Ii was organized in 1870.
had the patent right for the stone pavement:
competition was very great 10 pave PeunsyIya
MIA avenue, and we organized the Metropolis
Paving company.
Q. Explain MIR Shepherds connection with
the company A. Dir. Shepherd asked IN. nIs
connection with the Metropolis Paving com
pany; answered that inquiry by the folio wing
letter:
WASHINGTON, ID. G., March 1G, ia.
Hon. LleT. r. Shepherd.
Dear Sir:-In reply TO your inquiry respect
fully present the following brief statement o.
your alleged connection with the Metropolis
Paving company.
You will remember that in the early part Of
the year 1870 X. b. Mohun, you and myself,
secured the right OF the Stow wood pavement
for this District. In July, 1870, an act of Con
gress was passed TO pave Pennsylvania avenue
aud advertisements were published in the pTin-
cipal cities for proposals and specimens of style
OF pavement 10 be forwarded 10 the com mis-
siOLeIs appointed for that purpose. OF Course
the competition became very general. henc.
the Metropolis Paving c. mpaDy was formed hv
consolidation with parties holding the right
to the STOW, Ballard and Miller patents, which
were regsrGt d as the best OF the wooden pave
mei t. On the organization o. the company IL.
-, 1870, you declined to take any stock gu
We agree q TO issue to SamI q. Young STOCK toF
the Interest you held in the Stow payemeut
On the Organization of the new District gov
eminent and upon your being appoint! s
IL, mber OF the Board or Public Works, you in
sisted that Mr.. Young should dispose o;
bis stock, az, from the tact OF hts
heirg relative of yours it would De
charged that you had an interest in An,
contracts which tie Metropolis Paving TO
might obtsin from the Board of Public Wo X.
anc in compliance with your desire Mr.. Young
placed his stock in my hands TO be disposed o.:
which ! accomplished in the latter part OF
June, 1871, by selling TO Mr.. j. s. BAH win
who still holds il. The transfer OF stock was not
made upon the books OF the COMPANY until
by me as collateral security for the notes given
by Baldwin for its purchase. Since you be
came member or the Board of Public Works
you have never had any interest whatever in
the Metropolis Paving Company; on the con.
uary the officers of the company have felt that
you have not even dealt justly by them in the
way OF contracts, especially as they were a
local company, and had considerable capitat
ana machinery invested in the business.
Very respectfully, L. CLEPaASE,
Pres. Met. Paw. 20.
Witness Also read letter, dated April, ISL
written by Governor Shepherd, resiening nis
connection with the Portland cement panv.
on account of his being appointed membe OF
the Board OF Public Works.
witness resumina:-The stock never was
lssueu 10 the GovernSr on account OF this letter.
The company never did dollars worth of work
TOR the Board Of Public Works.
witness presented a receipt, signed BY r. I.
Fowler, acknowledging a return of a deposit
made by him with The Collector on bid for a
contract.
KIRKLAND ON HAND.
Mr.. AIlison.-Mr. Kirkland is here: the COM
mittee will first examine him in private; should
his examination disclose any fact requiring
crosse xaminstion, counsel on both sides Will be
notified. The committee will now retire. CIR
Kirkland will follow US.
The committee thereupon retired with the
witness.
The committee remained in executive session
until hve minutes past three, when Mr.. Kirt-
land was excused for the day.
Mr.. Allison stated that the testimony of Kirt-
land would be printed by TO morrow morning
when the counsel on either side would be al
lowed the privilege of cross-examination.
Mr. Hines was called. and was bel ny exam
ined when our report closed.
Kirkland. the Missing Witness
Jim Christy, the body sna tcher of the Senate,
came to towH last night with that much sou sht-
Tor and seemingly ubiq uitous individual, "Col."
A. b. Kirkland. He found him night before
last in the Gilsey House, in New York city,
quistly picking his teeth in the lobby of that
srietocratic hosiery. Col Kirkland arrived last
light in charge OF Mr.. Christy, and al au eariy
hour put In al appearance before the District
investigating Committee 1T the Capitol.
Col. Kirkland is q man apparently on the
sunny side Of forty five; has dark hair sprinkled
with grey, and wears his whiskers a la mutton
chop. he has pleasing countenance. which
is lit up by mild, dreamy, grey eve. His com
plexion 10 fair. He wore suit Of black, not
gaudy in cut and finish, and had no visible or
naments in the way Of jewelry about his DER.
son. His appearance would indicate that he is
not given to fast horsce, wine, or women.
1t appears that the Colonel left Washington
on the last steamer leaving Georgetown for
been In New York city many hours before he
fell into the hands OF the assistan. sergeant. at
arms.
A STRATEGIC POLICEM A =, who wanted tn rat