Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-28
ABOUT THE TING CON
mIrGEE.
History Of Its Mise, Progress, and
Operations.

4 HISTORY Oh hlse. PrOXEeS9. ana
Operations.
The JOINT Special Committee investigating
| sffairs in the District Of Columbia closed its
session yesterday so far as taking public testi-
mopy Is concerned, reserving TO itself, ho wever
| the right to recall Hallett Kilbourne to answer
| who we're the beneficiaries 10 his real estate
| pool, and Gibson, of the New York Sun To
answer who informed him that Congressman
| Harmer, OF Pennsylvania. was interested in con-
| rscts." All the papers of the District govern
meDt which have been in the possession of the
| committee during the progress of the inyestiya-
| ton we're ordered TO be returned
LITTLE HISTORY OF THE CASE.
| On the 9Th day OF January Judge Thurman
| introduced in the Senate the me moriat signed
| by w. W. COrcoran and others, one having been
| previously introduced in the House by Mr.. Wi
| SOD, OF lnutana. signed by Columbus Alexander
ct al. On the goth of January Governor Shep
| herd replied with a memorial to the United
| States Senate, reciting the animus which
prompted those seeking the investigation and
gressive citizens they had sou ht to imp de the
onward march by refusing TO pay their ics.
| taxes, and impeded rather than by their intiu-
ence impelled the public Improvements.
TIE COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
After some trouble in securing a committee
by reason of the declination of members as
mIttee was secured on the 10th of February
consisting on the part Of the Senate of MeSsrs.
Boutwell,, Allison and Thurman, and on the
| part of the House of Messrs. Wilson, Bass, Hub
bell, Jewett and Hamilton. The first meeting
was held on the 18th of February, when q sub
committee, consisting of Messrs. Boutwell,,
Wilson Thurman and Hamilton, was appointed
to consider the best mode of conducting the
investigation. This committee reported TO a
meeting OF the full committee on the day toll
lowing. On the 10th of February a list o: inter-
rogatories were submitted to the Governor in
writing. which on the I'd day of March were
replied TO in document covering upw ards OF
appertaiDing thereto, the latter being conveyed
| to the Senate in three express wagons and
taking up nearly all the available space in one
Of the large Senate committee rooms.
THE TESTIMONY.
The taking OF testimony was begun on the
9Th day of March, the investigation being IN
auguIated by inquiring into the condition of the
school fund. The sessions thenceforward we're
continuous, the largest hiatus at any one time
being after the death of Mr.. Summer. On the
10th of March, Mr.. Boutwell,, the chairman,
(who never met with the committee at pu Bile
session. was excused from service by reason o.
| Ill health, and on the 18th OF March Mr.. Stew
ait was appointed as member OF ami CHI air
man of the committee. Objection being M tde
in committee as TO the right of the Vice Pfesi-
dent to appoint the chairman. and Mr.. SUewart
waving the designation to the chair on the 10th
of March Senator Allison was elected chair N M
and has served TO the close.
THE LABoRs OF THE COMMITTEE.
The committee, IL will be SEEN have been In
session taking testimony two months and TWEEN
ty-two days, the report of which testimony,
exclusive of that in the safe burgl .ry
case, will make volume OF 1900 pages,
to which if the latter OF go pages is added wili
make miscellaneous Congressional document
Of nearly 5000 pages. The EVENING STAG in
its daily reports has printed over one hundred
columns OF testimony.
The official report was made by Messrs. f.. B.
Bradley and james o. Clephane, the misce!a-
Deous extracts of records introduced being
copied by George H. Smith. 1t will require
nearly all the appropriation OF SO 900 to pay for
the reporting OF evidence. To this add Witnesses
fees of those from affair and at home, and the
printing Of the report, and 1t may be safe TO
infer that the investigation has cost the govern
ment upwai is of $50, 90. wi hput taking into
consideration of the valuable time CT tn com
mittee. which the country had a right to expect
would be enlisted iii a more profitable cause for
the common welfare. Then, az Ain, adj the
cust TO The District, by having its general ou !
nets suspended, legal fees, &c, and the q. =.
cost II loot ny 10 enc hundred tho Isaud col a-s
Ut mole.
THE RANGE OF TESTIMONY
has been ~ varied as frivolous. Experts n : ~
been put on the stand, to explain rhomb DiI..
parclellograIns, cubes, areas, right angles. tri
aneies: 70 ex'rsrf the cmhe and square 70 u.s.
then, too, we have the fifty opinions (all differ
emit concerning sod, and how much dirt should
go under it; whether loan is essential to Its
growth; also, whether sod stolen should not he
cheaper than sod bought, and if the District
government didn't steal ali its sod, "why," why
didn't 1t? The testimony on the sod qlestian
would afford light reading and amuss-
ment for the decrepid sexton of a neglected
cemetery for weeks,
Flsgging las been prime element of inquiry,
u
Cluss testimony, knew whether he was aluiin2
TO the bunting which made the great American
emblem, or to the sidewalks which adorn our
public squares. 1t is fair to presume that he
had reteIense to the great American flag, for
he frequently alluded to taking out the wfnd ;"
and huttered considerably in his evidence on
the subject.
Then the evidence Of experts like Tommy
Evans was brought to the fore, to tell what he
knew about sewer pipe. This witness held the
reins on this subject, until one enthusiast On
sewers proposed TO sail the committee through
the B-street sewer In long boat, to give tn IN
an Opportunity to look at snuff colored or salmon
brick. Happy thought. Evans retired.
| Seriously, the committee have reason to con-
| graduate themselves on the great fund OF in
formation the Investigation has disclosed to
| them. They will know now all that meu can
know about paving and contracts. Fifty ex-
peIt have given them the cost OF wood pave
nents and the profits which accrue to a con-
tract. Sewer pipe he's been dsjointed aud its
| cost detailed. They have been told ali about
| cuts and fills, haul and excess of haul over [ go
hundred feet. They can even compute the
cost OF lightning rods, on the basis Of the cost
of iron and wire fence; and when the fend who
deals in the long, bob tailed lat the apex rSds
comes to them to solicit patronage, they can
laugh bis figures to scOrD, and produce the me-
morialists' chapter of cheap fence to prove MIN
exorbitaDt in his prices.
| One remarkable fact in connection with the
investigation IL that, OF all the memorialists
who signed the duplex grievance to Congress,
only one has had the moral courage to face the
music. The committee room has been filled
uohy WIN Sldss VI VINO seemingly
have no visible means of support, and VINO
came to enjoy snOOZe on the old fashioned
settees without the rail enclosure of the COM
mlttee room. Not one of the sO-called solid
property holders put in an appear ance, save TO
answer subpoena, and then give testimony
and shufhe away as IL ashamed of his own act.
THE ELLSWORTH MoNUMgNT-It was thir-
teen years ago yesterday since Col. Ellsworth
was shot and killed while attempting to lower a
Confederate flag that hoated over a hotel i'm
ALEXANDRIA. Federal M fiea af
distinction killed in the war, and his fate excit