Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-02
Q. Were these companies incorporated? A


one, and my own name in the other.
Q: In which enc was it held in your name?
A. In the Portland Stone Company.
q. And you sold out after you we're appointed
member of the Board of Public Works? A.
Yes, sir.
By MIR. Bass:-Q. What is the date of the in
Pany in this volume? A. Page 293. The date
is October II, 1870.
Q. In that you had stock. and sold ont after
wards? A. Yes, sir; sold out after 1 was ap-
pointed. Mr.. Ciephsne, the president of tue
company, IL here, and if the committee desire
TO question him in regard to Ii he will be abie
to give them any Information that they may
By Mr.. Wilson @. Was the bill which re-
suited In the organic act pending at the Il nle
you held the stock? A. do not know whether
that bill was, Judge Wilson. There had been
bills pending; bills had been introduced for the
last eight or ten years In regSrd to this change
of government.
Q. When did YOU receive your appointment
a me mber of the Board of public Works. A.
On the 10th OF March, 1871.
Q. And entered upon the discharge of your
duties on the LIST of June, 1871? A. Yes, sir.
z. You spoke about some stock being held
by your brother in-law? A. Yes, sir.
q. Was that his stock or yours? A. 1t was
my stock held in his name.
Q. How much was there of it? A. Indeed,
do not know: some two or three thousand dol
lus
Mr.. wilson, do not care particularly about
the amount; simply wanted to get at whether
it was very large or small. A. did 1t Tor the
interest OF my brother in-law alone.
Q. What is the name OF your brother iI-laT
A. Samuel G. Young. The history of the whole
transaction is here, if you desire it. NV state
ment can be substantiated by the president OF
the company, II the committee care to 20 fur
Their into this matter.
Q. Did Mr.. Young continue to hold the stock ?
A. No, sir; it was sold out absolutely. would
not permit him TO hold it.
BY Mr.. Hubbell:-Q. want to know if you
had any interest, either directly or indirectly,
in either of these companies from the time you
OF Public Works? A. No, sir; in no manner
shape, or form, either directly or indirectly, or
N any other contract or any other thing that
the Board of Public Works have ever done.
q. No secret interest? A. No, sir; No inter
est OF any kind whatever.
By MIR. Jewett:-Q. Is your brother-in-lag a
contractor? A. No, sir.
q. No Interest in any contracts? A. No, sir;
have no relative that ha. any interest in any
contract In any SHAPE, msnneror form.
By Mr.. Hubbell:-Q. State whether or not
you had any interest in any shape, m amer, or
form in these paving contracts? A. have not.
q. Had you any? A. Never.
z. No resultant interest? A. No, sir.
q. Did you have any interest in the name of
kilbourn? A. No, sir; any more than had in
your name, or in that OF any member of this
committee.
BY Mr.. Stewart:-Q. Did Mr.. Kilbourn h Ii
any real estate for you as trustee? A. Not one
dollar, and never did.
BY Mr.. Base. To get this matter fully be-
fore us, Will ask you one or two questions.
Did you give Mr.. Fowler to understand that
MT. kilbourn might have or obtain an inter st
in any of these paving contracts in which you
might have a secret interest? A. L said before
do not recollect any conversations; but on gem
eral Iinci pies, II said anything to Mr.. Fowler
it was to the effect that 1 had nothing to do
with it, and he had better see somebody else.
q. That was what want to know; whether
you designedly or Intentionally, or whether yju
Old, to your recollection OF knowledge, give III IN
TO understand that any arrangement that he
might make with Mr.. Kilbourn would be an ar
raTgement in regard to which you would have
a secret interest? A. No, sir; by no means. II
is q false state ment.
Mr. Harrington.-Mr. Chairman, in this con-
nectiOn would like to hear the president of the
company.
Mr.. Christie would like TO ask the Cover
dor one or two questions. When was the act
organizing the present government passed? A
On the 2lst of February, 1871.
q. When did 1t, in fact, go into operation?
A. On the first OF June, 1871.
q. How soon did the Board OF Public WORK.
undertake to exercise the control? Was not
there controversy between the board an
Mayor Emery? A. Mayor Emery underto *
to let some contracts during the interreguu "a
and the Board OF Public Works enjoined III
1871.
Q. When did his administration cease? A.
The LIST of June. 1871.
q. Then you took possession? A. Yes, sir.
z. Were you at any time connected with the
District government In any capacity? A. L was
an alderman under the old corporation of
Washington, elected the same time that Mr..
Emery was.
Mr.. HaIrington.-In connection with this ex-
PLANTATION, the president of the Metropolis Paw
ing Company Is here, and would like to have
him sworn in order that he might produce the
original letters that M. Shepherd wrote to tn at
company at the time he went into office, sever
ing his connection with those companies. be-
lieve he has the original letters here and can
produce them.
The chairman-Governor Shepherd las stated
distinctly the facts in relation to that.
NJ - L.
The chairmap.-I think we can rest on that
Mr.. Harrington.-I am willing to rest on it, L
am sure.
Philip Julien, city editor Of the Republican,
testified that he wrote the article which ap-
peared in that paper on the 18th of September,
1871 from general conversation with contrac-
tors whom he met on the street; he did not 90
to the board on the day the bids were opened;
thought that q large majority Of the known
contractors had been invited to go TO the board
on the 14th Of September, 1871; the article was
merely q racy sketch of the scenes and incidents
at the opening Of the bids.
MIR. CLAeETT's LITTLE ANRCDorR.
w. III. Clagett testified that the sewer bill
never legally passed the Legislature Of the Dis
trict. Then William A. Cook, he lived there
do not know whether he slept there, but he
drew up all the bills and the members voted for
them just as they were instructed-all the sp-
preparation bills. 1t was q farce; q perfect,
complete farce; it was the greatest burlesque on
BY Mr.. Bass:-Q. Did You oppose all the
bills? A. Yes, sir; took the advice OF a Massa-
chusetts man. 1 met him in the House Of Rep
resentatives.
Q. Who was he? A. We were in the gallery
together at the time, aud we were looking at
some of his members OF Congress. He was
stranger, and he asked me to point him out Mr..
Dawes and other gentlemen, and he got perfect
ly disguised with him. The House was in such
an uproar that he came to the conclusion tn at
that was q fan ce, too. He said that it put him
in mind Of =. 1 told him that had been
elected to the Legislature. Well, says he, l
will have to give you some advice that gave q
representative Of mine in Massach usetts. 1
asked him what that was. Well, says he, .'in
regard to voting. If you want to be entirely
right, vote against every damned thing that Is
offered"
By the Chairman:-Q. And you took his ad-
vice? A. did, indeed.
Q. You say these bills were prepared by Mr..
Cook? A. Oh, yes; he drew them all
Q. What was his relation to the District gov
eminent? A. He was district attorney.
By Mr.. Hubbell:-Q. You are entirely satisfied
with what you did on that also? A. oh. per-
fectly. You will find voted nay there In hum
dTeds Of cases when there was not another vote
In the same direction. l voted against every
thing.
By Mr.. Mattipgly:-Q. You were In a large
minority? A. Very, sir. However lido not want
TO reflect upon the gentlemen connected with
the District government. I think IL II the re-
suit OF the form OF government we have. 1t Is
dangerous. do not know but what Ii I was at
the head OF the government with the general