New-York tribune., 1874-05-19
THE DISTRICT INtEsTrGATI0N.
HOW OLD DEBTS ARE PAID BY MEMBERS OF THE RIM
fpY rEIRGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNEl

HOW OLD DEBTS ARE PAID BY MEMBERS OF THE RING.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUsE.l
WASHINGTON May 1S.-James C. Gregg explained
to the District Investigating Committee to-day anew
way by which Senator Dorsey undertook to pay an
old debt Dorsey owed Gregg some money, which the
latter was anxious to collect and about the same
time gave Gregg favorable introduction to Gov.
Shephard who awarded to him certain contracts.
Dorsey was to furnish the money with which TO do
the work, and in this way pay Gregg his debt.
For some unexplained reason the arrangement fell
through, and Gregg sold his contracts, receiving
percentage the work done. Dorsey is a member
of the Senate Committee on District affairs, and
early in the Session, as Subcommittee, drew up
bill to appropriate several millions for the Board Of
Public Works. The formation of the Investigating
Committee prevented it from being reported.
W. w. Corcoran and ex-senator Harlan are among
the witnesses to be summoed for tomorrow.
ARGUMENTS OF JUDGE MERRICK AND Mr.. sfIEILA-
BARGER FOR THE MEMoRIALIsTS-THE DISTRICT
GOVERNMENT.
GENERAL PRESS DTsPATcH
WASHINGTON, May 1S.-The arguments of
the counsel for the memoraliss in the District nvesti
cation were submitted this morning in pamphlet form.
They treat generally OF the violations of law by District
officials and their extravagance. samuel ].
Gregg was examined this morning. He testified
that lie received three contracts from Gov.
spepherd direct, to do paving and sewer work, and
sublet them percentage, because he did not receive
money due him from Senator Dorsey, by which he
pected to do the work himself He became acquainted
with Gov Shepherd upon letter OF introduction from
senator Dorsey. All he did to secure the contracts
He then sub-let them, and W. III. Colt, who up 10 1865
was in Jay Cooke Co.'s bank. acted his agent IN
collecting the percentage from the contractors and wit
ness divided with Colt.
The argument OF Judge Merrick, OF counsel Tor the
l,,yc fba frat al
wee which arrests attention aud the poisonous opera
ton OF which visible in every stage Of the disastrous
administration of the last three years was occasioned
by twisting the organic act, through false consruc-
tiops into the establishment OF two distinct,
coordinate and practically independent powers
within the Territory, and that which was
meant TO be subordinate agency to act only at the
bidding and within the limits to be prescribed by the
eoisatve Assembly at the outset asserted prac
ucaly uubrided authority over the property interests
and the taxing power OF the community The Board OF
Public Works at once asserted discretionary powers
and having asserted, has continued TO exercise them
with rashness, folly, and fayorltism which
has wrought oppression upon the citizen, bank
rupcy upon the Continuity and shame on the nation.
The argument then aludes TO the fact that after The
first Investigation as method Of precauton Congress
declared that the debt OF the District Of Columbia in
Guiding debts OF the late associations, should at no
time exceed the OF sl0OOo0Oo. unless an increase
over that amount shoui have been previously author
ized by act OF Congress. II then. after the warn
tncs OF the starkweather Committee; after their
own adurations before that Committee, aud
after the severe prohibitions Of Congress this Board
has steadily gone with open eyes violating Tue law
- rho land tramping upon it, statutes, defylng public
opinion the remonstrances OF the TAX paying clt-
zen. is IL TO be said that such a course Oh pro-
edre is not among highest crimes against society
Ia t any answer charge so grave Is 1t any nit
igation OF ITS injury to the people to plead that
because the individual members OF the Board
nj
70 have bsen guilty OF embezzlement
other OF those Infamous crimes OF which the penal
law takes cognizance that therefore they must be
uultted by this Committee aud by the nationf We
may iufer that this defense is TO be relied upon.
for notwithstanding all the long list OF abuses OF
power and prohigate expenditure, aud incOmpe
tent administration which have been laid before the
Committee, hear from their external advocates
which mpeaehes the personal integrity OF the
OF the Board I" In the eyes OF statesmen integrity Is
measured by far different standard from that BY which
petty larceny is tried In police court Win statesmen
n means ndelty to law, Implicit obedience to its
requirements complete avoidance OF overstepping
s bounds, It's dhgent execution IN spirit and IN let
exact ana stuulous resaiu iVr tue TiSuts
| property Of the citizen
Mr. Merrick then alluded to the general plan OF i'm
provements nrst submitted by the Board To the Lels
atiye Assembly and the deviation lerefrom without
the shadow OF law. He claimed tnat careful perusa
OF the reading OF the estimate Submitted With the
erl plan ANA subsequent action OF tue Board,
ignorant OF the duties they had assumed or that 1t was
contrived purpose 10 deceive AMI cntIap the public.
OF the District deDt Mr.. McIrlck says. From
counts lard before the Committee by the officers OF
District Government 1t appears the aggregate expendi-
lures OF the District Government and of the Board Of
Public Works taken together since june ISL have been
343 OJ. Crediting that with the appropra-
ton made by the bounty OF Congress of 1857 oO
expenditure IL left enargeaule 10 the people OF the D-
Iae old oorpOrativns OF $500 is9 H. the reaches
| sl6ii.i2 W. or this last amount, by tue receipts