National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-25

queer that we could not get them on repested
application. - r
q. Well, If 1t had NOT been made out and
filed there, of course you could not get It. l
ask you this general question: whether the as
sessnent sheets, when made out. are not filed
in the Office of Mr.. BeaH, superintendent Of as
sessmentsl A. FROM the experiences which 1
had in this case-the application through the
vice preeident-it would seem that they are not
there, or at least have not been there until last
week. They may have sheets showing figures,
but no quantities. What Iwas after was this:
/ wanted to see In Nineteenth street, which
runs through P-street circle, certain quantities.
Q. The assessment sheets, when completed
as assessment sheets, whether they show fig
ures or quantities, or whether they are totally
blank, are filed in the Office of the superinten-
dent, are they mott A. Here is one of item, for
instance, here Is First street east, a statement
of expenditures on account of sewers; George
Follansbee, 1,72fIz linear feet of 12-inch pipe,
at SO cents, makes 81 SIT, and so this whole
assessment Is footed up to g., $40. That Is the
Information wanted.
@. That shows the quantity aud the price
bothi A. Yes, sir; and there 1t shows how the
citizens are taxed for It. a
By the Chairman: @. Let me ask you ques-
ton; want to understand this: where are
these assessments kept, A. As far as am in
formed, they are kept in Mr.. Forsyth's office,
Mr.. Hamilton. Just answer the question, If
you please. EE-s -'-' z 49, =
The Chairman. They are kept in Mr.. For
syth's Office: A. To the best Of my knowl
edge. -f
Q. Is there such an officer as superintendent
of assessments, Yes, sir, ,,--'s
Q. Docs he have any papers connected with
assessments A. Well, really, that is ques-
ton that, In our circuitous way of doing things,
could not state positively. 80 -
Q. You know there Is such an object A.
Yes, sir; know that.
z. And such an officeri A. Yes, sir.
Q. And that he keeps papers belonging to
the Board of Public Works. A. Yes, sir.
@. He is a subordinate of the boardi A.
Yes, sir.
Q. Have you ever been In that object A.
have been there. but since he acts under the
orders of the vice president do not like to in
terfere with the machinery Of the board.
Q. Are not members of the Board of Public
Works permitted to examine into the dolngs OF
subordinate officersi Do you mean to say to
the committee that no man can have access to
those papers except by an order of the vice
president of the board! A. Well, no; could
not say that exactly; in some cases - g.. .
Q. Did you ever apply to any subordinate
officer for any paper, which paper was refused
to you because you had not an order from the
vice president! A. Well, as a general thing, I
made 1t rule not to do such thing, but /
| always GO ,.-- .r-- --.-.-... .r..- -.
Q. But you are member of the Board of
Public Works, and l want to know whether, as
such member, all the papers Of the subordinate
officers OF the board are not accessible to you
A. Well, I should think they ought to be.
Q. Have you ever applied for any paper to
any subordinate officer aud have had that paper
refused to youa A. 1 really do not remember
any cases !; l am not In the habit Of calling for
those papers, 10. %, -
Q. If you want paper OF subordinate Off
Ger, as member fthe Board of Public Works,
would not the place to secure that paper be at
the proper office. I understand you to be.com-
planning of the circuitous manner of doing
business. Now, that would be the direct way
Of getting the paper, would Il not A. Yes;
but then II is not the way the Board of Public
Works do their business. .a -! 81 ..--1
Q. Well, is not that proper way for q men,
Der of the Board of Public Works, II he wants
Information, to secure IT. A. 1t ought to be
so. 49, ...-.r... -..t- ~ -i --f
Q. I think so. That is all want to ask you,
sir. ..-,..- -.E..-
By Dir. Mattingly; Q. Then the trouble
with this Nineteenth street assessment that
you laid so much stress on was, as l. under
stand you now, that u did not show the euan-
titiesi A. Yes, sir; l was brought from Mr..
O. Well, now, here: you need not 90 into
such detail and explanation; all want to get
at Is plain matter Of fact. II was reported
to you that those were In Mr.. Forsyth's posses.
sion. Now, you and Forsyth were on such
good terms, did you apply to Forsyth TO ascer-
tain the quantitiesi A. 1 stated that make a
difference between official position and the per-
son. In the official position have always
claimed that It Is an important matter Of as
sessments where citizens are so largely inter-
ested-
Mr.. Hamilton. just answer the question,
sir. '' go ' --'
BY Mr.. Mattingly: o. Did you apply to Mr..
Forsyth for the information which you
wanted In regard to Nineteenth street, A.
This question came up in board meeting
Q. Did you apply to Mr.. Forsyth for the in
! formation you wanted in regard to Nineteenth
street, O. ... .-- -.- a'T
By Mr.. Hamiftont Q. What Is your reeol.
lection about that A. My recollection about
this is that in a board meeting Forsyth's chief
clerk, who Is here -..--
1 Mr.. Mattingly! IoBject to this, sir; want
an answer to my question.
The Chairman to Mr.. Cluss. You are under
examination, Mr.. Cluss, as a member Of the
Board of Public Works. You are its chic
engineer. You have in your examination-in
chief testified in way tending at least to i'm
plicate your fellow members of the board
They have a right to cross-examine you and
knowledge, and in every respect. They have q
right to have specific answers TO the questions
they put to you. Now, please answer.
BY Mr.. Mattingly: Q. Now, 1 will ask you
again whether you ever applied to Mr.. For.
sYth for the Information which you desired
with regard to Nineteenth street, A. have
not applied to Mr.. Forsyth, because It camt
up in board meeting; and the officer of the
board meeting, the one who keeps the record
1t was his place, and he did apply to Mr.. For;
syth. ...-.5.-...: .i q z
q. Well, you have no personal Knowledge Of
4 that A. 1have personal knowledge Of 1t, be
cause saw that the gentleman came out from
4 Forsyth's office With the assessment sheet
which then contained figures, but no quaint
i ties. In Mr.. BelPs collection Office they said
It was In Fersyth's Office, and In Forsyth g
office 1t was between the two.
@. On page 2062, of your testimony relating
to your report made upon the increase of price
allowed to the Evans Concrets> Company, Mr.
Merrick put to you this question: "I under
stand you that that certificate was made before
you became member of the board, and that Il
was made inyour private character, and not ON
] cially. A. Yes, SIR" Was that certificate
made by you before you became member o.
the board Al said, yes, sir; was then In
spector of buildings. To the best Of my reeol
lection, this was made before was Q member
of the board. I wish the official paper to be
produced here. In answering that was not Q
member of the board at the time made this
report, am most positive about, although
may be mistaken little In the dates. l think
am positive about that.
Q. When the allowance TO Mr.. Filbert fol
grading on street was made, was there not
an allowance of fifty cents q yard made to him
on your recommendation A. think forty.
five or fiffy cents. do not distinctly recollect
O.. 1 will read you this extract from the
minutes of the board.
| Extract from minutes Of the Board Of Public
Works, Washington. d. O., December %, 1878.
The board met at p. m, By appointment
Present Messrs Willard, Cluss and Blake.
| The vice president stated that he called the
meeting for the purpose Of considering the claims
| Of Messrs. Taylor e. Hilbert for an increase in
prise of grading done by them on street, be-
tween Ninth and Eifteenth streets, in consequence
! Of lowering the railroad track and the unusual
difficulties encountered in the prosecution Of the
work; also New Hampshire avenue, Tenth, Tkir.
teenth, and streets- Upon the recommendation
Of Mr.. Cluss 1t was determined in the case Of I
whole amount OF grading, not deducting the Gus.
| for haul. Action on the other streets, viz: New
Hampshire avenue, Tenth, Thirteenth and ]
streets was deferred to some future time.
| CHAs. s. JOHNSON, Secretary.
| A. wish to say that similar applications
| for increase of work were made. would say,
for one, the North Capitoi-street sewer-the
board were couple of times - f =