Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-28
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee.

Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee.
Conclusion Yesterdays Proceedings
After our report of the District investigation
closed yesterday, Patrick Cullinane, who was
on the STAND, was cross-examined by Mr.. Mat
tingly.
PAT oULLIEANR's WORK.
In the main examination the witness stated
that he had completed bis contract on ~ street
in accordance with the specifications fur nshed
him. The cross-examinatiou of the witness
throws some light on the subject
Q. understood you to say that the work on
AZ street was completed by you? A. 1t Was,
except some little settlement, like all other
work. bad to do Ii If the railroad was not to go
there. ANY settlement in any little work OF
that kind that was to be done there had to do
it, as had to do 1t as did afterwards.
.. Did understand you to say that, after
thiTty-One days expired, the railroad company
went to work and tore up the center of the
street to the width OF twenty-five feet? A. Yes,
sir; think from twenty to twenty-five feet.
q; But the board required you to do that
work over again? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you not have great deal of trouble
with the the Board of Public Works relative to
the manner in which you had done that street?
A. No, sir. How could do 1t when there were
four or five inspectors over me every day, earn
ing four or five dollars day for going about
the street?
Q. Then you had no trouble? A. Oh, yes; 7
bad little trouble with the Board of Public
Works.
Q. What was the ground of complaint? A.
do not know what was the ground of com
plant. > spent my money On the street, and
q. Did not the property holders, almost all
of them on that street, complain that you had
utterly disregarded the specifications of your
contract? A. No, sir; do not know anything
about that. What did they give me my bonds
and certificates and settle up with me for /?
What did they do that for il that was the case /?
Mr.. Mattingly.-We will find out about that
q. You say there was no complaint so far a..
you know ON the part of these property holders
as to the manner In which you had performed
your work? A. oh, there was some grumblDg;
some people will grumble anyhow. They were
grumbling at the Board of Public Works
2. You have been grumbling yourself. have
you not, great deal lately? n. Yes, sir; be-
cause have right to.
q. Now, just answer me my question, If you
can: State whether or not nearly ali property
holders on. the line of that street did not com
plain that the contract had been executed ut
terly regardless of the specifications /? A. Yes,
sii; but want to ask you a question in the
presence OF this committee
MT: Mattingly.-I am not on the witness
stand.
=. Representative Hamilton.-Answer the ques-
witness.-Just tell what your question il.
MIR. Mattingly.-Do you wish me to repeat
my question?
Witness.-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Mattingly-The question is whether
nearly all of the property holders the line OF
that street did not complain that you had exc
cuted that work utterly regardless of the specI-
they might not, some of them. Some Of them
grumble anyhow.
Q. Did not nearly all of them do 20? A. Sup
pose they did, that has nothing to do with Ii.
The Chairman:-Answer the question put by
counsel.
MI. Mattngly:-Q. Please answer my ques-
ton. Do you want me to repeat it?
Witness do. Won that thu
q. Can you say whether nearly all the prop
erty holders on the line of AZ street did not
o complain that you had executed your contract
that the pavement laid by you was utterly
worthless? A. Some Of them did and some OF
them didn't, suppose.
nearly everybody who owned property on the
ilne or that street did not complain of the WAY
i IN which you performed your work? A. can't
Q. Do You mean to say you do not know? A
some OF them, may be, might have done go,
ana some Of them, may be, not; can't tell.
Y: DO you mean to say that you did not know
whether nearly all Of them did not? A. No,
don't know whether nearly all of them did or
not.
y sly nearly all of them? A. Well.
Y. Wen, how is it? A. Well, want to know
how 1t is myself.
Q: want to know what you know about it?
A. know about some OF them.
z. don't mean some OF them" s'Some"
may mean a few. / want to know whether
nearly all OF them did not? A. didn't 90 ID
all and talk to them about it.
q. Am right in understanding you to swear
that that twenty four thousand and odd dollars
was retained by the board for the purpose OF
repairing that portion OF the street which had
been torn up by the railroad company, and for
no other purpose? A. They had nothing to
retain that time, because had all my certif-
Gates in my pocket, and the board had nothing
They had paid me for all my work in certif.
Gates. In January they gave me every dollar
OF Il, and did not keep cent back. And how
would not be paid? A. they did, after going
down there and making an examination. They
then put In the papers for nobody to take my
eeruneates. l saw that In the papers, but IT
was too late to do II then, for L had them all in
my pocket,
@. Did this letter, OF which you speak as
being sent to you from the boari stsio Inxu YOUR
Certificates would not be paid7 A. No, indeed.
saw 1t In the paper.
9. And you did not get any notice to that
enect fIom the board? A. To the best OF my
knowledse ! cannot cay; In the papers there
nobody should take my certificates.
Q. Why was that done? A. cannot tell.
Q. You do not know why that was done? A.
fixed up for the railroad company.
Mr.. Cullinane was then cross examined min
utely rs to whether he performed his contract
VI ~ sut0t, IN ACCORDANCE with speclncati0nS-
z. You say now that you cannot say whether
you did the work according to contract or not?
A. The board ought to have seen to that Before
they gave the certificates. You never hear of q
contractor-of course Q contractor, II he is
asked II he did 90 and so, viii say yes; they
ou8htto have found out Whether the work was
done we'll before they paid for it.
MI. MattinRly.-I want 10 know whether you
mean under your oath to tell this committee
that you do not know whether you executed
that contract according to its specifications or
not? A. suppose went a. near 1t - could
In bis direct examination witness swore that
for money received from the LIST National Bank
upon an order from Governor Shepherd he paid
ten per cent. interest. He was positive as to
the amount of interest. To rebuff tho memo
randa, which he had with him, and to which he
was frequently referring, counsel for the Dis
frict government reproduced as evidence the
note bearing on the Transaction AZ Follows:
H.D.O. -f- ~
For value received promise to pay to my
own order si1 Thousand dollars on demand, with
interest from date. 80 4
5000 at eight per cent.
PArRIcE CuLLrrANI
[Order on Board Public work., dated oct.
so, 1872. Collat. Sent mem. board that dste.
W. MIL (Stampe as
per cent. paid.
The following interroeat ories and answers arr