National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-04

uas C"o JUICES, one on street and the other
there. N
Mr.. Christy. We will not pursue this matter
any further this morning. n
The Chairman. Do you wish to examine Mr..
Browne in reference to the note7
Mr.. Christy. will call the attention Of the
committee to 1t again il we deem II impor-
tant.
The Chairman Do you desire a copy of the
note to be inserted in the proceedings
Mr.. Christy. We should like to have It.
Mr.. Merrick. And as it is written on the back
} Of a card, we should like the printed portion
appearing on the face of the card also printed.
The Chairman. 1t will be so ordered.
The following is copy of the note:
"Thirty days after date promise to pay Sam
uel Strong one hundred and twenty five dollars,
with interest. --..
"[s125.l A. K. BROWNE.
''WAsHiNaroN, D. c.. June u. Is7a
ga. K. Browne, attorney and counselor-at-
law, office and residence No. $50 Four-and-a-
half street, (near City HaIl) Washington,
D. c." :
Mr.. Christy. desire now to offer in evidence
as against Louis s. Flbert the following parts
of his testimony, found on page $50 of the
Starkweather report, and with the permission
of the chairman will read so much as desire
to give in evidence.
Mr.. Stewart For what purposei
Mr.. Christy. Mr.. Filbert is charged as one of
the conspirators and desire to introduce this
testimony as against him.
The Chairman. 1t is not Necessary to read it;
Just mark 1t, and hand it to the reporter.
Mr.. Stewart If it is merely for the informa-
ton of the committee, that is one thing; but If
it is for the purpose of impeaching the testi-
mony, then his attention ought to be called
to 1t.
Mr. Christy offer 1t also for another pur-
pose.
Mr.. Stewart. Is it for the purpose Of i'm
peaching the witnessl
Mr.. Christy. Mr.. Filbert is not here. We
have caused q subpoena to be issued for him.
Mr.. Harrington. submit 1t would be better
to bring Mr.. Filbert to prove it.
The Chairman. Do you expect to have Mr..
Filbert present.
Mr.. Christy. hope we will be able to have
him present, but 1 have been informed he is not
In the city.
Mr.. Merrick. These are the parties own de-
clarations, made under oath, when they were
before that committee?
| Mr.. Christy. As q vast amount of the evil
dence given before the other committee has
been allowed to go in the record, think this
ought to be.
This is sort of duplex proceeding, and
hope the chairman and other members of the
committee will indulge US. We have asked to
have subpenas issued for two persons who re-
side in Philadelphia. also wish the commit |
tee to consider this testimony with reference to
that application. The Importance of this will
appear on reading the testimony, or allowing
me now to call attention to 1t. He says that
he has laid on Coates street, in the city of
Philadelphia, a concrete pavement, and that It |
has endured for four years, though subjected |
to the travel of that city.
Now l wish to prove by this witness, and
expect to prove, for so l am informed, that |
upon that street no concrete has been laid for |
fifteen years, and that these witnesses have |
been familiar with that street for q period |
dating long anterior to that. |
| Mr.. Hubbell. Mr.. Christy, do you know
whether or not the testimony you propose to |
| introduce was read over to Mr.. Nlberti
Mr.. Christy. 1 have no doubt of its correct
ness.
Mr.. Mattingly. Your',witness, Captain Parisen,
] denied pretty strongly the correctness of the
report of his testimony.
Mr.. Harrington. To introduce testimony
given before another committee TO contradict
witness, 1t seems to me, is very strange prop
osition.
The Chairman. Mr.. Christy, we will hear
Mr.. Filbert on the stand first, and If you can
not produce him-if he does not come here; we
will take the matter into consideration.
remember very well the application for sub
pPnas for the two witnesses in Philadelphia,
to whom you alluded. The committee looked
that matter over, and they decided that for the |
present they would not issue the subpenss
/ asked IOr. we nave simply QeClQeQ That we |
will not do it for the present.
Mr.. Christy. Shall give these extracts of
testimony to the reporter
The Chairman. No. sir.
Mr.. Christy. desire now to call attention
TO the fact that we have no information in re-
gard, either to the arrival in this city or their
departure from Chicago, of several witnesses
for whom subpanas were issued, or in regard
to whom instructions were given to the Ser
geant-at-Arms. Deeming it q very important
part of this case that this testimony should be
obtained as quickly as possible, would ask
that the Sergeant-at. Arms be Intercepted on
the subject in order to ascertain the precise
present status of this matter. / say this be-
cause of information that comes to me.
The Chairman. will say to counsel that on
yesterday instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to
notify those witnesses that they would be paid
mileage on their arrival here and per diem for
their attendance, and asked him to telegraph
them and get an answer as to the earliest mo-
ment they can arrange to be here. 1 inquired
of him this morning, and he says he has re-
ceived no answer from them as yet. We assure
counsel that we will have all those witnesses
here.
Mr.. Christy. desire to call William A.
Cook.
The Chairman. Has he been subpenaedl
Mr.. Christy. The messenger was sent to him.
Mr.. Harrington. He is q member of the bar,
and we sent message to him. he will be here
in short while.
Mr.. Christy. desire to offer the testimony
of C. q. Bliss relative to the contract of Mr..
Cotton.
Mr. Bliss was called, but did not respond.
Mr.. Christy. Call A. P. Brown.
The Clerk. He has been discharged.
Mr.. Christy. That is q mistake.
Mr.. Harrington. heard his name called
among those discharged.
The Chairman. read the names as given to
&c yvhn ioob al
that there might be no mistake about it.
Mr.. Wilson. Let him be subpenaed again.
Mr.. Christy. We deem him q very material
witness.
Mr. Stewart. think the clerk must have
had orders to discharge him.
Mr.. Christy. presume there was some mis-
take about it, but desire to have him sub
penaed at once.
A. G. HUMPHREY RECALLED.
Mr.. Christy. Mr.. Humphrey desires to make
an explanation.
By the Chairman: Q. Do you desire to ex-
plain your testimony A. Yes, sir; have been
misrepresented, or been reported wrongly. 1
answered that had been in business for twenty
years instead of two years. I said 20 cents
foot, instead of would put 1t up for 20 cents;
it has been talked that meant 20 cents yard.
meant 20 cents q foot for q two-rail fence;
and if you mean a one-rail fence, mean Is
cents.
O. You know the kind Of fence that has been
put up. Do you mean twenty cents foot for
that A. Yes, sir; such as is on the Avenue
and all over this city.
2. Richards, L. b. Merchant, and William
H. Howe were respectively called as witnesses,
but did not respond.
TESTIMONY OF WRIGHT RIvEs.
Wright Rives was called at the suggestion of
the memorialists, and having been duly sworn,
testified as follows:
By the Chairman: Q. Do you know anything
i about excessive charges in measurements for
gradingi A. never made any measurements,
I sir.
Q. Do you know anything about work done |
on the Bladensburg roadl A. 1 do, sir.
Q. As to the cost or reasonabIeness of its |
cost ITO Mr.. Merrick.l I believe that is |
what you want to find out.
Mr. Merrick. Yes, sir; and the rate at which |
the property holders were assessed upon that |
improvement, as compared with the actual |
cost.
By the Chairman: Q. State any facts that |
you know about grading or excavation of the |
Bladensburg road: state all you know about 1t. |
Mr.. Merrick. The whole execution of the |
work. ....
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