Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-12
TIE financial operations of the board, he was


q. In the testimony OF John Collins, on pays
1913, find IL stated, 81 was awarded q contract
for paving \ street and slso 18th streets por-
ed he had some interest" Were you aware, at
the time Of awarding the contract, that Mr..
Murtagh had obtained any interest? a. was
not. Mr.. Murtsgh had building that he was
putting mp at the corner Of 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue, and asked me to give
the work to Mr.. Collins. Twas anxious to get
IL done. i gave IL TO him.
2. Mr.. Collins has been a resident here a
great many years, and a contractor? A. Yes.
cir; and 8 very efficient contractor, as have
before stated. He was one Of the most eff ;ient
ones that We have ever hsd.
q. Inquiries were put to you concerning sales
OF real estate In which a considerstion-put In
whole in one case, aud In part in anotner-con-
sisted of certificates Of the board. Was IL tor
any purpose of specializing in securities of tn al
hind thst they were accepted by you? A.
proposition for me TO entertain. But the Ques-
ton was put directly to me, whether 1 woul1
take District securities for certain property
which held, and said would, after thinking
the matter over for few minutes, at tue price
fixed upon the property long anterior to the
date at which it took place:
By Mr.. WilsOD:-Q. We have had some com
plants before Us, made by some lsboring meo.
with reference 70 the non-payment OF their
wages by the Board of Public Works. 1 would
like to ask you II there is any considerable
amount due from the Board of p ublic Works q,
laboriDg men for work done directly for thu
Board OF Public Works? A. Very little, sir. for
are one or two cases. Mr.. Adams, IL appears,
has not paid his men; and there Is case OF NAV
by the name of Sinner, an old contractor col
ored maD-who didn't paw his laborers; bat 50
far as the Board of Public Works IL concerned.
the amount due TO the laboring men is very
slight. They owe their employees and clerks 8
good Ceal, but the amount due laborers IL
quite small.
Q. Can you form an estimate OF what it is +?
A. can give you the exact amount.
Q. / do not care for that particularly. A. I
Will furnish you with an exact statement OF it il
you oes;re.
@. Well, sir, you may. A. The amount, no tn
turn TO page 463, the total amount due employees
and laborers at that time was sI20, 7O7 92; that
included all the employees OF the board.
q. is there any money now in the treasury of
the Board of Public Works? A. No, sir.
q. Or in the treasury OF the District OF Colum-
bia? A There Is some - 900 In the treasury OF
the District OF Columbia. We paid on the l,t or
this month-May-we paid some $40 600 inter
est. and have a little more TO pay.
Mr.. Stanton announced that the defense had
closed its testimony with the exception Of sOp.
plying certain documentary proof, called for
by the board.
Thereupon the committee adjourned.
TO-day's Session.
The committee was called to order al twelve
O'Clock noon to-day.
Mr.. Allison announced IN at IL was the inteu-
ton TO take the testimony of Ar. Blicken.der-
fer, (the committees eBsinesr,) but they I'd
concluded TO defer il until 10 morrow. He ai.l
committee would prefer argument in writing.
De then stated that the com mittee were re 4dy
tn investigate the last matter referred to it-th-
safe robbery.
MIR. Stanton inquired If there was TO be
any more than one argument?
Mr.. Allison said il counsel on the other side
so desired they might see lit to reply TO the ar
gument of counsel for the District. The argu-
ment OF counsel for the memorialists would be
submitted first, and then the reply or counsel
for the District
ing SAVE pupcrapv
Mr.. harrington would like to say 70 the
committee that so far as am concerned, If us
feelings are to be consulted at all in the matter
| should prefer the examination OF the safe
burglary should be public. or course il is en-
t!rely with the committee to say whether they
will have the examination public or not.
Mr.. AleSander.-SO far as | am concerned,
sm perfectly willing that the examination sha /
be public.
MIR. Allison.-Ths committee will, in its dis
cIeu0n, make public whatever testimony may
Mr.. harrington.-Before the committee re-
tires 1 should like TO make another inquiry NJ
charges have been presented TO the committee
and this whole matter rests in vague allegation
a they have been circulated in the Newspaper
through the country. L desire TO ask gentle
men on the other eide whether they avOw or dis
avow the charges that have been thus publicly
made?
Mr.. Christy.-There have been no charges
made.
Mr.. Hsrrington.-I only desire to know IL the
gentlemen endorse the vague statements that
have been published?
MIR. Christy.-No charges have been made on
our part.
Mr.. Jewett.-The committee, Mr.. Harriuy-
ton, is acting SIMPLY under a resolution OF Cou-
gress. No charges nave been made by any per
son.
Mir. Harrington.-I 30 understand, but IL
these gentlemen believe these charges, L want
70 know If they will assume the respon.ibili
ty-
Mr.. wilson, think you will see, Mr.. Har-
ripgton, the obvious improperly, If You will
reflect moment, Of calling upon these gentle
men to make any avOwal or dIsavowai, because
presume there is no member of the commit
tee nor any member OF the community who a.
not he ard this burglary charged upon both par
uss 70 TINS investigation: The gentlemen on the
you TO make an avowal or disavowal.
MIR. harrington might say that could
m m;s IT, and that no one Of counsel for the
ment has made such charges; but believe upon
the other side charges have been made, and a
SYSTEMATIC and concerted plan has been en-
spread throughout the country.
Mr.. Allison.-We don't understand that there
are any charges made by any one.
Mr.. Christy.-If the committee are going to
allow statements of this character to be msde
We certainly desire at once to confront them.
think they are tboushtlessly made, and GER
MIR. Allisop.-I think that we have now hal
disclosed sufficient TO show that il is wise to
have the testimony taken in quiet way; and
therefore the committee viii retire TO the al
private.
The committee then retired, and called Mr.
Harrington, who was examined.
Mr.. Harrington was still being examined at
tective Clarvoe were in the ante-room.
---~S~.--
RRPRHsBSTATIvK MELLIsH is i'll at his resi-
dence in this city, where he is attended by ply
sicisns and friends. The symptoms OF mental
Bereavement which he exhihifs are a IA IN ovar