New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-31
moth il that il is pretty hard to tell which side lie
the more desperate reckless.
GOV. SHEPHERDS MEMORIAL.


A FRANTIC PROTEST AGAINST AN INVESTIGATION
INTO DISTRICT TFAIGs-THE APPOINTMENT OF
AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE MORE PROBA-
BILE THAN INCONSISTENCIES BY SENATOR
CONKIING.
lBY TELEGRAPH The TRIBUSE,I
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.--The memorial OF Gov
Shepherd of the District of Columbia, presented to
the Senate by Mr.. Hamlin to-day, aud in which the
Governor. while asserting his readiness to be inves
tigated, frantcally protests against any nvesiga-
tIon makes the appointment of Joint Select Com
mittee more than ever probable Mr.. Shepherd
says:
Your memorialist insists that unless probable
shown for the existence of tho evils heretofore
and complained Of and which have been disproved
before Congress- he and his associates ought not TO be
subjected at great expense the General Government
and 10 the great detrmen Of the interests OF the Dis
ric 10 further needless and fruitless Investigations
Every one at all familiar with District affairs is
perfectly aware that many of the matters now COM
planned of have never been inquired into by Con-
gress or any of it's committees An investigation is
now making by an expert employed by Mr.. Hale,
Chairman of the House Committee on the District
of Columbia but this examination applies only to
the method of bookkeeping adopted by the Board of
Public Works and the state of affairs shown by
them. Any wrong, if it exists may or may not DO
shown by this investigation. But the more serious
accusations that have been made against the Board
are of an entirely different nature. 1t has been
charged, for instance, that thousands and perhaps
millions of dollars have been traudulently drawn
from the United States Treasury by the Board OF
Public Works on false vouchers made up from mac
curate measurements of work done or pretended
measurements for work never done. The streets
and squares where these oyercharges have been made
are named; the true measurements have been placed
bnf oil and no has
challenged to defend its figures This it has never
DONE although it is very easy matter for any citi-
zen to make the examination himself and determine
what is the truth.
Another charge that has never been inquired into
by any committee of Congress is the assertion that
duplicate certificates of have been issued
against private property in Washington and that
the forged or duplicate certificates have been de-
posted in a New-York bank as security for money
lent. Payment of these duplicates has recently
been demanded by the agent of the bank, though
the owners of the property thus assessed second
time. Still another charge about which Congress
has never inquired is one that the Board of Public
Works has involved the General Government IN liza
blties since last January, in defiance of special
prohibition at that time made by Congress in the
following words:
That the said Board of Public Works he. and they
liabilities on behalf OF the United states in the improve
meut of streets avenues and reservations beyond the
amount of appropriations previously made by Congress
and from entering into any contract touching such m-
proyements on behalf OF the United States except in
| pursuance OF appropriations made by Congress.
Before the holiday recess the Board applied TO the
Appropriations Committee of the House for money
to pay for work done since last Winter in pursuance
| of no appropriation and in utter disregard of the
law quoted and the late annual report of the Board
of Public Works places the amount thus illegally
| spent and now demanded of the Government at
S47O427 o. II is also asserted that the debt of the
District now illegally exceeds 100000 The
official reports show that the regular District bonds
outstanding amount nearly to this sum. while the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund have issued in
addition Especial Improvement Bonds" and Gen
eral Sewerage Bonds" TO the amount of from three
to five millions The fact that these latter
secured by assessments to be made upon property in
the future that provision is made for the payment
of 20 per cent of each bond each year. does not in
the opinion of good lawyers, take them out of the
category of bonded liabilities in excess of the
amount allowed by law. No investigation made
year ago can throw any light upon the present state
of the District debt 1t will therefore be seen that
Gov. Shepherds assertion that tue charges now
made have been dsproved is not true.
Mr.. COnkng, with his usual dexterity, succeeded
in giving to the country false impression of the
| treatment that was actually given to the first
mortal sent to the Senate by property holders of the
District He said that this petition alluded to, had
been received and what was very unusual, had
been read at length" The Senate had then, in
accordance with its rule, declined to have it
printed. The first memorial was presented by Mr..
Thurman on Friday last, and he moved to have it
printed, and Messrs. Conkling and Sherman objected
Mr. Salisbury then moved to have it read, when the
following proceedings took place:
The President pro. tem.-The Senator from Delaware
for the reading of the petition Is there objection
Mr. Shenandoah is contrary to the rule, aud do
not think we ought to violate the rule TIE rule
that the Senator presenting petition shall state lis
substance We cannot read all the petitions that are
presented.
Mr. Conkling-Let us have the regular order.
On Tuesday. Mr. Thurman presented the second
memorial, which was read, but the question of
printing was not raised. Mr.. Conkling knew these
facts. and his misstatement of them this morning is
| apparently without excuse.
| THE CASE OF GEN. HOWARD.