Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-08
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee

proceedings OF the joint Congressional commit
tee investigating District affairs, it was stated
that Gov Shepherd submitted a statement OF
the taxes collected by the Administrations OF
Mayors Bowen aud Emery, ana the amount
Palo by them fer advertising, general expen-
ses, &c.
The stat ment shows under Hon. Sayles J.
Bowen's admnistration-GeBeral taxes COT
cted, ST. N533; pay mel ts made on account
OF printing, binding aud ad Tertisnx. SIS, go s.
total general expenditures 81 AS, COS -; specia
assessments on account OF improvements made.
$500 42l 90; general debt existing At end OF adj
ILLUSTRATIONS, 81 243 ,266.56; total expenditures
ard liability incurred by assessments and debt,
81 III, og3 80. Hon. Matthew G. Emery's adj
mibistration-Taxes collected, Si,2i9. 1913. "a;
Iaymentsf for printing, binding and AL yertisiny
s!3,ssi 49, total general expenCi ures, S1.215,-
S5916. In addition 10 this sum, $500 100 was
expedited under authority of the acts of Con
gress approved July and July Is, 1870, by GER
tItcates of Indebtedness, but, being for debt
incurred prior TO June, 1870, is not included. }
Special assessments for improvements, $751;
1891 1Dcluded in this amount is the sum OF
Sl95 3I2 IS for assessments ade and scrip issued
DIV the District government on work fully C )m-
pleted prior to May 81, 1917 General debt ex-
isting at end of administration, 8, I7O,13i 81;
total expenditures and liabilities incurred bv
assessments and debt, g., III $50 95; grand total
OF liabilities and expenditures for three years,
80. sos, 594 so. The Governor said he had this
statement prepared with view OF refuting a
great many charges that had been made upon
the present District govern ment as to excessive
taxation.
The Governor then submitted documen,s
showing the relative prices allowed by the
board for Tagging; and why. The Governor
said Of one OF the bills audited and paid by the
general government with which the Board OF
Public Works had nothing to do "Footing that
up hnd the actual cost of that tagging around
the lith- street circle was 81 IS, as paid by the
engineer in charge of the public buildings and
grounds, General Michler."
q State in that connection the price charged
ny the board. A. The price charged by the
board is Sl.25 for the Tagging similar to that
laid around the 18th street circle, the di ference
being that it is buestoDe instead of Seneca, the
bluestODe being much better.
The Governor was then questioned as To the
orders given the engineers about cross sections
&c, and was then asked: State why work was
rot continued upon the digging cellars of the
new City Hall building on PENNSYLVANIA ave
nue.. A Merely because the force was wanted
somewhere else. The work was commenced
and some contractors failed to finish up their
WORK, and we had TO have their work finished.
BY the Chairmap;,Q Iobserve some digging
ging cut the foundation for a cellar. / stopped
them this morning, at the request OF Senator
Morrill,.
q. State the amount properly payable by the
government for its share OF the improvements
and in its relations generally existing between
the District government and the United States?
The Cbairman.-I de not know as L under
stand this.
Mir. Mat'inely.-Tnatis mistake of the copv-
list in drawing off that question.
The Witnes1.-I think it is all stated in nv
answer. 1t is all summed up in a nutshell That
- per cent. of the property of the District paw
all the taxes. The government owns abou- half
Of the property, and has RENTED about per
cent. OF the remainder to churches and schools
and benevolent institutions, and does not pay
any on its own preperly-that is, general taxes
so that really As per cent. of the real estate pays
all the taxes.
q. And that is the only property taxed? A.
That is the only property that is taxed.
O. DO you issue licenses here for the District
government? A. Yea, SIR.
Q. State the reasons for the present embar-
raised condition OF the District? A. Well |
think il is stated in my answer pretty plainly.
he passage of the general tax law. at the last
legislature, made an abatement OF three .fourths
of one per cent. a month on all taxes. Shortly
after this, the financial crisis came on, and
money has been worth more tha an nine per cent
a year to almost everybody, and the payment OF
taxes has been d eferred. There is no penalty
for DoI payment. They do not fall due until
July, and there has been no way, therefore, Of
meeting the demands OF the government.
q. 1t all your taxes had been collected would
tou Lave had means TO carry on your work?
A. III all our taxes b ad been collected we would
nave means enough to pay every dollar that
the District owes TO scbool.teachers, hremen
and all its employees; and If the assessments
we're In such shape that the money on them
could be collected, the Board of Public Works
would not be short over 81 900 900 or 81 500 900
The Governor was then examined at length
as to the indebtedness OF the District govern
ment.
The examination of the witness was discon-
tibufd on account of the members on the part
of the House being called away to vote on the
bill.
Mr.. Msttingly announced that the District
upon the close or the cross-examinssion OF
Gov. Shepherd, would rest its defence.
Senator Allison remarked that the committee
reserved the right to recall any OF the witnesses
should they need any further explanation In
that some Of the engineers Of the
board would be recalled in relation to the re-
OF the Improvements bordering
upon government property, now being madeb by
To days Session.
The committee was called to order at a
quarter before one O'Clock.
G.. II. Wilcox was sworn and submitted the
statement:
"In the testimony of Mr.. Storrs before the
committee, my name and sever Al others was
mentioned in very unjustifsble manner.
Mr.. Storrs proposed to come before this COM
mittee, provided he had an opportunity, and
correct his testimony. AS he has not, L desire
simply to state never visited Mr.. Storrs room
except at his request, and while there MIR. Storrs
never incurred any expense whatever on my
account. / submit Mr.. StOrrs' letter to me aud
ask that 1t be made part of the proceedings of
able repair the injustice to me by his very extra
ordinary and unkind remarks"
In the letter accompanying this statement
StCrrs writes to Wilcox:
committee you appear TO think that | have
stated matters greatly to your disadvantage,
and which very much regret. l also regret
that made 1t appear that you were unwel-
come visitor at my room. Our intercourse,
since that time, has been OF q social and agree
able nature, and l have now no reason to be-
lleye from all that i have seen, but that YOUR
course in relation to the pending Investigation
since i knew you, has been upright and
as you very well know my own
has been"
GOV. SHEPHERD RECALLED.
Gov. Alex. X. Shepherd recalled: Witness
thought deduction should have been IN AIDE on
the DeGolyer and Mcclellan contra ct, on &C
count of the grading having been done by
other parties; knew other cases wher grading
and curbing has been done by one party and the
carriageway laid by another party; IL was done
to facilitate the work.
Q. Do you know any case where grading Was
from q contract for q pavement which
had been done by another contractor? A.
know Nothing about the measurements; il is the
business OF the engineers department
Q. What has been the mode OF letting con-
tracts? A. 1t has been to give the work at
he prices fixed BY the board to responsible
parties; the Vice President OF theboard was the
executive officer, and did most Of the business;
al large contracts were let by the authority of
) majority of the board.
q. Do you know Of Any cases where contracts
we're let to parties not contractors and then
hey sold them out? A. No, sir; not unless they
we're backed by responsible parties who vouched
or the work being completed promptly and