National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-07

Of the government, and this was in June, 1
By Mr.. Wilson: Q. What position did Mr..
4, browne hold II any, IN eonnecsion with
the Board Of Public Works, or the District
'governmenti A. Mr.. a. K. Browne from the
inception of the government, has been q men,
Der Of the Council, the upper branch of the
Legislature. Now, If you VIII be kind enough
to let me know those questions which have
PASSED over Twill see If there are any Of them
| can answer. - 49, 49, - l..
Mr. Wilson, have not anything further to
ask you, Mr.. Cook.
/ By Mr.. Stewart: @. Is there anything fur
ther that you wish 10 say, Mr.. Cook A.
Nothing further than what said in reference
| to my answer to the chairman.
Q. mean with regard to these other mat
| tiers. Z. No, sir; the fact, Is this: Perhaps /
ought to say two or three hundred dollars is
about all have received from Mr.. Strong. ]
suppose a fair ordinary charge against him for
1 the business have done would amount from
| three to five thousand dollars. think three
/ or four hundred dollars is all I have ever re-
| eeived from him. -.s- asI zr--.-r. t..H
| BY Mr.. Wilson: @. When you called Mr..
Strong to you with reference to this check did
! you ask him to give you check in your own
namei A. did not. .-..---...-
| Q. Why did you mott A. Well, had no
particular reason for doing It then. s.-, ...s
| Mr.. Bass. Is that the only statutei
Mr.. Stewart. That is the only one that /
| know of. 70. q"
By Mr.. Wilson: Q. Isthere any other statute'
! A. In this District .. % -. IL s.-.5
| providing that q married woman may make q
/ contract which shall be obligatory, excepting q
contract with reference to her separate prop
| ertyl A. Tho law that has been read Is the
| law in this District. This property lies in
! Massachusetts, There 10 no other law that I
know of in the District.
Mr.. Mattingly. They have substantially the
same statute in Massachusetts,. an
| The Chairman. have read your statement
there in regard to what you regard as unjust
| accusations against you. VIII you explain to
the committee any matter with reference to
the statements made here by Mr.. Strong and
| others! -.- 90. Boz. ..a .. ....... our. .. .-r ...
The Witness. It is just at that point that
| desire the generous consideration of the COM
| mittee, and have no doubt will secure it. In
the fourteen charges AMI numerous specifca-
tons there is none that in terms or by any fair
| implication refers to me. am deeply and
! profoundly convinced that if that fact had at
| tracted the attention of the committee they
| would not have allowed it, in my absence and
| without any accusations against me in evidence,
| to be adduced at all. ...
| Up to this time there Is no charge against
me, and l very respectfully submit that no one
should be assailed in the utter absence OF
| charges through the action of the memorialists
| and their counsel.
Now permit me to add, so far as this com
mittee IS concerned, and any member of it, If,
ez nero nlot, he secs fit, to institute inquiry
affecting my official conduct, will cheerfully
respond; but protest against it as an enormous
| outrage for the memorialists, through their
attorneys, In the absence of any charges affect
ing any individual, and especially myself. to be
allowed to disseminate through the records of
this committee evidence affecting the integrity
of an officer. l am sure that true humanity,
exalted manhood, and the accumulated maxims
and wisdom of ages will revolt anywhere and
everywhere at such an attempt. ... 3d..
The Chairman. No attempts of that sort
have been made on the part Of the committee.
Mr.. Merrick. Not on the part of the commit
tee; want that distinctly understood. e..
By the Chairman: Q. will ask you ques-
ton. Has any contractor, at any time, given
| you any compensation for opinions rendered
| by you which resulted In securing to them ad-
ditional compensation for their work. A.
Most assuredly will answer the question as
emanating from the committee. No one what
ever. No one has had the audacity to attempt
! it. On the contrary, ought to say this, that
my invariable rule when the Governor or the
| board refers q communication to me, and
| party interested comes to see me, is to decline
| acting upon 1t in his presence; and l have re-
| peatedly stated, In the hearing Of many, that
| If when a communication was referred to me
any party pressed me about It, should return
| it to the board or the Governor without an
answer.
BY Mr. Wilson: @. What amount Of money
| have you received from Samuel Strong, either
directly or indirectly, since the organization of
the Board of Public Worksi A. In relation to
WHAT ..-.. .. .r. 81!
By Mr.. Wilson: Q. ask You what amount
of money you had received from Samuel
Strong, either directly or indirectly, since the
organization of the Board of Public Works. A.
Do you inquire in relation to private businessl
@. / will ask you further when you answer
me that question. A. cannot state definitely
what sum Of money have received from him.
Mr.. Wilson. may say to you, Mr.. Cook,
that there have been questions put here which
think 1t is but fair to you you should have
the opportunity to put your statement upon
the record in regard to; and therefore I put
the question not out of any disposition other
than to do you the amplest justice, and to
elicit the truth.
The Witness. was sure was not mistaken
in the generosity and fairness Of the committe.
Mr.. Wilson. have no other motive in view
than simply want to get at the facts, for
apprebend, from your statement, that you have
no hesitation in giving all the facts.
The Witness. As far as l deem 1t proper
will answer your questions. have no objec-
ton to this question.
MI. wilson. we, as u uaLLer OI COuTSc, Cdu-
not take your judgement as to what is proper;
we have to determine that for ourselves.
The Witness. That question will come up in
due time. ] saw that as O lawyer, while l
should not expect the committee to take my
judgment, at the same time my judgment will
not be surrendered In any respect to the com
mittee If conceive 1t to be proper to answer
any q question @tioa. ~. ,,.,..,,r n,on .,,,,nr
away any of your rights. ...
Mr.. Wilson here requested the stenographer
to read the question which he propounded to
witness. The stenographer did so, as follows:
"What amount of money have you received
from Samuel Strong, either directly or indi-
rectly, since the organization of the Board of
Public Worksl"
Witness. A few, perhaps three or four hun
dred dollars.
Q. ANY more than three or four hundred
dollarsi A. I think not.
Q. Did you at any time receive from Mr..
Strong q check amounting TO more than q
Thousand dollarsi A. A check was left on my
desk. had stated to Mr.. Strong that I had
been doing business for him for q considerable
period since 1870, and that had been imper-
fectly and poorly paid for It. After that state
ment, one day he left check, or when I came
in letter was handed me containing check.
1t was in relation to private business that was
attending to for him. .-... ...
V. w nat was the amount OF Lnat cneckf a.
Ipresume will decline answering that question.
Q. On what bank was that check! A. That
check was on the First National Bank of the
city Of Washington. 49,.
Q. Did you draw the money on that checki
A. will decline answering that question.
Q. When was that check given to youI 4. I
will decline answering the question for the
present.
@. How many thousand dollars did that
check authorize you to drswi A. cannot
answer now.
@. Do you decline to inform this committee
as to the amount of that checki A.. / do this.
/ have already stated to the committee In
answer to question of the chairman thst-
Mr.. Wilson. don't desire any argument
now; ask you If you decline to answer as to
the amount Of that chec1 A. have already
stated - -.--..-
Q. l simply ask you question, and which,
as lawyer, you can answer. A. am aware
Of that fact, and am also aware
Q. I don't want any argument in regard to
1t, simply want to know whether you decline
to tell the committee the. amount of that
check. A. / decline TO tell the committee the
amount Of any check have received. =
Q. Do you decline to tell the committee the
amount ofthat check A. OF that check and
any other which have received for private
business. -. +s.-.r,.r ....,..