Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-21

MI DlhCf-1appeaT n 50 Tor tue witness, an0
ior the whole people of the [ nited Sta.es,
where their private rights are being imposed
upon.
Mr.. Allison.-wait. Judge Black; Senator
Stewart wants to ask the witness some ques-
tons.
q. Mr.. Latta, did you ever make any purcha-
ses for me A. Yes, sir.
q. Please state something about it. A. [
bought property for you and Mr.. Hillyer in
square co in lSI and in square SO on the 18th
OF June, ISL acted as broker for Mr. Hillyer
in subseque Mt purchases.
SENATOR STEWARDS PURCHASES.
e. What WAS the aggregate amount of the
purchases / was interested in? A. L could m
Q. Senator Stewsrt.-I have the aggregate
amount at S36i 400 65. Do you know how long
held my interest in il? A. should think Won
disposed Of your interest about December 22i.
1872.
Senator Stewart then said he made the pur-
cbaSes above stated, but in March. 1873, MT
Sunderland and Mr. Hillyer were both anxious
he should build, but he needed the money for
mining operations, and sold out at an sd vance
of SIS 900. Mr.. Stewart then gave a statement
as to what induced him to build subsequent
ly, and stated that before building he did not
know what improvements were to be made on
the street; that he had never consulted with the
Board of Public Works on the subject.
MIR. Wilson to Mr.. Latta.-The property Mr.
Stewart has been speaking of has no connection
with the property bought for Hallett kilbourn
as trustee, by your firm?
A. None whatever.
JUDGE BLACKS OBJECTION.
Senator Allison.-Judge Black, the com nit
tee will briefly hear your objection to proceed
ing with Mr.. Latta.
Judge Black.-I want to object generally to
iD9uiring into private matters.
Senator AllisOn.-We have already had long
argument on that subject. The committee in
struct me to say they will hear you ten minutes.
Judge Black objected because the charge at
tempted to be proven must not onlv be specific.
but 1t must be for some unlawful act, and which
when established would show that it was neces-
sary for some legislation on the subject The
mere private business of a private Individual,
wholly uncOnnected with the public business,
cannot be given. Ii Is shocking to think other
wise. He cited the Covode committee of 1850,
and charged that they admitted all kinds of
accusations and misbehaved themselves gen
orally.
One of the great msfortunes of the country is
that we have no privacy. The newspapers and
investigating committees are after everybody
and attend TO everybOdy's BUSH ness great deal
better than their own. He did not believe the
great American nose should be thrust into pri-
yate business. The olefact0ry OF the country
did not ctnter in Congress, but it belonged to
the great American papers.
THE EXAMINATION PROCEEDS.
After consultation, the committee requested
Dir. Christie to repeat his question.
L was asking him how much property he
bought as trustee for Hallett KiIbourn. He re-
pied be did not know.
Q. Have you any means of refreshing your
memory? A. Yes, / think SC; witness was
shown map;l can point out the locality, but
can't tel the amounts paid.
vestigatiOn the District government is willing
to admit that a large amount of property was
bought in the northwestern portion of the city
by kilbourn x Latta for Hallet Kilbourn, as
trustee.
LArrA's PURCHASES AS TRUSTEE.
Mr.. Latta was handed a list of property furn-
ished by the memerialists, said to have been pur-
chased by him as trustee. His attention was first
called to purchases amounting TO upwards Of
S24 600, made from W. W. Rapley. He said he
thought such purchases had been made.
q. FROM what SOURCES did Won Obtain thu
money? A. cannot definitely answer that
question.
Q. You may state the names Of the persons
for whom you acted as trustee. A. Which
shall not do; L will say under my solemn oath
hat no officer of the District of Columbia, or
member OF the Board OF Public Works, is in
cluded in the trust.
MI. Thurman.-Would your answer tend to
eliminate? A.-No, sir.
Q.-Would Ii make you infamous? A.-Yes
sir, IN the eyes of the business community, to
reveal my transactions.
Q.-would it disgrace you? A..No, sir; but
L will not reveal the private business of my
clients.
Mr.. Thurman.-lf it will not disgrace you
you must answer. The courts have made an
swers TO be given to more delicate matters than
that to which you object. Physicians have been
compelled to answer delicate questions, even
priests.
Mr.. Hamilton.-The witness cannot be the
Mr.. Thurman stated that as a committee of
Congress they had right to examine into any
tmeDI Oh DlsIrlct government, and III
witnesses were not to reply to what they deemed
private matters, the committee might as well
be dissolved at once. The committee was not a
criminal court trying anybody.
Mr.. Thurman then cited the case of the stolen
treaty of Washington, wherein newspaper cor
respondents mad stated they had not received it
from any Senator or member, and yet the Sen
ate had notwithstanding committed two CORE
spOndents for contempt.
Mr.. Christie-P assiDg from the purchase of
Rapley. DO you remember about q purchase
frnra duuo sxx5
A. think there was such q purchase; don't
know whether purchased 1t as trustee.
Witness was further questioned with reference
to large purchases made by him.
He generally remembered the negotiations.
The committee ordered certified copies of the
deeds to be furnished, so far as Mr.. Latta had
them in his possession.
By Mr.. Stewart:-How much of the property
has been sold? A. About one tenth of it.
q. How much did your purchases as trustee
aggregate? A. cannot state-in the neigh
bOrhoOd, should think, of 5000 900; that is, for
Hillyer and Sunderland.
By hr. Allison:-Have you knowledge of any
trustee? A. No, i have not-not that knowI-
edge that man could swear to.
Q. Do you know for whom Mr.. Kilbourn holds
property as trustee? A. do not; don't know
any persons that put money in MIR. Kilbourn 8
hands except Jay Cooke K Co.
The examination of the witness was still in
progress when our report closed.
DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE MRMoRI-
ALIsTs.
The following is a schedule of the documents
submitted by the memorialists, alluded to IN
| their report. Your memorialists now come and
offer to submit in evidence the following printed
and written documents, to wit II. Mayors
message, &C., st. Louis, 1872, bound volume,
without special reference. 2. Mayors message
and accompanying documents, bound volume,
1873, with reference TO pages %, %, "a and 25.
| 3. Letter from j. III. Macklind, assistant eng-
neer In charge OF wooden pavements, st. Louis,
dated March 4, 1874. 4. Letter from VIM
Wise, general superintendent OF sewers, st.
Louis, dated March 4, 1874. 5. Message of l..
T. Dayton, Mayor Buffalo, New York, pamph-
let, 1874 with reference to pages 8, 9, To- 6.
Annualstatemento of the finances of Toledo, Ohio
1872, pamphlet with references TO pages Ca 65 g.
z. Annual statement of finances Of Toledo 1873;
pamphlet, with references to pages Is, n, 95
8. Second annual report Of the board OF street
commissioners of the city Of Hartford, Conn.,,
1873; pamphlet with reference to table No. 4 and
table No. IA. IA. Pamphlet report of the board
OF sewer commissioners Of the city of Detroit
1874. Is. Letter of E. willard Smith, city enei.
neer, Detroit, dated February q. 1874 I6 Let
ter from same, dated March 6, 1874. II. Letter
Of c. L. Fuller, Troy, N Y, city engineer, dated
March 2, 1874. Is. Letter OF George Il. Mann.
city engineer Buffalo. N. Y, dated February
u, 1874. 10. Letter Of Z. T. CheesborouRh, city
engineer, Chicago, ILL.,, dated March, 1874.
20. Letter from Th0e. p. Shanks, city engineer,
Louisville, Ky, March 7, 1874.
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