, 1874-02-13

Eytc,dI Uspatch to The Chicago Tribune.
TIE Plan OF THE INVESTIGATION.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Feb. 12,-Tho Sub-Com-
mittoo Of tho Joint Select Committee to inyesti-
cato tho affairs OF tho District met to-day, to
suggest plan OF procedure. Aftor considerable
discussion, 1t was agrecd to recommend to tho
Committee plnn Of the following gkf1re: 4
Tho District Govornmcnt 1ste-!33 1"to
submit etasoment, giving III full }tlie District
liabilities aud assets, oil the cont1acl mado no.
der authority Of tho Bonrd of Public Works,
full aud detailed accounts Of all the meas
uroments, and everything OF tho kind going
to show precisely how affairs hayo boom ad-
ministored with regard to tho public improve
monts. In addition to this, the District
authorities be required to furnish balance
aneot giving the exack condition OF tho finances
Of tho District. At tho samo timo the momori-
alsts to DO required to set forth! !as far as msy
be il detail, aud mike specific tile charges Of
fraud aud corruption which tloy insist can be'
substantiated, and yindicato to the Committee
whore and WHO the witnessos a1e by which theao
charges can DO sustained tho dhargoH not to be
entertained unless witnesses are offered to provo
them.
THE INVESTIGATION
will then proceed, each sido being permitted to
tic witucsscs ovoryfacility to- bo afforded the
parties in the way Of Introducing oyidonCo to re-
but that which Ia produced iu proof or disproof
Of tho chargea to tho full extent that would be
allowed by n court Of law, or With even mora
latitude. Tho Committee, III abort, do not pro-
peso to 60 outside thcso limits in aoaroh of eyi-
donce to sustain any charges thas may bo made:
They regard themselves al not 30 much bound
to investigate, III tue broad meaning Of tho
wGGra, as to , heas 4 whas my my ne .,a
q verdict. They will givo tho nlemoraists full
power and opportunity to establish tllar allega-
tions, but do not feol thoy say, that they arc
called upon to either prosecute or defend. II
the memorialtsts fail to mako out their case, tho
statements OF tho District authoritiea will bo ta
ken Us conclusive, and report will DO made ao-
cordiugly The fill Committee; will douDtlcss
adopt tllose suggestions.
It is thought that tho Committee will not get
actively to work till next Tuesday. The plan to
bo recommended ia
QUITE SEVERELY onlr1c1zgD
whitowaals. It Ii held that the Gommitteo Is not
/ only to hear what III offorod, but to investigate
with n viok TO ascortaning facta, that it may bc
out OF tho powor OF the complaitants to submit :;
that their duty is twotold, to hsar, to weigh like
! a Jury, and to prosecute like r advocate.
a ''cosipREsiENslyE" pLAN.
And now Mr.. Olnstet, tho engineer and gar
donor Of tho New York Central Park, ia to bo
| prohS,lbiyo plan OF improvement by tho
Government. His great talent s to be involiod
for the preparation ot plan fo{ tho boautifyins
Of tllo public grounds. from Tug Monument lot
to and including tho Capital parl This will oon.
prshond tic grounds surrounding tho Agricultural
| Department, the Smithsonian Il|Htituto, nnl tho
botanical gardon. When tho +plan" is conf
plotted, Cougresu will DO nvltd1 to foot Mr.
Olmstod's bill, mud appropriate, III tho language
Of tue Eucntny Star, bulk sum sufficient to
complete what recommendations may DO not
iogtl In tho specification Ao presents. Tho
Presidents Private Secretary, Daboools, will layo
charge Of tho improvements. aud It u probable
that about two years. lonco thoro will DO pleuty
Of work. for another Joint HaIoct CQm1nittun.