Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-20
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee.

After the close OF our report on Saturday, Mr..
B. f. Nickerson, who was still on the stand, tes
titled that he had no knowledge whatever of the
existence of any ring or combination that had
to be propitisted before contracts could be OBJ
tanned. In answer to q question
RELATIVE TO A RING,
the witness said Mr.. Page, in conversation
with me, several times-but, by the by, he was
nearly as reticent OF names as Mr.. Chittenden.
He told me-
MIR. Mattingly.-I submit to the committee
whether this is, in any sense of the word, COM
petent. Is it testimony TO prove anything?
The Chairman.-I do not think il is.
Mr.: wilson, do not think it is myself, but
the air is full of this rumOr about ring that
exists here; and If this District government
wants to be thoroughly vindicated, and the
public mind set at rest upon this question, do
not see any other way than to find out who are
the reputed members of this ring, and then n ave
them brought here and let them say that there
| is nothing In it.
what want.
MIR. Mattingly.-There is no objection to that
but object to Mr.. Nickerson being allowed to
| state that Mr.. Page told him so and So
Mr.. Wilson.-Certainly, this town Is full of
this report.
MIR. Msttingly.-summon Mr.. Page here. and
let him tell what he knows about 1t.
MIR. Wilson.-If you do not want to be vindi-
Gated
Governor Shepherd.-That is what we do
want. we want You togo through this thing; to
MIR. wilson.-If there is nothing in all this
talk, think 1t ought to be shown. Let these
The witness.-It has been my Judgment
through the whole affair that there is nothing
Mr.. wilson-Ifthe Governors counsel doesn't
want this vindlcatiOn, why very we'll.
MIR. Mattingly.-We want our vindcation to
be made in proper manner. L very readily see
where the introduction of this class of testimony
will lead If witnesses are to be called here, like
Mr.. Nickerson, to say that the air is full of ru
mors, and that the only way that they could get
q contract was through that ring
The Witness.-I have not said that
Mr.. Mattingly.-That was the purport Of the
question.
Mr.. Wison.-Not at all.
Mr.. Mattngly.-As 10 whether the air is not
full of rumors that the only way to obtain d
contract Is through certain ring, and that that
ring is to be propitated?
Mr.. Wison.-If you are content to leave this
thing just in the shapeit is, have objection.
Mr.. Mattingly.-I have sufficient knowledge
of human nature, and presume that you b ave.
Mr.. Wilson, to know this, that in any city where
extensive improvements are being made. in
volving the giving out of large contracts, that
the human mind being more prone to believe
evil than good, that men naturally suppose that
these things are conducted through = ring. In
many places have no doubt they are conducted
through ring, though deny such is the case
here; but say this is no way to prove it by
having witnesses to come here and give their
inferenc and to state vague rumors that have
DO foundation in tact.
Mr.. WilsOn.-YOu misapprehend me. was
trying to get the names of those parties. As one
OF the committee, my purpose was when their
names were sscertained, to bring them here and
have them say if there is anything in it. In
there is not anything in IL, this Board OF Pub
lie Works has right to have this community
know il.
Mr.. Mattingly.-We certainly expect to salts
fy the committee before we get through, and in
proper and legitimate way, that there is moth
ing in these vague rumOrs.
Mr.. Allison, Chairman OF the committee gave
IL as his opinion that il was not proper for the
witness to repeat what Mr.. Page said to him.
WHAT MCPHERSON HAS FOUND OUT.
MIR. Stewart asked the witness SO Have you
Investigated to find cut about this ring? You
have been here some time. A. Yes, sir
q. What have you found out? A. have
found out that there was lot of shysters
around here that pretended that they c0ntro
parties, both in Office and out of Office, and thai
what they wanted, and that those parties could
only be seen through them; that they could tx
up the thing II anybody could. and in ninety
nine cases out of q hundred found that such
parties were utterly without any influence
whatever, and that they were only playing on
the credulity of men who were fools enough to
On further examination the witness could
name no one belonging TO any ring. Suisse
Quently, in regard TO q remark of Mr.. Mat
tingly, that the more statement Of one party to
another, about rumors in the community, with
out anything upon which to base such rumors,
cannot be taken ~ evidence, Mr.. Wilson said
IheIe Is no man on earth who has ever had
anybody would accept that kind of statement
as evidence, but for the purpose OF getting
at the facts OF the case 1t might be of Infinite
importance.
MIR. Mattingly.-It is the first time have
ever heard Of fact being attempted to be
proved by rum0rs.
Mr.. wilson.-Nobody pretended to want to
prove facts by rumors.
Mr.. Harrington.-You cannot convict man
by general reputation.
Mr.. wilson, do not suppose YOU can,
Mr.. HarriDgton.-I was answering the uues-
ton OF Mr.. Christy, Mr. Wilson; was not sp SAX
Mr. wilson Vt has besn sts,ed here from the
beginning that the District government wanted
this thing thoroughly Investigated, and have
no doubt they do.
Governor Shepherd.-I do most assursdly, 1
want the whole thing sifted to the bottom
Mr.. Wilson.-If we close the investi 2 alton
without thoroughly investigating and disPeIling
all these rumors, this community will stil be a.
dissatisfied as when we began. / would like to
make clean thing of it.
Mr. Habbell-aIy objection is taking the
statement rom Nickerson here as to what
somebody told him as to what somebody else
said exists. III he can give the name OF any
person, or any set OF persons who compose such
ring as he speaks OF, then L want the names
OF those persons.
5000 sHYsTERs IN WASHINGTON.
Witness testified that in three years he had
met about 5000 shysters in Washington, who
pretended that they could sell out the ''ring"
MT. Harrington.-How many have You who
pretend they can sell out Congress? [Laughter.I
A. Oh, about the same number.
witness believed that there have been parties
associated in various ways for their own pur-
poses, but DID not believe any ring exists.
By Mr.. Mattingly:-Q. DO you know whether
the Board Of Public Works. or any member OF
the Board of Public Works, has, in giving out
any contracts, been influenced or controlled by
any body, either corruptly or incorruptly-in
any manner? A. No, sir; I do not believe they
have been controlled by anybody
Witness further testified that he regarded
shysters as hangers on, whether they we're orig
inally lawyers and broken down, or otherwise,
that are hanging about the street and hotels.
man cannot 60 and take q square drink unless
he has half dozen at his elbow Wherever you
&c you meet them, and they have all got infiu-
ence; they all expect something; they sometimes
getit. He sometimes give them drink aud
TESTIMONY OF JOHN N. BUTLER.
witness was formerly clerk for Austin p.
Brown. Went over to Baltimore August II,
80 and purchased several millions Of pound
OF S6-inch main for Mr.. A. p. Brown. The pipe
was not put down. Believed the contract was
subsequently given to Mr.. Starr, or Camden, n.
y. In reference to the nnal award Of the con-
tract MI. Harrington said: 'I may be able to
Ieneve the gentlemen on the other side from q
good deal Of time. I will state that proposals.
we're made for bids, but that Mr. Evans was not
the lowest bidder. The whole matter was SUBJ
sequently referred by Major Eliot (and it Is of
n