Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-23
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES OF THE MEmoRIAlIsTs.

After our report Of the District Investigation
by the Joint Select Congressional Committee
ciosed on Saturday, Mr.. Zugg, of the firm Of
Zugg Il Co., was sworn, and testified that the
hIm OF Zugg X Co., is composed OF Lewis Gle
plane, John y. Evans and himself, carrying
on the business of stone-crushing at the foot OF
h street; started business January 1, 1872; ma
chinery all purchased when he went into the
ii m; was not engaged in the business before;
SIS 900 was invested In the business when he
went int the firm; had half interest in the con-
ceIn, and the other gentlemen a half interest;
paid 81, 600 for his interest, which was originally
a third Interest," five stone -crushers were in hand
when he went into the business; crushed all
kinds of stone, having quarry up the river
from which material WAS received; did not crush
any stone suitable for curbiDs; SO per cent. of
the stones crushed were cobbe-stones; pur-
chased some from the Board OF Public Works
at IS cents a cubic yard: got most OF it from the
ruins OF the old Northern market; did not pur-
chase any buestone from the board, and got
none from the streets except about two or three
hundred yards; do the work for any contractor.
q. by Mr.. Mattingly:-What have been the
profits eft this business? A. Never had any;
nov owe upwards of 50 500, and much of the ma
chiDery is useless; received pay from the con-
tractors in various ways; got some certificates,
which he seld; did not crush any stones for
Andrew Gleason taken from Pennsylvania ave-
nue., west of 18th street; the general price
charged for crushed stone was 81 80 per yard
including hauling; had been in the business for
three years, and the investment up to this time
was S22 500; this includes the entire assets
could, perhaps, get rid of it at about half thai
sum; had met a loss of about sll 900 in the bust
ness In three years; never purch ased more than
800 yards OF stone from the Board of Public
Works.
Lewis Clephane, as Collector of the District,
was sworn, and prod uced the register OF depos-
its made by contractors bidding for work and
counsel for memOrialists was allowed to take an
extract;
received September 1, 1871, and called for the
bid OF w. 5. Morse.
Governor Shepherd stated that all the bids
md nd fho phair afaH hat
they we're open for inspection.
Mr.. Christie stated that on Monday forenoon
the counsel for memorialists would be prepared
to fle additional charges.
After discussion regarding examplihcations
Ut deeds from the recorders office, the commit
tee adjourned.
TO.day's Session.
The committee reassembled at 10 O'Clock this
morning. The following communication was
read and placed on file:
MR.. JOHN PURDY WANTS HIS NAME ERASED
FROM THE MEMORIAL.
MARCH p, 1874
Hon. I'm. b. Allison, Chairman Of the Joint Sc
isct CCmmittee to Inquire into the Affairs Of the
District Of Columbia:
SIR:-I am one of the memorialsts upon
whose complaint the com mittee over which you
preside was organized. Being large owner of
real estate in the District of Columbia, and
finding my taxes vastly increased under the i'm
provement system, became nettled, and, in
talking upon the subject with citizens similarly
situated and who felt as did, really began to
feel that had serious grievance, and was in
this mood when requested TO sign the memorial,
and put my name to it without due reflection
In turning the whole matter over in my mind,
cannot fix upon single act of the present
Board of Public Works that would authorize
the conclusion that there was anything morally
wrong in Ii.
In my Judgment they have made mistakes
but as do Lot claim TO be infallible, l am will
ing to make allowance for possible error in my
own opinion.
On mature consideration of the whole subject
L have come to the conclusion to ask the honor
able committee, of which you are chairman, to
have my name erased from the memorial. 1t is
an act of justice which owe myself, rs well as
The gentlemen whose conduct is impugned.
have the honor to be your obedient servant,
JOHN PURDY.
Judge Merrick read the following
ADDI1IoN CHARGES AGAINST TIE DISTRICT
GOVERNMENT.
70 the Joint Select Committee Of Investigation upon
the Affairs Of the District Of Columbia:
Your memorialists submit the following
harges in addition to the one heretofore filed,
aerein marked First charge" to wit:
Second ChdTge.-That said Board of Public
Works have disregarded the laws Of the United
states and Of the District of Columbia, and the
rules and regulations established by said Board
If Public Works. in making and causing to be
made the "improvements'' in said District of
Columbia entrusted to their care. And your
memorialists state the following facts and spe-
cihcatons In support of said charge:
1. That said Board of Public Works have al
lowed and permitted contracts awarded by them
to be materially altered aud changed long after
their original execution, and after the work
Hereunder had been in whole or in part per-
formed, and thereby largely increased the
amount OF compensation to be paid to con-
therein, and your memorislists refer to
contract numbered thirty nine, made Septem-
Der Is, 1871, and the several extensions attached
thereto, and particularly the last extension of
october 8, 1873, containing the following pro-
vision, to wit -" And it Is further agreed that
the foregoing contract and extensions shall be
20 modified in its stipulstions and conditions as
to provide that the price for laying and putting
down Of the So called Evans concrete pave
ment shall be 1920 per square yard, instead of
1896 per square yard, as set forth in said con-
tract; and also to contract No. 416 made with
Lewis S. Filbert July 26, 1872, containing the
following provisions, to wit 80 The wooden
blocks OF said pavement to be treated and pre-
No. 60 ,26O, dated September "a, 1872 For the
Fibert & Taylor's improved wood pavement
treated as aforesaid, $3.50 per square yard and
1871, with II enryiH. Bingham, of Philadelphia
and to contr act No. 2S2, dated May 8, 1877
2. That the said Board of Public Works have
ments" to be made under contracts, withoutr re-
uiriDg any new or additional bonds to be
given, and without obtaining the consent of the
sureties upon the bonds accompanying such
original contracts, and your memorialists refer
20, 62s.
8. That said Board of Public Works have
awarded and executed contracts involving the
making of expensive improvements" without
requiring any security whatever from the con-
tractors for the faithful performance of the con-
ditions OF said contracts on their parts, and your
memorialists refer to contracts Nos. 1876, 3d. 2I5,
569.
4. That said Board of Public Works have
awarded and allowed contracts to be executed
involving the making of expensive improve
ments, without requiring sufficient security
from the contractors for the faithful perform
ance OF said contracts upon their parts, and
your memorialists refer to contracts Nos. SO,
230x 7i0, 694, 146, 935, 416, 5I1, 1893, TO7.
54That said Board OF Public Works have per-
mitted and caused to be made and executed
contracts in writing, and have permitted con-
tractors to execute the same long after thu "im-
provements" embraced therein had been settled
Tor as completed, and your memorialists refer
to the following contracts, numbered 694, 626,
40, 1852, 90, SLY. 346, A9 rs, 3s4, S. 525, and
the several contracts made with John Collins
and samuel Strong, and many others.
Works have conducted, managed and adminis-
tered the public affairs entrusted to their care
so carelessly, negligently and impro vide ntly rs
thereby to cause great loss and Injury to the
District of Columbia and to the government Of
the United States. And your memorialists pre-
sent the following statement Of facts and speci-
fcations In support Of said charge, TO Wit: