The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-24
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.

Testimony OF the Engineer OF the Board
OF Public Works the Measure.
mcnts-The System OF the Board not
the Men Blam ed-Fra udulent Measure
ment Discovered.
WASHINGTON u. O., May %, 1874.
Adolph Cluss, the Engineer OF the Board OF
Public Works, was cross-examned upwards OF five
hours to-day. He asked the protection OF the
committee. inasmuch as he was without counsel.
Many additional papers, which in his direct testi-
mony he had no recollection OF signing, were pro-
duced and he was forced to admit his signature.
He complained more OF the nformalties OF tae
Board OF Public Works than Of any direct
fraud, and stated that he dii' not wish
1t TO be understood that he charged fraud
had the Engineers office made all the
measurements under its own supervision he
would not have assigned Oertey to making gov
eminent measurements, but would have used MIR.
Barney, In whom he had confidence. With refer
to the Connolly voucher, where witness claimed
double the amount OF excavation was allowed, the
voucher OF payment was shown witness, with his
admit his signature to vouchers upon which the
Evans Concrete Paving Company received pay
ments which In his direct testimony he stated
was measured up by Mr.. Forsyth, an assistant in
his office, without his knowledge.
Mr.. Allison, in this connection, read a telegram
address ed TO the committee from Z. Il. Evans to
the effect that he Is willing to have all WORK done
by him In this cary remeasured at his own expense
by any competent engineer the committee might
suggest, as he did not want one cent more than
he had honestly earned.
BY Judge Black.-Q. The Board of Public Works
was in operation a year before you were ap-
pOlntedY A. Yes.
O. When YOU were appointed you had no doubt
the President and the Board wanted competent
man I? A. No, sir.
q. You did not think the Board were rogues
A. No. sir; would not nave accepted the appoint
ment II 1 thought so.
q. was it possible for the Board to defraud with
out your rne
mtted against the United states. without the con-
sent OF the engineer, he not being prlvy to the
sible Tor errors, because they were made by an
assistant in his ONCE without his knowledge.
U. Was 1t Illegal 10 get money from Congress
without your appreciation A. thought SO;
was debarred from doing my duty; appropriations
were obtained upon estimates OF which had no
O. You knew it was your duty to stop It II 1t was
wrong A. What could do as single member
OF the Board IL took me until the latter part OF
last september to become acquainted with the
complica ions OF the Board.
q. The measurements you approved Of were
right A. To the best OF my knowledge; II there
was an error 1t was an exception, and correctness
O. When papers were handed to You were you
not to approve or disapprove, as 1t was right to
do hadn't you as good right to say no as to
say yes ? A. had right TO refuse; didn't want
to impede the operations OF the government; ut
that time was justified in relying on Mr.. Oertiey I;
In the Governors answer, which would not sign I;
l had great many papers to sign, and had q
right to depend on my hrst assistant; the Secre-
tary of the Treasury was led into the same error
In signing the Sanborn contract; blame the sys.
TEN OF the Board OF Public Works, not the men; I
think the system will end In corruption with any
set OF men; 1t VIII lead to bad results In the end
The witness was further cross-examined by
Senator stewart. He denied generally all the
charges of fraud alleged to have been made by
him, but thought the system OF the Board was
loose for the large amount OF business which was
being carried on. lie will be recalled on Monday.
Mr.. Blickensdorier, the expert engineer Of the
committee, testified that he had made further
measurements since he last testified; he found on
one street that the Board had allowed the con-
tractors $1,000 yards Of grading where he
measured up 49, Jas yards the same being an over
payment OF S7,2sI so. On another street lie found
the actual amount OF grading TO be 19,667 yards,
wherein the Beard allowed the contractor ior
1850 yards. On the same street he made the
amount or curbing 7,49l ieet Tor which the Board
snn.ad tho contractor g.268 ieet