Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-18

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Mr.. Thurman.-Are you aware that charges
and specifications have been filed?
Judge Blsck.-I am aware that what they
call specifications have been filed, but they are
worse than none. Any man can mske-if those
are specihca,ions-can make specihcstions.
There Is nothing that charges these people with
any offence whatever against good morals
Or against the laws OF the country. l.
you bad those acts that are charge
against these people set forth in an Indictment
with all proper formslity and precision, in =
most artistic way II would be perfectly safe TO-
the defendant 20 demur and say that Ii charged
no offence whatever. Gs it wrong for these PEG
pie TO coDspire, as they call it-that is 20 ssso
ciste themselves together for the purpose o
getting work from the District government a
fair price? and il Is not alleged that they con
spired TO get IL at an unfair price.
Mr.. Wison.-Will you pardon me for inter
ruptiDg you just Tor moment? Suppose tha'
these memoir alsts were TO ole no specid cation
or charges whatever. This committee is organ
lied under this resolution. (Mr. Wilson then
resd the resolution referred to- Suppose thest
memorialists make no charge whatever under
to perform?
Mr.. Black.-No. think you might 90 out Oh
general hunt, and ascertain as tar as voU
could; but the memOriaiists are here present
They are conducting this investigation. You
have required them, as a matter OF Justice to tht
other party, to make their specific atoms, ana
they come forward and make that which Is NJ
specification at all. and 10 which 1t is impossi
we did answer by acknowledging the truth O.
all they said, il would leave them and US jus
exactly where we were before.
MIR. Merrick.-I would like TO know who tn
learned counsel means by ''us,' for ne ha-
already disclaimed that he ~as b re as counsel
for the Board of Public Works, who are the
party prominently arraigned here. He saws tina,
he has come here collateraly ~ represent one
against whom there is NO particular charge,
John o. Evans
The Chsirman.-I did not understand Judg-
ciafly.
MIR. Black do not represent any one in the
Board OF Public Works; 1 represent AIR. Evans
You understand that We get into =. habit H.
speaking on such subjects as this OF saying "us'
of the one side and they OF the other, laugh
ter and the gentleman will Of course attribute
| II 10 slip OF the tongue, II he please.
Mr.. Wilson, understood the Judge to say
that he represented a man who WAS LOUDLY in
nocent," but he did not say who that man was.
Mr.. Black.-Yes, loudly innocent" 1 am
not " loud )" but am earnest in indorsing his
declarations that he is an innocent man; but
have, and lie has, an interest in the manner in
which the thing is conducted, because IL you
proceed in an unlawful and unconstitutional
way to I" blow up" the District government,
some OF the spliBiers may strike him as they Nv
about. So, therefore, | have a professional
interest in The manner in which this thing il
conducted have a general interest. 1 do not
want TO be hum lated by acknowledging that
live under a government that can take away
the rights of anybody, whether he is q member
| OF the District government or not. / want to
see this thing done properly and well. Now it
| is not fair tor these gentlemen to come here to
make one set Of allegations against us and then
give papers upon which they can found either
some scandal which they suppose will disgrace
US, laughter or else some criminal accusation.
That is manlfestly what they are after. They
would be perfectly willing TO say what papers
they want particularly. They would name the
very paper, only they think if they make their
net wide enough and their meshes small enough
they may drag in something else. A gentleman
up in western Pennsylvania made an applica-
ton TO justice of the peace for a search war
rant for turkey, which he said had been stolen
from him. The squire, looking over his form.
book, was unable TO find any form Of \ search
warrant for turkey, and he told him so, and
concluded that il would be unlawful u Issu
| one. But" says he, al can give you a searci
warrant for pig, and while you are huntIn,
for the pig maybe you will ind the turkey.
Mr.. Merrlck.-So we find the turkey It'll
right.
pig; they want the turkey. II Jney simply
what il Is the easiest thing the world Tor then
| TO do, then this thing can 60 on all properly
That is, let them say what they think We hsv-
done specifically, what particular act OF MAJ
feasance this Board OF Public Works have been
guilty Of. Bat when they come to speak a5Ou,
my client, Mr.. Evans, let them be very partic
ular, laughter, j and say wherein he mas con
spired with them TO do an unlawful act. an
what that unlawful act was. Now, they beliey,
IL. repeat, these gentlemen believe IL. They
are acting in the utmost good faith. The
IL,
all that is asked Of them lie to state what il is be
believes and we will answer. IL we deny the
truth os their allegation on information and be-
lief let them call fer any paper in possession
and submit it to you the question whether tins
paper, a. described by them, Is OF a kind which
will throw any light upon the issue thus made
between the parties. Now, thai is certainly
the only fair way Of doing the thing. A.
TO these general legations that the District OF
Columbia has been misgoyerned, do not know
how that Is L know Mr.. Evans did not mis-
q M he'll ffi 10
are public matters. These things are easily
proved. Let them show it. But Mr.. Merrick
is surely mistaken in supposing there is TO be
investigation here, or any Judgment pronounced
by you or by the bodies that you represent
| against these people for general misbeh syiOr.
You are going TO charge them with something
specific, but You are not going 10 charge thai
| they have do anything wrong. Ii il has been
q mere error Of Judgment you will say II was "A
mere error OF Judgment, and take such action
upon II as you please; ascertain the fact that
| the District has not been properly managed IN
its financial affairs, that its improvements have
been made improvidently. Say that il you
like, and then say also whether IL has been done
corruptly or Knowingly and wilfully wrong.
But let us have fair play in the course of this
Investigation. Give everybody fair play. That
| ls the genius OF the American people. III you
| find they are guilty of anything wrong max,
them sweat Tor II laughter as much as you
please and as much as you can.
Senator Thurman then addressed the counsel
and during his remarks stated that when the
Investigation did begin the committee would
certainly not order the production of any papers
unless they were material to some SPECIFIC allie
CATION uIder investigation at the time.
Mr.. Harrington then, on behalf OF the de
Tense, filed a motion (printed in full below ask
ing that the memorislIsts be required TO fil-
specific charges, subscribed TO by some respon-
sible one or more of their number, and m AIDE
brief argument in support Of the motion.
Mr.. MerTick said the charges already made
were signed by counsel who Understood the na-
ture OF their obligations such, and as indi-
viduals, and in afixing their signatures they
were conscN Is of what was due 20 Themselves
as honorable men. He said that as vet no ade-
quste answer had been returned to the charges
already presented; that the counsel on his side
were preparing further charges, which would
be submitted TO the committee at the earlies;
possible moment.
The chairman inquired whether all the
testimony in regard to the schools had been
closed.
Mr.. Merrick said tn at the memorislists wished
three witnesses, Messrs. T.. Richards, Hon. NJ.
q. Emery and Auditor McKelden subp9uaed.
MIR. Mattingly said the counsel for the defence
wished to submit q tabular statement on the
subject
Mr.. Wilson, of Indiana, asked IL the csunse
would produce the vouchers for all moneys paid
for school buildings by the District government,
which we're promised, and the Commute sd