New-York tribune., 1874-03-11
TILE DISTINCT DISCLOSURES.


DISHONESTY AND DUPuCITY OF THE DISTRICT olFI-
CIAIS--HOw THE SCHOOL FUND WAS TANIPERED
wrTi-TIE FIRST CHARGE OF TIE MEMORIAL
1878 AGAINST THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON March 10.--The dishonesty and du-
plcity If the District of Columbia officials was
thoroughly exposed to-day by a brief analysis made
by MI MerTck counsel for the citizens of facts in
relation to the school fluid, aud after
ward by an examination of Controller Baker,
conducted by Mr.. Wilson. The teachers
IN the District have received no money
for their services for the past six months,
and the question was raised not by the memorial
lsts but by members of the Committee and others,
what had become Of the money derived from taxes
for this purpose aud forbidden by law TO be diverted
Tie suspicion was that it had been used for other
purposes but the Governor, the Controller,
and the Tax Collector came upon the stand and
swore that none of the school fund bad
been diverted; that the District Government
instead of being indebted to the school fund had
advanced to it Sl73OOO or in other words the school
fuud had been overdrawn $173,OOO. To show this
they added TO the total amount Of money derived
from taxes S215000 borrowed on bonds deposited as
collateral and paid for school buildings and teachers
salaries during the eaTly months of the present Dis
trlctGOvernment.
This statement looked very plausible Oh its face
and everybody VINO was disposed to deal fairly with
the District Ring was ready 20 admit that the
school fund had been honestly administered. But
these men had told only one-haf of the story. The
S2l5OOO was paid not 10 lqnidate claims that arose
under the present Government, but under the
old corporation. These claims were paid by the
present Government, and charged in an account
current to the old corporation. On the 81 of March,
1S73 settlement of accounts between the old cor
pOration and the existing Government was made,
and the District Government received, TO pay the
balance due, between $4,000 and SlOOO,OOO of the
sinking fund bonds In that settlement the Dis
trict Government was reimbursed for the expendi-
ture of $215,OO on account OF schools.
Thus il will be seen that in order to make it ap-
pear that the school fund was indebted TO the Dis
tIict Government, the Governor, Controller, and
other officials charged the school fund with the
$2I5OOO advanced; but when the money was reim-
burse they neglected credit the school fund with
IT, When the proper credit entry is made on the
Controllers books, the school fund instead of ap-
pearing overdrawn, will show a balance on hand of
S42 54S This amount added to the school taxes col
lected this wear would be sufficient 10 pay the
expenses of the schools Of the District up to March
j, 1874 The only conclusion that can be reached Is
therefore, that some Of the school money has been
"0NN A'' NNn0' purposes anO JUQge Me1IlCA cuBcucu
the case by reading from the statutes at largo an
act of congress making it q misdemeanor TO di.
vert money raised by taxes in the District from the
object for which il is raised and ordering the re-
moval of any officer who is guilty Of 40 doug.
Controller Baker whom Mr.. Wilson placed on the
stand to testify on this matter, was unable 10 ex
PLAN why the school fund had not been credited
with the money when it was paid back 10 the Dis.
tTict Government
The memorialists filed their first charge against
the Board of Pubic Works tins afternoon. 1t &C.
cases the Board Of oonspirng with Lewis Clephane
Hallett KIlboum. Moses Kelley, John o. Evans, Mr.
Filbert and others, who have been large contrac
tom, 10 give them contracts to the exclusion o.
other bidders and at great expense TO the citizens
the District The Specifications which are numer
GUS indicate the proof Of the formation OF payin
ring and the granting of extraordinary privileges Il
II by the Board. .-.r.. Oil. ..r.. . .
THE CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING OFFICE
IHB CHARGES OF KxTRAvAGASCE MADE BY a WASH
ISGToE HEwsPAPER-A STATEMENT on THE YAcT
IN THE CASE. ..... ..... :....
pRoh A RBGULAR ooRREsPoNDEsr OF THE TRIBUNE I
WASHINGTON, March i0.-The investigation of th,
management Of the Congressional Printing office bl
the House Committee Appropriations rs bein,
continued by the Joint Committee on Printing. Tb,
Rabhc Printer. MIR. Clam Ia not 0barsed with or