Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-19
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
The Joint Committee Agree Upon a
Plan of Proceeding.

Plan Of Proceeding.
The Joint Select Congressional Committee to
inquire into the affairs of the District Of Co.
Iumbia met yesterday at 1890 O'Clock a. m,
Senator Allison in the chair, aud all the men,
bers present, except Mr.. Jewett.
ANSWER TO Mr.. HARRINGToN's MOTION.
Mr.. Wilson offered the following preamble
and resolutions:
Whereas the counsel for the District gov
eminent have submitted to the committee the
following motion: First. That the memorial
lists be required forthwith to formulate aud pre-
sent all their Oh argos, and TO submit the proofs
in support thereof" Second. That said
charges when made shall be sufficiently clear
and distinct to advise the defendants of what
they are ito answer, and the charges shalt be
subscribed and indorsed by some responsible
Therefore Resolred, first, That it is the Judge
ment of this committee that the memorials l.
having called for this investigation should
within a reasonable time point out to the com
mittee with reasonable certainty by written
charges and specifications the grievances of
which they complain and which they desire to
have investig gated; but, the committee having
been charged with certain duties by the resOlu-
ton of the Senate ard House of Re representatives.
will not be restricted in this Investigation to
such charges and specifications as the memorial
lists may choose to submit, but will take such
action and send for such persons and papers a.
may be necessary and proper to secure a
thorough and impartial Investigation of all the
matters embraced in the said resolution of the
Senate and House of Representatives.
ReSOired, second, That no signatures other
than those of counsel for the memorialsts to the
charges and specifications that may be submit
ted will be required by the committee
The resolutions were read and unanimously
adopted.
PROGRAMME OF THE COMMITTEE
Mr.. Bass offered the folio wing resolution:
Res0lUed, That after the CONCLUSION of the
investigation as to the common schools, a.
heretofore directed, until otherwise ordered
the committee will IN the first instance proceed
10 the investigation of the charges and specif-
cations presented and to be presented by the
memOrialists. The resolution was read and
unanimously adopted.
ANSWER TO THE MOTION OF COUNSEL FOR THE
MRMoRIALIsTs.
In the matter of the motion of counsel for
memorialists asking for a subpoena duces tscum,
the committee make the following ruling:
AS no subpoena, either for a witness or dUcss
tecUn, can be issued without the order of the
committee, il follows that the committee, on an
application for a subpoena duceS tecam, must
decide whether a sufficient ground, primd
Jdcie, exists for the issuance of the subpGn ~,
the decision not to conclude the committee on
the ultimate question, should it be presented
whether the production OF the paper asked for
should be enforced, on an application for a sub
pn-na duceS tscEm an affidavit of some person or
a professional statement of counsel, in writing,
should be filed averring to the best of his
knowledge, Information or belief. The exist
ence OF such paper, and showing that il il
material evidence i'll the investigation with
which the committee ia charged, AMI then the
committee Will decide, or such facts ought to
appear in the DOCUMENTARY, written or
may come before the committee. That
the description of paper or papers,
should be as specihc as the nature of the case
will admit, to be determined in each case upon
The showing in such case. That, treating as q
professional statement the charges and specif
cations signed by counsel and filed with the
committee, the committee are of the opinion
that prtmG fdcte case Is made for the issuance
81 subpoena duces tecum for the production OF
the papers OF which exhibits ''B and c." an
ueSed to said charge and specifications, pur-
port to be COPIES but decline to issue such sub
pd'nas fer the production of the other papers
asked for, until proper foundation be laid for
As applying to any order for the production OF
publlc records or official papers or any other
psper that the committee of its own motion
may for sufficient cause, order TO be produce
All the members OF the committee preseEt con
urred in the above opinion.
TO-day's Session.
The committee resumed its session this morn
Dg, all the members being present except
MessTs. Bass, Hamilton and Jewett. The
iournal Of yesterday, as printed above, was
read and approved.
MIR. Allison said that hereafter the committee
would meet at 10 a. m. and sit TO II, and then
axe recess until p. m, aud from that hour
until Il pleased the members to adjourn.
Mr. Allison said that he had been instructed
by the committee to ask the counsel for the
memorialists to file their specific charges at an
Early day.
Mr.. Christie said they would file the same on
Monday next.
MIR. Allison also announced that the commit
tee would not allow arguments on either side
as to the relevancy OF testimony unless the
committee asked for the same. This, he said
was done to save time.
In reply TO a question by Mr.. Stanton, the
chairman stated that the committee understood
that counsel for the memorialists appeared for
MIR. Thurman asked how much time the
counsel for the District desired to lille an an
Swer to the charge already made.
| Mr.. Harrington.-We can be ready to- NOR row
morning.
Mr.. Allison.-The comnitsee desire to say
| mat, IN order to economic time, they will not
| summon witnesses from distant CITY, unless il
be shown to the full satIsfac ton of the members
| That the attendance OF such witnesses is abso-
| utely necessary to sustain some specification
| which couldn't be done otherwise.
A LETTER FROM MR.. zALMoN RICHARDS
| was read, asking to be excused, stating that he
| mad other arrangements to-day, and that in
regard to the school fund he would have TO refer
| 10 books in the auditors Office not now in his
| possession. He stated that a Mr.. Mackenzie,
now IN tie auditors office, could answer every
question bearing on the subject as intelligentIy
| as he could.
| Gov. Shepherd said he would send for MIR.
| Mac kenzie without summons from the COM
| mittee.
THR ovRRDRAFT OF THE SCHOOL FUND.
MIR. stanton made an explanation with refer
| eDce 10 the overdraft of the school fund, in
| "nlCn ne stated that the trust fund bonds did
| not apply to public schools at all.
| MIR. ThurmaD.-Is there anything in the or
ganic act or acts of Congress which required the
| new District government TO assume the obliga
| tons OF the old corporation?
| MI StantOn.-Yes, sir; it will be found in a
| legislative act, and the means provided for the
payment; the levy is never to exceed per
| cent; the tax.on account of the old debt has
I not been levied at per cent. in Georgetown or
was levied.
MIR. Stanton explained at length the system
| OF funding the debts of the old corporation and
| the assumption by the new District government
| OF the obligations of the cd government. He
said that out OF the revenues levied for school
purposes the schools have received their full
proportion and $l73 900 in excess. don't mean
| more than provided for by law, but more than
| It's proportion compared with other funds. The
excess, $li3 600, went into the general fund and
| was appropriated therefrom by an act of the
District Legislature. The loan in New York
| was made before the bonds were obtained.
| which were subsequently, put up as security for
| the loan. Mr.. Stanton called the attention of
| the committee to the fact that. after the war
| whole bodies Of emancipated freedmen fiocked
| to Washington, and that only 81 per cent of the
l pupils OF the schools were children of tax paw
! ere. he hoped the committee, in addition To
! investigating the District government, would
also recommend aid for school purposes.
L MT. Thur man. think the suggestion a oood