National Republican., 1874-06-01

u. DO on know Whether or not every means
were TAX en- to get proper help in the engineer de-
partme'te A. cannot say positively about thai,
sir. know whenever we wanted any help 1
Mr. JthfiIips, and tell them lust what the eircum-
stances were, and ask them TO help us ont
C. Did not the Board Of Public Works always
do the utmost that was In their power toward Sc
cdring it, A. 1 think they did.
Q. In regard to these cases which Judge VIII
son speaks Of, where the measurements were
made without eross-sections, did you as an officer
of the board, do what was right and just by the
District and the General Government in making
your Measurements A. did. sir, in every case.
q. Did you give the contractors any advantage
In making your messurementsf A. Never, sir.
Q. II there was any advantage, did you not
give It to the District government A. did
always.
On page as4O Of his testimony, Mr.. Barney
thus expresses his confidence in the integrity
and fidelity of the other engineers employed by
the board IN its measurements and other work
proper to their office:
Q. Doyou regard Mr. OertIy as a competent
mani A. do. have no reason to think other
q q. You have no reason to think but what Mr..
oar;ly is a square mani A. Nc sir.
@. Do you regard these as mistakes or frauds.
A. / think we are all lisole to mistakes, sir; l
think am as liable to mistakes anybody; do
not consider myself infallible, but what mean is,
do not think anybody has made any Intentional
mistakes. If they are mistakes they are innocent
q. II there had been any schemes for the in
vention OF mistakes and fraudulent transactions,
lyOu have, been connected with this from the be
about II A. think should have known some
thing about 1t since have had charge Of the estI
q. You have been connected with It how IOngH
A. Since the last Of November, lsIi-
| e.. You have had no reason 70 have suspicion Of
tOntlOnal wrOng' A. No. slE i AavshOt.
So far rs particular fiserepancIes are con-
| when Mr.. BljQkAnsderfer, the engineer en-,
, msaaNhssts Is xtita sccompanied either Ter
by Col. Safho, who had made meisurements on
behalf Of the United States, nor by the assist
ant engineers of the board, whose computa-
tions were under review. This was not the
fault OF Mr.. Blickensderfer, who, unaware Of
the perfdious course being pursued by Mr..
Cluss, the late chief engineer OF the board, put
himself In communication with that officer, and
1 failed in many cases TO advise either Col. samo
or the assistant engineers OF the board Of his
contemplated measurements.
BY reason Of circumstances which are now
| of public notoriety, the result of this proceed
ing was unfortunate. Certainly it would have
been but fair, and would haze facilitated q
true comparison, had the officers above ind-
Gated been enabled to accompany Mr.. Blick-
1
The largest discrepancies and errors reported
by Mr.. Bhckensderfer arc also explained in
the testimony satisfactorily and consistently
with fidelity and efficiency on the part of the
engineers Of the board. .-- -. --
| In the case of New Hampshire avenue, the
error occurred under Mr.. Barney, and was re-
ported by himself to Mr.. Blickensderfer with
the request that the latter communicate IL to
the committee. Mr.. Barney's explanation is
found on page 3t06 Of the testimony. The oc-
icurrence might have happened to any other
upright and efficient engineer. ~
/ Iu other cases, the work had been done be-
! : <~re the cross-sections were taken upon which
Mr B,c4 ansdsrfer relied, and which he made
the basis of his Computations.
Mr.. BHckensderter Amseii, on page 1871,
with reference to MarylaI sysnue, place
where one of the largest discrt. Seees was
found, thus testifies:
Q. On that, were you informed that old work
had been done there which was charged to the
Goyernmentf A. was told there was old work
q. Have you included that In your statement?
A. No, SIR, have not included that.
z. You did not measure II? A. No, sir; had
no means Of measuring it.
Q; Did The crOss-seciiOns indicate a depression
Q. As though work had formerly been done
theref A. Yes, sir.
The same fact with reference to other places
Is stated by Mr.. Barney on page 2345 Of his
testimony as follows:
O. In some Of the iustancesi in which you have fur
nished cross-sections to MIR. Blickensderfer, had
there not been some work done before the cross
O. That was the case In respect to New Hamp-
shire avenue to some extent! A. Yes, sir.
Q. And It was the case, also, on Maryland ave-
cross-section shows depression in the centre Of
the street, suppose Il was cut out before.
q. May 1t not have been so In others slsof A.
Yes, sir; presume so.
In justice to Colonel Samo, the engineer
officer detailed by General Babcock to make
measurements on behalf of the United States,
the whole of his testimony, from page 22S6 to
2292, should be read. Governor Shepherd in
his testimony expressed the desire that q care
full re-eIamination of all the work of the board
should be made. Formal request for the as
signment Of competent engineer-officer Of the
army to the performance of this work has been
made by the board 10 the Secretary of War.
No fair test can be applied until all the work
shall have been carefully and accurately re-
measured.
In relation to the overeharges reported by
Mr.. Blickensderfer as having been made against
the United States, 1t is tobe remarked that their
amount is subject to q deduction of five per
cent. upon the whole cost Of the work, as an
allowance TO the District not hitherto asked for
engineering and other general expenses. Mr..
Blickensderfer, on page 1875 of his testimony,
says that this allowance ought to be made.
THE TREASURER OF THE BOARD.
The treasurer Of the Board of Public Works
is made the subject Of criticism by counsel for
the me morialists. Whether the existence Of
that office apart from the Office Of the District
treasury facilitates the transaction of public
business or not, and whether the separation of
accounts Of widely different nature simpliAes
or complicates. the municipal finances are
questions of merit or defect in the system
established by Congress, and do not relate TO
the rectitude of executive officers under the
existing organization. Congress, by the Or
ganic act, according to its express terms and
the conformatory construction Of the courts,
gave to the Board OF Public Works separate
aud entire control within its province. Exer-
ctie of the distinct poyeS thus conferred, and
dissharge Of the ldntiss Imposed on the board,
nndefcd necessary efexistence Of the Office OF
its t1cssurer, an lofiEe recognized and sane
TONED tlso IN the enactnents Of the Legisla-
tive Assembly.
The accounts of the incumbent Of that Office
have, during this Investigation. been keenly
and NOT too kindly scrutinized. His books,
Vouchers, bank ACCOUNTS, checks, and check