The New York herald., 1874-05-15
THE WASHINGTON ROBBERS.

Evidence OF Atrocious and Shameless
Frauds ON the General Government by
District OMcials-Enormous Over
charges and Duplicate Payments Made.
WASHINGTON, May IA, 1874.
The most damaging testimony in connection
with the District OF Columbia investigation was
ELECTED to-day by the examination Of Dickens
dorfer. the expert engineer, employed by the COM
mittee to make measurements around government
property. Tne witness testified that he had
followed the profession for thirty years.
and had been President and Engineer
OF the Board OF Public Works for the State OF
Ohio. He had also served the government as an
engineer at West Point and on the Pacific Rail-
road. Witness had measured all the circles, and
in each instance had found that the governments
had been overcharged. According to his measure
ment the work should have cost $7A,7s9 ~;
whereas, according TO Colonel Samo's measure
ment. the government has paid $7s,54o 15 On
Scott square the government has been over
charged $2,00O giving Samo the benefit OF his own
estimate Of grading. On Rawlins square witness
measured 1t to cost $22,210 81; 1t was charged
against the government at $22.s6 90, alter allow
ing Samo an error admitted to have been made by
him OF upwards Of $4,000, which does not appear
in Governor Shepherds answer. but which Colonel
same alleges has been credited to the government
and covered into the Treasury.
THE GREATEST OvERCHARGES
were In grading. Witness measured New Hamp-
cost $1O9233, but Is charged In the Governors an
swer at $l49, ~, making an excess Of charge
ns q He
Overpald. On New Hampshire avenue they have
been paid Tor work in excess Of what has been
done. Hulsey, contractor. was 0verpaid 81, ,OO0
Murray was 0verpaid s52s 81. the next point wit.
ness measured was Virginia avenue; had
sD%pss secss and pos as 4ns sysns
including the reservations at Twenty -nfth
2ns streets Is s yards There
government was charged 104 600 yards at forty
cents and hauling a. thirty.sx cents. The correct
$41, ,9O0 &c. The overcharge is $lO,7s4. On street.
between Twenty-ou and Twenty.sixth Streets
as Rs dsaas %
ment was charged ss Il los G yards The government
on o sewer on the work. 1t is charged for over
1900 ieet ana there are only some 700 ieet on the
work, making the total overcharge $17,6S3 So.
Witness explained that the difference In over pay
ment was made by
at the intersection at Twenty-slxth and G streets
The government also paid twice for the work on
MARYLAND a., avenue, aU east witness iound the grad
the government was for over $4,000 yards. The
contractors were allowed sol, ,166 81, and the gov.
proportion and more than the entire work cost,
as SHOWN by payments to contractors. The gov
eharra pad Y witness ssd
the Grading around the Patent and Post ofices
according to the vouchers OF the Board, cost the
TWO DOLLARS AND SIX CENTS PER CUBIC YARD
for the earth removed On Second street, between
ness made measurements He had no notes. He
used the marks on the sides OF the buildings as
hs e grading to Be
23 900 yards, he being overpaid $6S62 Is. Witness
stated that ne had looked at other work. but had
not brought 1t to hnal conclusion because ne
could not yet data. With regard to Second street,
between Indiana avenue aud H street, the con.
tractor is allowed "a, 443 yards. The entire length
and breadth OF the work charged would have to be
excavated three feet and several inches along It's
ensn 20 maze a sns charge and #
said In the work measured by him he saw
NO EVIDENCE OF ROCK EXCAVATION,
which Is charged the government, where It Is
alleged to have been made, at 81 per yard. The
government Is charged lor the grading and haul
BY ten cents on excavation and about five cents
IN the hauling than IS paid the contractor. On
street the government ,,I Is charged two cents
tractor. On Maryland avenue the hauling paid the
contractor varies from one and hall to twenty.
one cents. Three-fourths OF the charge ia at
at nfteen cents IN making his meas1rements Wit.
Board OF Public Works. and, in approxlmatinr the
cost used the rates established by the Board az
LOOSE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS
Blckensdorler Was recalled. He said he had ex.
the Board OF Public Works and found a loose sys.
tenn OF keeping the accounts regarding measure
Hampshire avenue he asked Mr.. Samo il he could
explain the di1erencc; he said that ne supposed
his note would explain, which he furnished. he
then went with Sam0 on the ground and pointed
out the discrepancies. He answered that he had
TO include some old work done before the Board Of
General Babcock and gave him an Opportunity
to explain, giving him the results he had obtained
This he did at the instance OF the committee. The
engineering OF the work done In this city has been
very loose and without due care, and that because
OF the way IN which the work was DONE particu-
larry the grading 1t next to impossible TO arrive
at accurate results.
Colonel Magruder was recalled to explain why
he had diverted bonds appropriated Tor specific
purpose in payment OF work foreign to the apprO-
pratiOn. HIS explanation was that the provisions
fhoI hal, f,aau noir foAn mt m tsv,