New-York tribune., 1874-01-27
nISTPICT CORRTPTION.

PROOF OF THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE MEMORIAL TO
COSGRESS-Eow CONGRESSMAN sTARKwEATnER
pIsCHARGED "RENEwED oBLGAroNs'-THE
OPERATIONS OF THE PAVING RING.
iBY TELEGRATn TO TIE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2G-The petition of prominent
citizens and proPertyowners of the District printed
In TIE TRIBUNE this morning asserts that the sign
ers have proof of thoir allegations of fraud and cor
ruption, which they will furnish at the proper
nme when they ask for Joint Commit
tee of Congress TO make an investigation.
The alarm of the District Ring is already shown by
the frantic assertions of their Washington newspa-
per organs that there is nothing wrong and that
Congress cannot afford TO waste time in fruitless
inquiries In the Senate to-day and on Friday, the
spoogiss for the Board Of Public Works were unan-
gous in the belief that the petition ought not
be printed. and On Friday. Messrs. Conklng and
Sherman, two of the men who, in the FALL promised
leading Western Republican that Shepherd should
not be confirmed until after investigation, were
the first TO object 10 having the petition printed, so
that all Of the Senators could see the ma
ture of the charges; and Mr.. Sherman OBJ
1ectected even TO having it read. In the
House to-day Mr.. J. ~ Wilson Of Indiana attempted
for long time TO get an opportunity to introduce
similar petition, which contains the signatures of
Mesers. W. w. COTcoran, Geo. w. Riggs, and many
Others, who are most largely interested in District
property but could not get the eye of the Speaker
As samples of the character of the documents on
which the accusations made in these memorials are
based. the following letters are extracted from a
great number now in the hands of the
petitioner. They were among the papers left by
W.S Huntington of this city. and are now printed
by permission. The first is from Congressman
etarkweather, aud was written soon after the bill
organizing Territorial government in the district
had been passed. Huntington had been very promi-
hent ID urging the passage of this bill. The follow
ING is copy of the original:
fCOnsdentisLl
FoRIY-PIRsI CONGRESS, UNITED eTATRs,l
HOUSE OF REPREsENTIvEs,
Washington, ID. C.. March, l3, 1871
WILLIAM o. HUNTINGTON, esq
MY DEAR FIR: On Friday, before leaving gwaship gton'
called at your clearinghouse but learned Won were
~'neu Ny Illness RON business hope you may soon
ee well Allow me TO make a snsoas,,on M,
W emDarrass you in the least As xon ara
aware have been renominated for conoress
ana our erection Ia three weeks from to-day NV opno
nents are maKing vigorous effort defeat me but a
my friends say my election is sure Iknow a, g. 80
shall be compelled TO spend more money than a ah
Gould my friends aid me without giving nuhci,r ., .,
II would put me under renewed obligations 10 Won :
wlsh this entirely confidential and in either case am
As ever. yours truly, LII s1ARKyEIrurn
Mr.. Gtarkwcatber was reelected, and on the meet
ing Of Congress in the following December was
made Chairman of the House Committee ON the
District Of Columbia During the first few month,
ef the existence of the Board of Public Works. very
grave accusations of fraud and mismanag cement
were made against it. and Mr. starkweather dis
charged portion of the renewed obligations" by
conducting an Investigation in the interest Of the
hng' and making a whitewashing report During
we last session Of Congress he also made report on
ue debt OF the District the truthfulness Of which
GAS more than once been questioned by correspond,
snts Of THE TmBUSr.
;, Inc second letter is from Rallett Knbourn 10 Mr.
''iosnAsscn, "AV w.s thes ~ st, Petersburg, .alJ