Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-10
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
proceedings Of the Joint Congress.
siOnal Committee To day.

ment was resumed to-day, Senator Thurman
presiding. All Of the members OF the Select
Committee were present except Messrs. Bou =
well. Jewett, and Wilson.
The printed answer of Gov. Shenberd WAS
received from the government printer and d.
tributed in the committee room.
Mr: Merrick, In answer to an interrogatory by
Senator Thurman, stated that counsel for tn
memorislists had been supplied with comics IF
the Governors report. Ten copies were ordered
TO be given TO counsel on both sides and twenty
copies to the Governor for uses of the District
GOV. sHEPHERD's STATEMENT as To THE
POLICE FUND.
The following communication was received
from Gov. Shepherd:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, District of Co7mpaJj1 }
WAsHIEGroN, March 10, 1874
Hon. A. q. Thurman, Chairman pro tenn. of the
Ccn,mstse TO Investtgdte the A6dirs Of the Dis
SIR: In reply to your inquiries as to the tax
levied Tor the support of the Metropolitan no.
ice and the disbursements on that account since
the organization of the territorial government
4 have the honor to state as follows:
First session, page los :-Tax levy, act ap-
proved august 3, ISL, support Metropolitan
police, Washington, 20 cents; do, Georgetogp,
20 cents; do, county, 10 cents.
Second session, page 10:-TaS levy, act APP
R1o pro June 70, 49,, support Metropolitan po-
cs ee Washington, 10 cent? do, Georgetown, Is
third session, page 10:-Tax levy, act ap-
proved June 26. 1si 3, support Metropolitan po-
nee; washington c II cents; do, Georgetown, II
A full statement OF the receipts aud disburse-
mems on account of this fund are contained in
the enclosed exhibits of the Controller of the
District. Very respectfully, your ob't servant,
ALRX. K. SHEPHERD, Governor D. c.
accompanying this was a letter from Con-
uoIler Baker transmitting a statement of the
receipts and expenditures of the District gov
eminent from its organization to date ON az
count of the police fund. This statement shows
the receipts from Washington as 1928 $50 l3;
receipts 500 2is 90 Fynend;t1ras Ua,h Tosai
ton, S22i, 52i 81; Georgetown, S23 937 81; COUNT
sl3,oli.ls; total expenditures, s26l ,53646,
=, Mr. MRRRICK ON THE SCHOOL FUND.
MT Merrlck called the attention of the con-
mlttee Tin connection with the school taxi TO
the fact that the controller had said the school
fund was overdrawn sl73, 00O by reason of GER
tain payments on account of contracts which
had been made for school buildings erected
under the old corporation. This money was not
ehargeabie to the school fund, but should have
Oeen charged to the old corporation. He said
upwards of S2l5 600 has been charged against
the corporation, and that, instead OF tue school
fund being charged with deficit of SlI3 900, it
should be credited with Si2,54S, and, adding
that TO the amount collected, it makes a
gross sum, up TO March LIST, of ,ls3,
and, that being so, and the mouth
pay roll being only $4,000, there ought
10 have been funds enough to pay the
teachers up to March list Of the current wear
he submitted documentary evidence from the
accompanying papers" to show that the Old
corporation was charged with s2l5 900 which
fuud on account of buildings, having been
otherwise charged, the sinking fund commits
sioner having paid that amount. Such settle
ment was made ON the Sd of March, 1873. He also
called attention to the United States statutes
at large, showing that it was unlawful for any
discussing officer in the District of Columbia to
dlvest from its legitimate object any money
levied and collected and raised by taxes and
the transfer of one fund TO another. He offered
70 prove by Syphax, colored school trustee,
that up 10 the time OF the closing of the old cor
poration the cOlored school teachers had All
been paid in full, and were not in arrears, as
had been alleged.
MIR. Thurman:-As understand it the new
government came into possession in June. 1871,
and at that time four months salary was due
TO teachers by the old corporation, and the
teachers were paid up to May 1st, and the pay
day for that month was the identical day on
which the new government came into power
III they were paid up TO May list there was really
no default by the old government, but month
pay was due, and payable on June LIST.
MI Thurman asked for a brief statement OF
what had been done in the settlement of the
debts between
THE OLD AND NEW CORPORATIONS.
Mr.. StantOn:-ln the first Place power was
given TO the legislature by the organic act to
settle such debts, and an act of the legisl allure
created the sinking fund commissioners and
charged them with certain duties in Connection
with the settlement OF old debts. He then
quoted the various acts bearing on the subject
and that creating the auditing commission.
BY an informal examination OF Gov. Shep-
herd 1t was developed that the Jefferson, Sum
ner and Seaton school buildings were contr acted
for by the old corporation, and that the amount
paid on that account after the new government
went into operation was treated as ebt OF the
old corporation, for which the new government
was reimbursed.
By Mr.. Wilson ito Controller Bakerr-Is
there not really surplus in the hands OF the
government on account of schools? A. There
wouldn't be If our debts were paid.
.. Have you and Mr.. Richards ever had any
about the school fund? A. We
have have had considerable controversies, but
don't remember that we have had any on this
subject.
q. Under the act OF May 8, 1872, providing
for funding certain liabilities, there was author
lty to issue one million dollars In bonds. 4 wish
to inquire where the $4,000 trust fund bonds
therein provided for are. A. Ii appears in the
report Of the sinking fund. L don't know whose
hands they are in.
sYPHAx AS A WITNESS.
VIM. y. Syphax, sworn and examined by Mr.
Wilson Was connected with the manage
mentOf c0lored schools as trustee from 1858 20
ls11; was treasurer the last year OF my term
when went out OF Office, July LIST, 1871, all the
bills, every Indebtedness OF the board, was col
lected and every dollar paid, and l had left
urer, and my vouchers were filed in the offics
or the Secretary of the Interior. I received
during the year 1871; S12S ,59E92 L paid out
sl25, S63.07; contracts had been made for school
bouses under my trusteeship, the Lincoln and
Sumner and two smaller schools; the contract
price for the Sumner school was SjO728 3S.
zen went out or once IL was finished up to
the third story. 1 paid on account of the
school S2l 900 before went out Of Off ce. The
Lincoln school was to cost S3l 9Ii.l2, and il was
paid for entirely. The street school was to
cost 81 200. Ii was just commenced when nv
term expired; paid 8 200 IN that, and : 1 900
on the 9Th street school-house.
=. DO you know what it finally cost to finish
the Sumner building? A. do not. 1 HANDED
the contract over to Mr.. King, Mr.. johnson and
MIR. WOrmley. The contracts | have named
provided for them completed.
BY Mr.. Merrick:-I don't know whether the
original contracts were changed. Yes, some of
them were; the 9th street school was changed;
the Sumner was changed by placing the water
closets outside instead of inside the building;
they also put up a clock that was not in nv
contract.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Harrington:-we paid
Dur teachers monthly; the last payment We
made to teachers was June 30th; the payment
was made under the government, but got the
money from Mayor Emery, at different times,
not in bulk. The contracts for the schools were
made by Mr.. W0rmley and myself. There were
lhree who composed the board OF trustees; Mr.,
and myself signed them as o majority
If the board; the third member did not agree
With us, and we signed them; he did not sign
hem on account Of the choice Of selection not
suitlpg him.
-, BY Mr.. Thurman:-Did / understand you
mat you received no funds from the new gov
srnment? A, Not dollar; the funds received