Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-23
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee.


Conclusion Yesterday Proceedings.
After recess yesterday before the Joint
Special Committee investigating District af-
fairs, III. O. Evans, book keeper for John o.
Evans, was recalled.
BBFORR HE WAS INTHRRoGATED Mr.. STARK
WEATHER CAME BEFORE THK COMMITTEE
and stated that insinuations had been made in
the papers affecting him in refe. ence to the
Board Of Pubic Works, as q former member OF
the District Committee in Congress. He desired
to say that it thing had been said, or should
be said, connecting his name in any improper
manner with the Board of Public Works, he
was ready at once to meet such charge of in
situation, and would be glad to have notice, If
during the examination, any occasion should
arise for his pI essence before the committee
The chairman stated that thus far no charge
or insinus ton, as indicated, had been made
before the committee.
TWO HUNDRED TONS OF ASPHALT
G. ii. Evans then had his attention called to
statement in the evidence OF John o. Evans
OF asphalt at certain time, and was requested
to look over his books, and nnd where the items
making up this amount were charged.
TREASURER MAGRUDKR.
James A. Magruder, treasurer Of the Board
OF Public Works, was then recalled, and ques-
toned at length by Judge Merrick concerning
the fnsncial transactions of the board He
gave an account OF the various sums OF money
deposited in the bank by him as treasurer, and
the manner of its disbursement; was unable to
state what amount he had checked out in checks
amounts were so paid out, because the board
had been to the banks anc requested them to
help the contractors, and they having done so
1t wss considered proper to reimburse the banks
at all convenient opportunities for the accom-
notation they had extended to the contractors
at times when the board was short of funds; the
and paid out by the board, and there Is a
voucher for every dollar paid out; about a year
ago the board, being short of money, deter
mined to cut up Auditors certificates into
aft nf snf
and $500 each, receivable for special assessment
taxes, and when contractors Presented such
Auditors certificates they were so cut up;
the sewer certificates sold by the board were
sold to the First National Bank of New York:
there WAS no law under which sales OF special
assessment AID sewer certificates were made; it
was done by authority OF the board; witness did
many other duties as a member OF the board be-
sides his duty as treasurer; witness Iece we'd
81 500 year from the United States as a men,
Der of the board, and was also paid a salary as
treasurer OF the board by the District govern.
ment; since September, 1913, has made pay
ments in special assessment and sewer certif-
Gates at par; the 500, 900 worth OF assessment
certificates sold to the Fist National Bank
were cold to them to pay for money borrowed;
the banks here loaned money to contractors on
certificates of the auditor; the witness THINKS
they received the certificates as collateral, and
also the notes of the contractors, aud when the
witness paid the banks he has every rea-
son to believe that they paid the cOntrac-
tors the difference between the amount Of
the loans aud the face value Of the collat-
eral; the money derived from appropriations
by Congress, for work done around government
property, was paid out indiscrimin ately to cred
itois OF the board; large amounts OF work done
around government reservations were paid out
OF the four million loan; in improving streets il
would be impossible to do the work properly by
making break along the government prop
erty, so the work would all be done and paid
for, and the board would reimburse itself out of
the Congressional appropriations when made;
when street is finished the BOARD take account
afr hn rlNlA
from the audited accounts Of the Contractors;
The surveyor took the statement of the cost
and divided 1t among the number of front feet
along the line OF the improvement, char cling
each property-holder one sixth on each side OF
the street; where any portion of the work is ex.
Dpt the cost is divided in the same way be
tween the property owners and the genera
fund; witness don't know that any street ia
been assessed before work had been completed,
corner lots are assessed by the front foot each
street, without any regard to the superficial feet
contained in the lot; after the assessment Is
maze notices are sent out to the owners of lots,
who have thirty days to pay the tax in; IL thew
don't pay 1t in that time the oard issues an as
SEES Hent certificate, bearing ten per cent. in
terest, against the property; formerly those GER
uhcates were payable in one year; now, under
4 recent law of the Legislature, the property
owners have the privilege of paying the tax In
installments, running from one to five years;
ast year the Legislature passed act author
iZing the board to issue 81 O0O COO of special a..
sc; sment certificates, bearing eight per cent.
taxes, theee have been paid to c0ntr actors at
par; the whole S2,0O00OO have been
absorbed by contractors; under the law
the general taxes are not to exceed So
on the 800; the four million loan was
negotiated in Germany through Seligman, of
New York; the money went into the District
treasury, and witness drew it out and deposited
1t In bank; witness received other money de-
rived from special assessments also from the
water registrar money received for water taxes.
Inc memorialists announced that they had
concluded the examination In chief.
The chairman announced that the examina-
ton Of witnesses was adjourned until Monday
next at 10 O'Clock.
There was not full meeting of the Joint
Special Committee investigating District affairs
this morning. Messrs. Wilson, Bass and Hub
bell were present, and were engaged in loo king
over the check books left with the COMMITTEES
BY Col. Magruder, treasurer Of the Board of
Public Works, with the view to further exam
Inc him at length at future day.
On Friday afternoon and Ssturd ay the com
mittee will visit the various impro vem snts
about the District.