, 1874-04-03
An Amendment Increasing the National
Bank Circulation $46, ,000,-
600 Adopted.
The FREQ Banking Scheme
Thought to BE Losing
Friends.
An Interesting Debate on the Cur
rency Bill in the House.
Sanborn Again Fnils to Appear and
Testify.
1.-THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Special Dispatch to Tbs Chicago Tribune.
nan nav FOR rfTu r.f%a

tI1E 01SIR1Cv in lNVEST1GATIoN.
Special Dispatch TO 1hs Chicago Tribune.
Dad DAY FOB THE RING.
WASHINGTON, April 2.-Tho most damaging
evidence yet produced against the District
authorities, past and present, was that which
WAS presented for tho consideration Of tho In
vostigation Committee to-day by witnesses sum-
moned by tie memora1ists. Gov. Shepherd, his
attorneys, and tho numerous rctainers aud
hangors-on Of the local Government who con-
erogato about the Oommittee-room each day,
Were
COMPLETELY TAEEN DT sunp11sE,
and, in their agitation, the counsel for tho Dir
trict made admissions which may result most
diBastrouBly to their cause.
Samuel Strong. tho contractor who was sent
BY Shepherd to interview tho momorialista some
weeks ago, and to bottay them, If possible, into
tho hanls Of his employers, was again put on
tho stand this morning, aud made reproduce his
cleck-hook. The object Of compelling the wit
nesa to bring fn his check-book was to show that
lie had paid money to William l.. Cook, attorney
for tito District. Whom previously interrogated,
Strong prevaricatod whom pressed for IN answor
regarding his transactions with Cook. Tho PRO-
duction of tho check-book to-day, and an exam
lnatiou OF tho Ht,lns
SERVED TO nEFNESu Hts alE11ony
to IN extraordinary degree. 1t not only dis
closed tho fact that he had paid Cook several
gums Of money, but Judge Wilson, yghilo turning
over tho lenyes, discovered that Strong also had
literally contributed to tho bank-account OF Gen.
Dabcock's engineer, Col. Samo. This last-namod
gentleman nude the measurement Of tho improve
monts around the p.stroet circle, which improve
Strong. The measurement, It Inns been ascer-
tainod, il greatly in oxceaa OF tho amount of
work actually performed, and constitutos one of
tho charges Of fraud nude against tho District
Government by tho memorialiRts. But for tho
fact tint several
sruHs HAD BEEN TORN
from tho oheck-book, 1t is not unlikely several
more recipients OF Mr. strong's bounty would
Tho witness, aftor telling Of his effort to get
into the confidence Of Columbus, Alexander,
and other mcmorialists. for the purpose Of as-
containing their intentions, and then botraying
morrow morning and bring with him all his
books containing any ovidence of his connection
with tho Board OF Public Works.
Mr: Severance, q civil engineer Of forty
years standing who has been making measure
testified that Gen. Babcock lad doubled tho
measurement Of tho roadway around Rawlins
Square. and charged the Government for Just
twice tho amount Of work that hnd baon done
there. In oross-examinlpg the witness,
SENATOR STEWART DEcAME QUITE EXCITED.
and made o most 1amousable display Of his
ignorance OF the plainost rules for calculating
measurement.
Mr. T. 7. Fowler, tho witness between whom
opinion concerning the latter's connection with
paving company, WIS recalled tlis afternoon
and allowed to correct his testimony Of the day
before. Ho stated that tho alleged interview
between himsolf and tho Governor occurred in
August. 1870, md not 1871, Oh 10 Ind testified
On Wednesday,. With tllat exception he main-
tained tho tratltulness OF the remainder Of llis
evidence.
Following him camo
WILLIAM E. KNOX.
Ho is contract-clerk Of tho Board OF Public
Works, and has hold the position since Jun. l,
1879. The object Of bringing forward this wit
ness was to provo the
4 ALLEGATION IN TIE First CHARGE
Of tho ulemorialis.H, which is that tho Board OF
Public Works ind not compiled with the law IN
tho execution of contraots; and, notwithstand-
ing the painful aqursning and proyarication Of
tho witness, he was compelled TO admit all that
thor and told Of
THINGS NOT DREAMED OF
by tho memorialiAta, and was sustained by Gov.
Shepherd aud Col. Harrington who, discovering
tho wrotched condition into which tue witness
had twisted himself, boldly acknowledged what
lo had sworn to. Knox admitted that tue con-
tractors were not compelled to sign their con-
tracts and perfect their hondB In many instances,
until after tho work was done; that they rocalv-
cd their pay whio the oortracts aud bonds were
IN lmnerfoet shape; that contracts ontercd iuto
IN l872 Woro not perfected in groat nany cases
until 1874; TINT thirty or forty contracts had
been perfected Bnce tho investigation waR be-
gnn; and finally. to cup oil, ho sworo that he
| llimBolf had
CARRIED CONTRACTS TO HES1lY D. COOKE
within few weeks, aud had that gentloman
sign thcm III Goynrnor Of tho District, ana this
Notwithstanding Henry D. Cooke WIS succeeded
| as Goyernor by Alexander II. Shepherd over
four months ago. WitucBs also admitted that no
bonds s were 2 eyor attact,ed to the nunborlesa
contracts hold by q: E. Evans. but explained
TINT the bonds, with Mrs. q. Z. Evans Us surety,
woro IN tho Office Of William A. Cooke, Attorney
for tho District. Ho accounted for tito absence
OF q bond In tho Do Gollyor & MoOiolaud con-
tract by stating that William 4. Cooke hold q
| mortgage bond against tho contractors,
Counsel for tho momorialiBts claim that thoy
have
ONLY JUST DE0UN
to show their hand, aud promiHe within the next
few days to present evidence Of fraud aud cor
runtfnr m thu nart nF tia Djafrtot o,,tho.t{a ~