National Republican., 1874-04-02

Governor Shepherd. No, sir. lido not want
the scandal to go abroad tonight. Iwant to
nail the thing right here.
The Witness. As Governor Shepherd seems
to be emphatic, I would Ike to give testimony to
corroborate what I say.
The Chairman. We WIN get all the facts.
Mr.. Christy. This Is witness against wit
ness, and we wish to ascertain whether It Is 70
be statement under oath or by way Of expla-
nation.
Governor Shepherd. A statement under oath
proved by the record. .a
Mr.. Mattingly. desire 70 call the attention
ofthe committee to the date of the ineorpora-
ton Of the Metropolis Paving Company, which
Is fled as an exhibit in this case. It is recorded
on the 18th Of October, 1870.
Mr.. Wilson. Where do you find thati
Mr.. Mattingly. It is appended to the nrst
charge. This Is copy oflt.
Governor Shepherd. It is In the last inyest[
CATION. 30
Mr.. Harrington. II Is m their charge-one of
their exhibits in the first charge.
Mr.. Wilson. /, for one, desire that Mr.. Fow-
Ter shall bring here such memoranda and pa
pers as he may have to fix this date. I do not
desire that q matter Of this importance shall be
passed over without exhausting all our efforts
to get these things fxed accurately, so that no
improper impression can ever possibly arise out
of It. think 1t is due to all parties that that
should be done; and, for one, l insist upon it.
Mr.. Stewart. OF course there is no doubt
but that that ought to be done, but the date is
shown to be exceedingly immaterial.
Mr.. Wilson. do not want to leave this to
the option of this witness, as TO whether or not,
he shall return here and furnish us with infor-
nation. We have right to know If he has
anything that will fix these dates. We have o
right to know the dates, and It is for us to di-
rect him to bring those thugs here to the COM
mittee, that we may have the corrections
made. -
The Chairman. That reflects upon the chair
man. --... rr
Mr:Wilson. Not at all, sir; disclaim that
entirely.
The Chairman. This witness stated that
these conversations were before the organiza-
ton of these two corporations, and before the
paving Of Pennsylvania avenue, and with
view Of letting contracts there. He also stated
that 1t was in August, 1871, now whether those
two dates corroborate or not, / don't know.
stated in the beginning that this witness could
refresh his memory and come back here and
correct the date if he had made mistake.
This witness is not yet discharged. .f
Mr.. Wilson. make no reflection upon the
matter that has q tendency expressly to affect
Governor Shepherd. If this witness has in his
possession books, papers, or memoranda which
Will show that he is entirely mistaken as to the
time when this occurred, 1t Is certainly due to
Governor Shepherd that that fact should be
mads known to the committee. -'-
GQYernor Shepherd. The witness stultifes
himself. f-'y ST -
Mr.. Wilson. am not going to argue the
question. That is not the matter under eonsa-
Mr.. Stewart. It is due to Governor Shepherd
that the dates when these contracts were made,
and this bill was passed, should be ascertained.
MIR. Wilson. 1t is due to both of these par
ties that these dates should be accurately
known, and desire to have them. 1 did not
want the witness to have the understanding
that 1t was q mere matter Of opinion with
him.
The Chairman. Mr.. Fowler, you will under
stand that you are to refresh your memory
at once, upon any papers that you may have,
as to the date of this conversation; you viii
then return here.
The Witness. Tomorrow
The Chairman. No, sir; to-day, If you can;
If not. tomorrow. ---
The Witness. would like to go on the 4
o'clock train 1 can do 80 tomorrow.
Mr. Bass. Bring your 9smOrandum with
you. 80 - 90
The Witness. Yes, sir; Will.
Mr.. Christy. And any books desire to
include. There are two Mr.. Clagetts under
subpoena. desire to call the one whose state.
ment is there.
TESTIMONY OF J. B. CLAGETT.
J.B. Clagett, sworn, and testified as follows
By the Chairman: Q. You are little hard oi
hearing2 A. A little; but I can stand by the
gentleman who asks me the questions.
Q. Are you familiar with the Segenth-street
roadl A. am; lived on the road about
twenty years. . ..
Q. What is the character of the improvement
made upon that roadl A. The hills have been
cut down and the bottom filed up.
Q. How fara For what distance! A. For
about four and one-half miles.
that improvement A. None; except what is
in the Board Of Public Works. -.....
Q. Do you regard that as a reasonable i'm
proyement TO be made? A. It would be rea-
sonable improvement If the road was passable
at the seasons Of the year when we desire TO
use it. In the summer time, if there has been
repairing, 1t is very good road for a carriage
to drive over; but the kind we desire in the
country to haul loads over in the winter time
it would be impossible.
Q. Is it a graded road OF. paved roadl A.
The road was graded, and it was macadamized
for sixteen feet, and intended to be grayeled for
sixteen feet on each side of it.
@. But 1t is notl A. 1t is not graveled; no,
sir. On top of the macadam suppose there is
about eight or ten inches.
@. Nowl A. Now. 1 would state that the
road is an improvement over the grades of what
it was before the Board OF Public Works as
tempted to do anything with 1t; but before that
we always had hard, hilly road, we'll enough
In ba MI bior Oadc i,,f fho int
don't think ever saw a wagon stalled on the
road before the Board of Public Works began
the work. -....a
Q. Do you know anything In relation to the
payments for this roadl A. In what wayi
Q. In relation to the board accepting or re-
fusing to accept in payment bonds payable In
instal,Ts9ts. A. Yes, sir. -
Q. State what you know. A. worked nv
teams on the r9ad, end when the road was
6pished and accepted by the Board Of Public
Works the contractor for whom we worked
wanted to know If would take the certificates
issued by the Board of Public Works for my
bill. told him would If the Board Of Public
Works would take the certificates from me IN
payment ofthe assessment against my property.
Invent to see Mr.. Beall, and asked him if he
would take those certificates. He told me
"yes, If my bill had not been rendered more
than thirty days, but they did not issue, I don't
think, any of the certificates until about thirty
five days after the bills were rendered, and they
refused to take those certificates from me for
the assessment against my property. After
that, when the Legislature passed bill giving
us five years or five installments to pay those
bills, then went again to Mr.. Beall, the col
lector, and offered to pay him one installment,
and he would not receive it. He told me the
certificates had been sold to the First National
Bank of New York, and they had no control
over them, and they demanded from me to pay
the whole bill in cash. l then asked him II he
would take the bonds that the Legislature au-
thorized to be issued for that purpose, and he
told me "no," that he would not take the
bonds.
The Chairman. This was Governor shep-
herdl
Mr.. Bass. No; Mr. Beall.
Witness. Mr. Beail.
Q. Is that all you know in relation to that
matteri A. think that is all; yes, sir.
Q. Do you know anything in relation to the
laying Of a street railway on Ninth street, A.
know there was a railway laid there; yes, sir.
Q. Do you know anything about when an
was made for laying down ties,
&C., as connected with the improvement on
that street, "A. was informed that an ar
had been madelto lay the railroad
some three or four months before the contract
ors commenced to do the work on Ninth
street.
By Mr.. Jewett: @. By whom were you 50
informed2 A. By Mr.. Thompson, the presi-
lent of the company.