, 1874-05-24
Text Of the Bill as It Goes to
the House.
Additional Items in tho Ameudatory
Tariff Bill.
List OF Articles Added to the Free
List.
Testimony Taken by the District 1nves-
tigating Committee.
TIE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION:
Special Uis:mtch to The Chicago Tribune.

THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION:
Spee;at Dis;aatch 10 The Chicago Tribune.
CLUBS EE-ExAMISEp.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 23.-The District In
vestigation Committee met about no,3n to-day
and the crosB-e12r1netion Of Mr. Clusn Was re-
sumcd. As on yesterday, Gov. Shepherd wal
surrounded by number Of his principal back
ers, and had Jere Black on hand to sugges
questions to DO propounded to the witness b,
AIattingly. Mr. Cluss appeared to much better
advantage to-day. He controlled bis temper
aud answered the lnterrogations OF eounse
Hithou. est Htion. Owing to the overlooking
manner assumed By Mr. Mattipgly IN i'm
u u.s''Ats tSice 9 compelled to sppeal for
protect1on to the Committee. It vas
1ecorded him, 3tr. Hamilton, OF New Jersey,
reading the counsel for the District severe
bat merited lecture On tho subject OF committee
room etiquette THE whole examination Was
i sysThN oF BAD4ER1SG,
and the constant point aimed at BY the Cover
nor's counsel scented to be to drive the witness
into passion, and catch him in some careless
remark. Protting by his experience Of yester-
with apparent difficulty at times, and when
Judge Jere Black took him in hand.
lie vas cool and collected, and made
many keen rotorts to the almost bullying
LQQe &Q0DEGu pJ Ll9 1A4EC. Ao NAo%AA4S1ty Ao-
affirmed that gross fraud had be'en PerpetrAtod
on the United States without concurrence OF
knowledge OF the engineers force, and while he
subsequently obtained knowledge OF such frauds,
they followed each other with such zapldity that
he .yAs stunned at their immensely but before
be recovered from the surprise each created,
new one succeeded, and he knew not what course
to pursue He compared himself in the matter
Of signing the papers which were placed be-
fore him to Secretary Richardson. of the
m. oir IA Eanhntp contract
and that brought out broad smile
from ali present, IS esch disbelieved that the
great servant Of routine knew al about what he
Hss signing. Judge Blacks point, strongly
pushed, was to ascertain il council for tho
memorialiste, or any one else, had received from
him list OF questions TO be asked him. This
ras carried to degree which in court OF law
would have been stopped by any Judge RS
brutal, and the witness Was spoken OF in ques-
tions as having
GONE BAcK on BIS coSrEDEkATEs
snd tuned States evidence. passage oc-
Cured at one point between Judge Black
and Col, Christy, OF counsel for the memoir
ialistt, the latter demanding. protection
their side had in any manner commune
Gated with witnesses in the luvestlga-
ton. Even it the counsel had done 80. Mr.
Nsttingy seemed to be struck with the force OF
this remark, but had nothing to say. Cluss,
litter the squabble between the counsel, affirmed
distinctly that he ..
had CONFERRED WITH no PERSON WHATSOEVER
about the character OF his testimony, but stated
that when Mr. Mattiugly and the Governor last
week asked him to testify on certain points and
in q certain manner, be told them that his testi-
mony would do them no good, for if he Wns
called to the stand he would tell the Whole
truth.
THE EFFORT TO SMASH HIN
bJ showing him up as having fixed his testimony
beforehand wae blown aside by the showing
that be was tho only member q the
Board not get called, and as his as
eistants had been on the stand he
expected subpoena, and made memorand.
CluHs held bis own in an examination lasting
about three and one-half hours, but nothing new
ct importance was developed. The great diff
Guilty is, az WAS mentioned in last nights dis
patches, to understand what Cluss wants to say,
aud, the Governors counsel knowing this, mada
it special point to annoy him BY EIll1ully mis-
understanding him.
THE COMMITTEES ENGINEER, BL1cKESsDERRER,
WAS recalled, and made series Of statements re-
garding certain remcasurements he had made to
prove his former report, and these agreed An
attempt Was made to cross-examiue him, but,
upon lis producing fresh batch Of measure /
ments showing other frauds, the counsel sub
sided.
ITO the Assoctat<d Prfss]
WAsu1SoroS, Q. c., alay 23.-Adolph cluss. |
cross examined upwards OF dvo hours to-day. He
asked the protection of the Comrnitte inasmuch
Is he was without counsel. Many additional |
papers which in his direct testimony he had no !
recollection Of signing. were produced and he
WIS forced to admit his signature. He complained
more Of |
1SroRnAL1T1Es OF TIE BOARD OF ruBLto WORKS |
than of any direct fraud, and stated that he |
wished it to be understood that he charged !
fraud. Hnd the Engineers office made all the !
measurements under its OWL supervision, be |
#ould not hare assigned Oertly to making the |
Government measurements. but would have
used MIR. Barney, in whom he had confidence.
With reference to the Connolly voucher, t
where witnesses claimed double amount OF /
excavation was allowed, voucher OF pay
tnent was shown witness with Ills signature |
attached. He was also compelled to admit |
his signature to vouchers upon which the Evans |
which in his direct testimony he stated WIS |
measured up by Forsyth. IN assistant in hia |
Office, without his knowledge.
h1r. Allison, in this> connection, read |
addressed to the Committee from G. !
T. Evans, 10 the effect that he iB willing to have
ali the work done By him in this city re-
measured at his own expense by any competent |
engineers the Committee might suggest, rs he |
did not want one cont more than he had honestly |
earned. |
Question-By Judge Dlsck-The Board Of
Public Works was in operation = year before you
were appointed?
Answer-Yes.
Q-When you wero appointed, you had no /
tent man?
A.-No, sir.
Q.-You did not think the Board were rogues? |
A.--No, sir. / would not have accepted the |
appointment If Ihad thought so.
Q.--Was it possible for the Board to defraud
without yonr knowledge?
A.-The contractors? No. The United States? |
Yes Gross errors have been committed against |
the United States without the consent OF the
engineer, he not being privy to the transaction.
Tie engineer in charge il not responsible for
the errors, because they we're made by an assist-
ant in Ills Office without his knowledge.
Q---Nas it illegal to get money from Con-
gress without your appreciation
Al thought So I Was debarrod from doing I
my duty. The appropriations were obtained
upon statements Of which had no knowledge.
Q.-lou knew it was your duty to stop it il it /
was wrong
A.-What could do as single momber Of /
tho Board J: It took mo until the latter part Of
September to become acquainted with the COM |
pications Of tho Board.
Q.-The measurements you approved Of were
right ?
A--To the best Of my knowledge. Il there
WIS an error it was the exception, aud correct
ness is tho rule.
0--Whan the nnr4are yera heodaa to WIN |