Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-26
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee
Answer or the Ditrict Government to
the Charges Of The MemOriaIists.

Answer or the Ditrict Government to
the Charges Of ,he Mem0rialists.
Conclusion Yesterdays Proceedings
After our report OF the District investigation
closed yesterday, Gustsve Pfiuger ives placed
on tie sand. He t,st-fi that the bricks in
front OF his house on IS h street were taken by
the contractor who sd the wosk, ard usSi in
the eioct on o. a. .ble belong .ng to said On
ira ~. On CO :ar iDation the fact was dc
ve'ol d tn I he hal never rOi fed the Board of
Pubic Wo ,fs in Eng o, tbs alleg misap-
p,lcation OF property.
The neat w.tne 3 c He'd wss Zsphaniah Jones
Witness had CONTRACTS With tie board, both a.
an individual and IN partnership with John
Collins; the work w:s done in the W tern p2rt
OF the city, f, q, 18th, 18Th, 18Th, 2Oth and 2ls
streets; contract vas no. in Writing, to hi =
knowledge; h's fr5t written contract VS. last
August o. September; gave surety on tn at; ex-
ecuted contract with the board after the work
was done.
Mr.. Mattipsly stated that the board h fixed
their piiCes. Men were awarded q contract,
the work, and call at rhe office and execute the
contract.
Examination resumed:-Paid Mr.. Jeffries as
attorney, in behalf OF creditors, for getting a
wooden pavement. Agreed to paw him $751; C0.
fOr this he was to attend to his interest and the
interest of Austin p. Brown.
Mr. Harrington questioned Mr.. Jones, and he
explained IT ps follOws:-D. w. Smith sold A
P. Brown a Large amount of lumber. He
(Jopc.) was on Browne paper $4,000. Other
ren in Maine sold Brown material to the
amount OF $50, COO. At q meeting OF credit >rs
they agreed to petition the board 10 award a
contract to some one ID lay a wooden pavement
20 u.e mp The lumber then here. The contract
was awarded to him for 5000 yards Of wood
pavement. Have laid about 81 COO yards OF
pavement-New Jer;ey avenue and LIST street
The board pfire was $50 per ye,d. The VIC ID
is chemically prep,red. L agreed to pay Mr.
Jefiies $1,000 to attend to the business before
Mr.. Jones said he gave bond with d. w.
Smith. William McClain and Andrew Gle lson.
by Mr.. Bas,:-Mr. Jeiiries was my attorney
- clear up my est; attended to every thing to
take care of me. The total amount of creditors
is about lc0,cc
NIr. Ham n .ton.-Then Mr.. Jefrics is acting
- the creditors as well as the witness.
A. The amount paid him Is for the whole trust.
Il not pay this money for any corrupt purpose;
saw Governor Shepherd and asked him - do
what he could honorabiy, be said that he would
do ever thing in his power to protect the cred
itors OF that wood, and assist him (the wit
ness)
Witness then explained at length the manner
IN which prep red wood is treated.
j. Z. Miller, sworn:-Have a limited kpowl-
edge of ;ocding; never been in the business;
I'D Jo>eph jenkins in November II cents
square yard for fodding two ba ok yar' 3, laugh
ter that's what know.
E.r. Hubbell.-Call your next expert
EXAMINATION r6sumed-By Mr.. Christie
There was a wood pavement laid in front of two
by the board for cc-riageway and ,ootway when
there WIS TO f.. .s q; did rot put in a
claim until re wtLs l.. pay HE Di'l; ,pa de the
claim to Mr.. Beall, superintendent of fss-L-
ments. Witno7s made a statement rs to his
interview with Mr.. Beall. Mr.. Beall told him
he would have to make claim tor drawback;
when they allowed drawback Of siO.5i; wi
res3 considered 1t &: paltIy he wouldn't 60 after
it.
In answer to a question If Mr.. Christie, .1e
ifnca 10 nf annfr nhAp
ialty had on q street, between 18th and 18th
streets. Talty's onfr act was betw en- 11th ard
18th streets. He, with others, pe.it;On2d the
exterded to 15.h street. Hudnell aod Fletcher
were given tire contract, and a Cobb,C-stone
pavement was aid. The fist assessment
cen the CovsrrO-, a corrected bill was sent
I'm for SOL.
In ieply to Mr.. Ali; On, Gov. Shepherd made
statement in regard } us ms .',r, sh0Wi~y
that mistake had been made by M. Fo IN,
which ives at once co. sec ed, ana the corrected
BIS sent. The Governor read :om the min
NJ of the board.
h's idea and the result Of bis mep sureDert. The
p .pers in the c. sc were produced, and q . he--
ence was found between the me srrement OF
ne boards engineers q, tire witners.
Mr. Al isOn suggested that the ct. oct be meas
ured, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Christie ssked II any publicity had been
The y isness..-well, in some way the New York
Sun got hold of il.
MI: Ma .dnsly-Did ysu not Iarri'h the data
The wisness.-well, the reporter called on me,
and did not know exactly what said to him.
CT .-e1smiued by Mr.. Mattingly not
ment IVES; Mr.. Eeall told me that the bill ives
right
,ok be bill upon its fec, and did not know
nj nth hn rhopn hit NJ v,nk
Peter McNamars, sworn:-Has resided here
twenty years; hrs bad contracts with the board,
all Of which were signed before he commenced
lth streets southeast, which was completed about
i've months ago, snA the contract, he thought,
y y signed about two weeks a.ter the work was
%So we're McS.
mara and William Buckley, the bondsmer.
The witness told him.
Mr.. Allison.-Reeponsible pr ople?
Mr: CnIistie.-l was not inquiring as to re-
Mr.. A,h, Orwell, 1 was. [Laughter.l
Crecs-examined by Mr.. Mattingly:-Hsd con-
grading; did good deal Of paving; got % cents
for grading; used to take nv surplus earth and
dill private lots for this g0C from 20 to Is cents
a,yard; would rather have grading under the
old CO. grafton, with the use Of the surplus
earth, than under the board; the board would
not give us the surplus earth; under the old co.,
poration the contractors could take the sand
oHu ktoNCi uuu p8ViuS-etOuoS anu sell tu6m, IRE
b0erd will not allow this; under Bowen's admin
htraton tue lowest bidder could not get the
contract
The witness, at Mr.. Mattingly'sr req uest, stated
the great increase Of value or real estate In the
eastern aection Of the city since the improv,-
ments had been made, showing an increase of
over 100 per cent, and in some cases $50 per
cent. His evidence shows that he has dealt
largely in real estate In the eastern section. AS
he concluded he said, "That's all know"
Mr.. Christie.-He says that's all he knows
By Mr.. Merrick Who we're the contractors
who took sand and gravel out OF the street? A.
One Of them was myself.
Q. Who was the ward com missioner? A. do
not remember. Do not think Mayor Bowen
knew OF 1t. Ok it rom Indiana avenue,
under contract for grading that avenue.
Mr.. EOWen explained that the contracts pro-
htbited the taking ray Of earth.
By Mr.. Chrsstie:-Had Q contract With the
bosfd on Perpsylvania avenue, between Ist
and Sth streets; 1t included grading and msca6-
amixinG, but Il was chsnged two months afvsr
to abandon the macadAmixiuG and Law wood
pavement; did about 3 feet Of grading on the
Avenue: received only 2k feet Of grf ding; n a
told BY Vice President Shepherd that the prop
eEty- holders had petitioned for Q wood pave
NEST, and he would have to abandon the mac
adamixing; told him that WAS not treating ne
right; he said he would see that had work to
equalixe it, got NO pay for depositing the dirt On
other streets; got the fixed rate for hauling.
MI. Christie Questioned the witness In regard
70 prices Pc a him on the WORK; was aSout year
IN doing that work; can't tell the amount re-
Sei ,ihcetcs Of the board dollar for do'lrr.
MI. Chfiai n <ha< n Holv>e "A NJ