Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-17
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee.
Conclusion YESTERDAYS Proceedings

proceedings OIL the JOINT Congressional Committee.
Yesterdays Proceedings.
After our report of the District investigation
closed yesterday, G. N. Evans, bookkeeper for
John o. Evans, was called, and testified that
he was the bookkeeper fer the Washington
Asphalt Paving Company; has been employed
by John q. Evans since October, 1871; has kept
the books of that concern always since; Hallet
kilbourn and Lewis Clephane are the other
John o. Evans; the books of that company have
been produced before this investigation; all the
books except the blotter and day-book; the lat
ter books are under control of witness.
Mr.. Christy.-I will not examine this witness
further TIL all those books can be brought here.
MIR. Thurman, ito the witness )-YOu can
bring the books with you tomorrow at 10
O'Clock.
The witness-Very well, sir.
WIN. FoRsYTH'S TESTIMONY.
William Forsyth, engineer, testified that he
is the surveyor of District OF Columbia; has
been such officer since the Board of Public
Works has been in existence; witness office is
an offce of fees, and he has done work for the
board the same as he would for individuals;
witness has always recommended the cross
sectiOning OF streets; witness estimated the cost
of grading Massachusetts avenue, between New
Jersey avenue and Lincoln square, at $4,000
yards; Mr.. Barney estimated il at 65 900 yards;
witness had DO data upon which to make the
estimate, and 20 stated at the time; it was i'm
possible to crOss-section the avenue, 1t was in
the street by the government during the war;
it was impossible TO get at the contour of the
street; Dan Connolly did the grading there,
and there was nothing but q mere estimate
to go upon to calculate the amount of the
excavation; in all other cases, as a general
thing, cIoss-sectionlng was made before the
work was commenced; witness is not the en-
gineer of the board, and never was; Mr.. Cluss is
their engineer; street circle and Rawlins and
Scott circles have been graded since 1871; pre-
sumes those points were cross sectioned; from
Ia n IA nd in ha ka
could calculate very correctly what would
be the amount Of grading at all these
points ss an engineer witness thinks
cases; witness aided to measure up the
grading at the points named; witness has not in
his possession the papers connected with the
award on Massachusetts avenue; the measure
ments in 18th street and New York avenue were
made by Colonel Same, assisted by witness and
MIR. Oertley; witness thinks they are correct;
witness was accustomed TO 60 with Mr.. Same,
to indicate the work done by the board charge
able to the United States; did so in relation to
reservation II the board did work there in the
tagging there; there is one fisg-ine there /, Geo
feet long, another 700 feet long, and other lines;
the work is all there, and shows for itself; every
bill for work in that locality for the last ten
years passed through the hands of witness, as
surveyor OF the city Of " Washington, and witness
never measured any work there before the
board came into operation; about enc half the
flag had been laid previous 10 1871, but the gov
ernmsnt had not paid the city for it, and owed
the old corporation and the new government
for IL all; witness was with Same when he
measured Rswlins square; the place was
covered with snow at the time, and An error
was made in measuring up as asphalt portion
OF the cObblestone pavement; witness didn't
know the fact at the time. and as soon as he
found out about it he apprised Same, and the
mistake was at once corrected.
II. n. BINGHAM's TESTIMONY.
III. RI. Bingham testified that he is clerk OF
the Criminal Court OF Philadelphia; had con-
IL m
city; this was the only contract witness ever
executed; this was for the Beidler Pavement
Company; the only persons interested with wit
ness were members of that company. The wit
ness here named from me mory the names OF the
Beider company; air. Harmer never had any
interest in the company; he did not know wit
ness bad a contract here until q year after wit
ness obtained the contract; no person except
those directly interested in the company ever
received penny OF money on account Of that
contract witness got this contract in response
to the advertisement Of the Board of Public
Works; witness only did work on one contract;
witness got the lumber of John G. Moore, OF
Bangor, Me-, and contracted with Mr.. Baldwin
TO do the grading and lay the wood blocks; never
reiinquished the contract or the exercise of his
authority over 1t until it was completed; Bald
win was to get 81 yard for laying the pave
ment and for grading-the board price-when-
ever the amount OF grading exceeded the
amount required under the contract to be done
as a part Of the paving; the work cost witness
to pay for every yard Of the work; got the con-
tract in September, 1871, and the work was fin
ished up in october, 1872; the amount OF profit
to the company from the contract was about
S1I 600, and out or that came witness own run
ming expenses to and fro between the two
cities; witness never stated to anybody that the
profit Of that contract was $50 900, and that it
was all spent to carry Pennsylvania for Hart
ranft; no other contract was ever awarded to
witness in this city.
Witness denied ever having made brag in
Philadelphia "that he made $4,000 profit out
Tn alo
Governor Hartranft," though he said he was
the state treasurer Of the republican party and
spent great deal of money. This contract was
not given as a contribution to the election of
Hartranft by the board, but to his company,
which was composed Of democrats and republi-
cans. In this connection he said he was called
upon at his office in Philadelphia by two news
paper men from Washington, who stated to him
that they knew OF him having many contracts
under the board, and that the money was to be
spent for the republican party in Pennsylvania
assist republican paper IN Philadelphia that
was then failing, and which has since failed
he told the gentlemen he did not want to take
any stock in the paper, They called upon him
several times afterwards, but he would not give
them any money. Witness said that one OF the
men was John =. Foley, now managing editor
OF the National Republican Of this city, and that
the paper that needed aid or its share from the
proceeds of the contract was the Philadelphia
Post, which died after the Hartranft campais a.
The other man witness said he did not know.
OcOTSe N. CulttenQen Was called, ana was
accompanied by Mr.. Storrs, of Chicago, as
counsel, who stated that Mr.. Chittenden de-
sired to put in a written statement of all his
transactions with DeGolyer and McClelland.
Mr. Sterrs stated that he had advised Mr. Chit
tenden to this course, believing that IL would
facilitate the examination. Mr.. Chittenden
could afterwards be placed on the stand and in
terrogated.
Tins was agreed to, and to allow suff cient
time for the preparation of the paper, the COM
mlttee adjourned, with the understanding that
Mr.. Chittenden would have his statement ready
at 10 O'Clock to day.
TO-day's Session.
The committee was called to order this morn.
ing at half-past 10 O'Clock.
Mr.. Gibson was called, but was not present.
SWORN STATEMENT OF GEO. r. CHIrTENpKs.
George X. Chittenden was recalled, and read
the following sworn statement:
To the Honorable the Committee:-My name hay-
ing been very prominently connected with the
matter Of the paving contracts entered into be-
tween DeGolyer and Mcclellan and the Board
OF Public Works Of the District, desire to sta te
in the fullest, completest and most com prehen-
sive manner possible to me my connection and
the connection OF DeGolyer and Mcclellan with
the alleged fauds in the Spaving contracts in
this city. crave permission to meet many OF
the sworn statements Of Mr.. Mcclellan, rs