New-York tribune., 1874-03-18
WASHINGTON.
TIE DISTRICT FRAUDS.

TIE DISTRICT FRAUDS.
TIE ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE REGARDING THE
GUARDIANSHIP RATIFIED BY THE sENATE--AR-
GUMENTs FOR AND AGAINST THE PRODUCTION
or PRIVATE PAPERs-FACrs RELATIVE TO THE
SEWER TAX
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, March 17.-The Senate ratified the
action Of the Joint Committee to investigate District
affairs this morning, by ordering the journal to be SO
corrected as to make the appointment of Mr. Stewart
one to Gil a vacancy On the Committee, and not to
make him chairman. The Senate, so far az any.
opinion expressed unanimously OF the
opinion that Mr.. Carpenter had exceeded the power
he possessed.
The entire day was spent by the Committee in
listening to arguments in relation to the production
of private books and papers. There is little doubt
that tho counsel for the memorialists made mis-
take in requesting the Committee to issue subpoena
daees tocum to numerous persons, directing them TO
produce certain private books and papers. All rules
of evidence require that the existence of paper
sought be put in evidence shall be proved that 1T
shall be described as well as possible, and that its
relevancy to the subject Of inquiry shall be shown
before its production can be ordered. All this the
memorialiss, it is understood, propose to do; but
they unfortunately, did not fully state this fact in
the paper they filed with the Committee, indicating
the sources of evidence upon which they would
depend The arguments both sides were very
able, and the counsel oil agreed upon the most essen
tial pont-the right to enforce the production OF
private papers after proper foundation has been
laid.
Late in the afternoon Judge Black, who represents
John o. Evans one of the Ring contractors, made a
speech in favor of requiring the memorlallsts to
make specific charges of crime before the investiga
ton proceeded further and Mr. Harrington, one of
Gov. Shepherds counsel, read q paper, which he
called motion Astounding in abusive language, and
asking that the Committee require the same thing
The Committee will hold private meeting tomor-
row, and continue the investigation on Thursday
Several citizens of the District sent petitions to
the Senate to-day asking Congress to repeal the act
of the District Legislature which imposes the sewer
tax. Accompanying the petitions are several afhda-
Wits showing how unequally this tax falls upon
property. Peter Cunningham swears that he is the
owner of lots in the City of Washington, OF which
the assessed valuation is S1O,539 that on the lots
are improvements assessed at $500; the annual tax
for 1873 was S22O IS, but tho sewer tax, per bill
presented, is $3.50 s2 The property is used as
residence and garden, and the annual income from
it is about 800. John Henry Sommers swears that
he IS small gardener and owns real estate in Wash
ington assessed at S74Oi The sewer tax on this
property as per BILL is S1151 90 aud is assessed for
a sewer that can never benefit his property.
In contrast with these bills copies showing the
following facts: lot on Pennsyvania-ave., at the
corner of Eeventh-st, containing 1893 square feet
and the improvements, are assessed at S373S3, and
rent at from $4,000 to $4,000. The sewer tax on
this is 1888 s6 lot on Asst (nofth-eastl, between
First and Second-sts., which rents for about 81 4O
paws sewer tax of Sl5i 80. This lot also paid in
1862 for sewers, $l4j 05.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH1
When the District of Columbia Investigating Com
mittee assembled to-day, Senator Thurman an
nounced tat Senator Stewart had declined to serve
az Chairman of the Committee and that the Com
mittee had elected Senator Allison to be Chairman,
he Mr. Thurman also declining to act az presiding
officer, The Committee then heard Mr.. Shella-
barge of the counsel for the memorialists manage
ment as to the power of the Committee to compel
the production of private papers. At u o'clock
recess was taken until p. IN.
The Committee reassembled at Q o'clock, all its
members, including Senator Stewart. being present.
and Mr. Mattingly began the argument on behalf of
the District authorities, replying TO Mr.. Shella-
barger Mr. Merrick for the memoralists, closed
the argument on this question. The session con-
tinued late this evening. when the Committee adj
journed till Thursday, at which time the momerlal-
lists will present affidavts about the public schools