New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-25
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.

10 amendment
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
CONTINUED CROSS EXAMINATION OF THE CHIEF
ENGINEER OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO MPEACH HIS We
RACITY-TIE WITNESS HONEST AND HIS STATE
MENTs CORRECT IN SPIRIT.
lrROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE J
WASHINGTON, May 24.-The crOss-examinatiOn
of MI Cluss Chief Engineer Of the Board Of Public
Works was cen nged scve:ai hG"-5 before the District
Investigating Committee on Saturday The witness
had somewhat recovered from the embarrassment under
which he labored while under examination before and
answered the severe QlestiOus that put 20 him
directly and with more discretion than on
Friday. The whole proceeding continued 70 be des-
perate conflict between the counsel OF the Board and the
witness, the latter describing 1t very apply when
ne said that they were IN an arsenal, and
he the outside, and that they continually firing
papers to confound him, and attempting 10 extOr
from hun direct answer TO questions framed that
yes" no." without explanation. would convey an
idea. The whole tone of Mr. Clusss testi-
mOHy, both direct and under crOss-examinauOD, has
been % convince impartial listener that the
las honest purpose 20 tel. the truth that IN
the main he correct his first statement but that
he was careful In regard to details he should
have beeu and exposed himself 20 a very uncOmfOrt
able crOss-quesuonIng. The District Government,
the other hand, seeing that their was
desperate ana that TO the already proved charges Of
extravaganza, mismanag cement, Overmeasurement &c,
wOU,d be added the presumption of personally corrupt
the part OF leading members of the Board,
unless Mr.. Cluss broken down a witness,
tTated the ire OF their strongest batteries upon his
points IN the hope OF breaking hun down, and
they doubt think that when taey concluded last
evening they had succeeded.
should remembered that Mr.. Cuss. in his direct
testimony did not explicitly charge that any member
Of the Board was corrupt, that he mad stolen any
thing. He exposed defects the system adopted by
Board ami brought forward facts which suggested
rather than proved dishonesty. or course unless he
u confederate, had any member OF the Board IN
tended faudueuty TO favor contractors at the expense
of the people, would ,have been concealed from Mr.
He complained OF gularites and then showed
documents prove that these had been coupled with
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and excessive allowances, and
left the Committee 70 draw its own differences For
arriving at the price OF certain kind OF flag
gng, Mr. Shepherd. instead OF writing TO the Chief
Engineer Of the Board writes to OF that engineers
saDorInates and Mr.. Cluss knows nothing about it at
the uue OF course, the correspondence is entered
book the engineers Office but in that entry the fact
that tue tagging 20 be laid Old. and not new,
omitted and materially affected the cost OF Join
ing, &C. Now II turns that the price allowed was
too great, bal Mr. Cluss certainly not responsible
for that
Again Andrew Gleason. a contractor did work on IA
nerd instead OF transmitting that application TO the
Cbief Engineer. sends II To subordinate In the
gineel's Office with orders that he make the
mcn:s although That suDOrdlnae's regular business
MAKE measurements, Dut % DO ONCE work IL
five days returns estimates That could not have been
accurately made In two weeks, and these estimates
N4S 600 b. paid The Cnef Engineer knows nothing of
seyara weeks afr II then turns Out that the esii-
mates are high, OF them by much as 30 per
cent. 10 be sure, these were only partial est-
Unaffected 'hA and the estmaes wcrs mot mot
those when dual settlements were made, but Nj.
Shepherds motive in detailiug subordinate OF The
CHEF Engineer TO DO certain piece Of work without
consulting the engineer himself certainly needs expla
nation. Ii isas though the secretary OF the Treasury
in hs communications with the Internal Revenue Blu
rtau should give his Instructions 10 subordinate clerk
without consulting the Commissioner Snch mode OF
doing business would not only destroy al discipline and
Of responsibility on the part OF public officers but
would grave suspicious on the man who was guilty
" such irregular practices.
Tie PLAIN object OF tie crosse Examination Saturday
twOoid-hrst 20 make tine most OF Mr.. Clus- loose
statements the purpose OF destroying his Crcdiby
anu so9luly' 70 lnFEw tnc ons OF responSioln Tor
do Mr. C'uss himself. They only partially
N , . the Ip OF rom Of Mr. c%s ]
but which DO not Affect inc spnt Oi MS evidence
by Mr.. Shepherd 20 measure the whole Of
the work done by the Evans Concrete Com
a detail was made last September which Covered
all the work Of that Company up 10 That Tine amount
self has certified 70 certain COnpany's vouchers
and these last vouchers that the Board produced
Ma responsible Tor OF the measurements for
charges against the United states Government As Ear
A. The measurements which money actually paid
was concerned TINS was true, put ne mad certified TO
cerfaln balances which have not yet been appropriated
for aud signed perhaps, without careful
examination. These papers were produced on Friday,
anu Ciusss signature pointed 10 with triumph.
OF course the production OF THESE papers while IL
EMBARRASSING 10 the witness, did not really affect his
Original statement.
lie attempt throw upon Mr.. CluEs the response
hiity irregularities that could not he explained
no more successful The witness testified that while he
had Dffp nee
conducted IN loose manner ne never had the PROOF
Of the false measurements against the United states
toveruutut with when he mad nothing 10 do. until he
saw those Ia Sc IN the Governors answer He
had not Information al that character tat would make
II necessary for him 70 resign u make an exposure.
Judge wilson viii examine Mr.. CIuss further tomor-
row.