The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-03-29
FROM WASHINGTON.

- AAeOAA~>s
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INVESTIGATION.
From the Courier-Journal.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 25.-The result
Of tO-day's work by the District Investiga-
ton Committee was the establishing Of the
following points:
FirstSThat the Board # Public Works
has, since the commencement of the present
inquiry, procured contractors to sign con-
tracts and execute bonds for work done
months and years before, on the mere verbal
order of Shepherd.
Second--That over two millions OF dollars
of work had been done without any written
contract, which is in plain vic alton of the
organic act.
Thrd-That under the old corporation
grading was done at an average cost OF mt.
teen cents per cubic yard. In 1868 and
1859 when labOrers received two dollars per
day, grading cost from ten to eighteen cents
per cubic yard Now, with labor at one
dollar and fifty cents per day, the board
pays fifty cents per cubic yard for grading.
Fourth-That in numerous instances con-
tractors carried off old material, and prop
erty holders were never allowed tor the
same When they attempted to obtain
drawbacks on their special Improvement
bills from the Board Of Public Works they
received no satisfaction.
SOME OF THE EVIDENCE.
One witness testified that brick pavement
was taken up in front of his house and carted
off by contractor and used TO bnild sta
BILE. This witness swore positively that he
followed the carts and saw the brick dumped
at the contractors stable, then in course OF
erection, and saw them worked up into the
| same. He applied for drawback in his bill
for improvements, but could not get any one
| of the officers to even listen to him. He had
written letter after letter, and no attention
was paid to his complaint.
Another witness, Mr.. Miller, one of the
largest coal dealers in the city, showed how
he and other property holders on G street
north, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets northwest, had been assessed four
| times more than the improvement cost.
| Contractor Z. Jones testified that he paid
| prominent ring lawyer $1,000 to obtain a
contract from the Board OF Public Works.
ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAMS EXAMINED.
The Committee on the Department of JUS
tice to-day examined Attorney General Viii
liams, with reference to the expenditures of
Judges and United States MarshaIs The
Attorney General testified to the most eX-
travagant charges in Arkansas.
He said that he had tried to correct the
expenditures, but found no law. He also
stated that these eXtravagances also occur
red in Iowa, Kansas, South Carolina, Geor-
gia and Dakota; hut there was no law and
he was pewerless to act.
! The committee asked him what he wOuld
recommend as a measure of relief, where
upon MIR. Williams replied that he had no
recommendations to make on that subject.
| In the case of Arkansas particularly, he had
heard allegations of fraud. He had asked
the United States courts to interpose, but
they hat refused to do so.
| from the st. Louis Rupublican.l
THE PRESIDENT AND THE INDIAN BUREAU.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-It is no longer
any secret that the President is deeply dis
gusted with the manner in which the Indian
commissioners have manipulatedthat bureau
and he is in hearty sympathy with the OBJ
ieet Of the investigation now being held by
the House committee on Indian affairs. He
has held all the time that the Quaker
policy, as philanthropic experiment
was entitled to fair trial. and for the rea-
son has thus far sustained the board against
the circumstances OF many OF his most trust
ed advisers, as welfas against the exposures
of the press. But he is now satisfied that
the management of the board has been very
bad, and to put it mildly, and has about con
cluded to advocate change lin the system
SHERIDAN VS.. PINCHBACK.
The case of Sheridan VS.. Pinchback, CON
testants for seat in the House from Louisi-
ana, was before the election committee to
day again, the examination being confined
to the records, no witnesses having as yet
been questioned. From all that can be
learned of the views of the committee, il
seems highly probable that the seat will be
declared vacant, and the case referred back
to the people Of the State. Pinchback does
not want the seat, because his acceptance o.
it would settled his pending case in the Sell
ate and he does not propose to let the Sen
ate off that easy. 1t is Pinchbacks deter
mination, in case the Senate refuses to seal
him upon his present credentials, to go back
to Louisiana and secure reelection and
new credentials next winter.