Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-01
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the IeiBt Congressional Committee
Conclusion Yesterdays Proceedings


After our report of the District investis alton
by the Joint Congressional Committee closed
yesterday Mr.. CoultOn was further examined
with reference to the wooden fencing contract,
but no new points were developed.
d. Il. Mille- testified to the character O.
the brick used in the stIeet sew er.
VIM. Douglass was called on the subject OF
trees ana tree boxes and soddng He testified
that reasonable price for sOdding was about
twenty five cents a yard.
VIM. y. Wilson called to testify with
reference TO bills being rendered by the board for
trees before the completion of the Improve
ment.
MIR. Msttingly.-I would state to the commit
tee, In order 10 save time, that il appears in
our answer TO that charge that in some OF tues-
instances charge has Oeen made against the
property owners for trees before they were put
III; and the reason of that is simply that th-
Iees can only be planted in the spring and fail,
ana in those cases where the bills were rem
uefed the ground has been prepared tor the
trees, and the trees have been bou yht, and are
on hand; AMI as soon "a 1t can be done they will
be planted.
tee the result OF certain measurements III al.
by himself, Mr.. DeMaine and Mr.. Stevenson.
Witness thought tue wood pavement lad by
BIockEeimer " Trainor's patent, if laid accord
ing to specifications, better than any pavement
in the United States.
q; Is that the pavement you are Interested in?
y. That is the pavement laid i'll front of INV
building over ere-[indicating.l
q. That Is your pavement? A. Yes, sir; We
offered 10 put Ii in for the Board OF Public
WORKS, ana guarantee 1t for eight years, and
VIM. j. Wilson was recalled with reference to
his sOdding bills.
Il. j. Beall testified concerning WORK on 9th
street and other matters. His evidence
important
Henry Hite testified that he had contract at
one time with the board to furnish ree-bOXes at
IS cents apiece; that he contracted for SO
boxes, but was ordered to stop when he hal
made 400, because the season had too far adj
yanced TO plant trees.
A. q. Humphrey is testified that he would make
such fences AZ have been put up by Mr. Coulton
Tor 20 cents yard
Arthur Shepherd testified that Philip Julien
was the writer of the article in the National
Republican puTpOrting to give the proceedings
OF the Board OF Public Works on the l4th Of
Septe mber, 1871.
Governor shepherd was requested to furnish
a statement OF the amounts paid for printing
since the organization OF the new govern
ment.
TO-day's Session.
The committee WAS called to order this MORN
ing at halt-p past ten O'Clock.
+. ii. johnson swOrn:-Am clerk in the con-
tract office, Board OF ublic Works; have charge
of contracts.
The committee requested copies of such con
tracts To be made as would be called for.
Witness resuming;-The contracts with the
committee are in charge OF four employees of
the board; was paid last in November; my last
payment was in bonds and money; paid taxes
with the bonds.
Thomas =. Barr sworn:-Am clerk in the
Auditors Office, Board of Public Works; am in
charge of vouchers with the committee: have
not been paid since November lat; was then
pald Tor three months; was paid part money and
part bonds; the bonds were worth from 20 to 75
cents; have disposed of the bonds.
Mr.. Wilson.-From time to time will you
produce such vouchers as are called for by the
committee? A. Yes, will.
j. +. Miller recalled Witness produced bill
rendered against him for sewer tax on l4th
street, near Ohio avenue, to show that he was
charged 20 mills per front foot Witness thought
the b street sewer had benefited property
along the canal.
The bill was read by Mr. Wilson.
MIR. Jewetu-He is taxed in accordance with
sewer district.
Mr.. sINCLAIR's DRAWBACK
Richard T.. Sinclair, sworn Witness was
handed certain papers, which he recognized a.
bill and drawback for material and pavement
Mr. Christie said he intended TO prove an in
sufficient allowance OF drawback and non paw
ment of the same; also that certificates had been
issued against the property.
Mr. Allison.-Oh, don't think We need 60
INTO that.
By Mr.. Wilson Contractors took up nv
pavement and then laid il down again, and 1
Fas charged for the old MATERIAL have not been
allowed any drawback; have paid the assess
ments on my property; never have called upon
the board TO pay the drawback; the board AL
LEVIED me $50 on account of material, which
think an insufic ient allowance.
Gov. Shepherd.-The rule of the board was TO
asee ss the cost OF street, and then charge it up
to the front foot OF property; then to allow a
drawback for the value OF the material. A cir
cular was published requesting property hold
eIs to remove the old material. The amount o.
drawback allowed was reg ulated by the report
OF the superintendent OF the work.
Dir. Jewett.-D0 counsel for the mem orialists
accept the statement of the Governor? II they
do II will save good deal OF work.
Mr. Christie.-As to the issuing OF the circu-
lar have no doubt; but as to the manner in
which the law was applied We differ.
Gov. Shepherd.-The superinten tents of the
work were instructed to keep u memoranda OF
the material, and where il was good drawback
was allowed tor its value. We treated old ma
teTisl the same as purchase. We notified all
property holders by public advertisement to re-
move the old IN Material.
Witness test ii ed that the sod laid in front Of
his premises near the p street circle was very
inferior.
HOW nh. sINcLIAR's PROPERTY WAS RUINED
BY THE BOARD.
CrCss-examlned:-Ga II cents a foot for nv
property; kilbourn & Latta offered ms a year
ago 40 cents a foot for it; have 5000 and over
square feet OF ground.
@ What will you take for your property now?
A. Well, IT takes two TO make q oarg Ain. What
will you give for it? 1t is not worth dollar a
foot 10 me.
q. What in your opinion is the value of that
property? want direct answer. A. L can't
tell; l am not Spectator.
Mir. Mattingly offered in evidence the instruc-
tons of the Board OF Public Works given TO
special superintendents.
MR.. HoBAS's DRAWBACK.
r. II. Hoban swOrn:-Resides No. SIS 18th
street; his mother owns property there; IN ide
an application for drawback Oh her account
for old material relaid; received q notice from
the board that the material had been con-
demned az unfit for use; Iut his claim in the
hands OF Boswell & Co., and got an allowance
OF so; the material was not allowed in the
assessment bill; understood a special applica-
ton had to be made; considering that the board
said the material was not worth anything,
deemed what he got fair allowances; there has
been an assessment against thu property; the
certificate is held by the First National Bank
of New York; Sam Gross served q notice to that
effect.
MIR. Jewett:-I understand that the certih-
cate has passed beyond the control Of the board,
and 10 now held as q lien against the property.
By Mr.. Mattingly:-The certificate was issued,
1 thin L, IN December, 1878.
GEO. T. STEWART on THE STAND.
George L. Stewart sworn:-Have carried on
business on II street for 80 years; now live at
1909 II street; am charged for trees planted;
there has been but two trees planted on lat
street; the charge on that street Is $780, witness
complained that contracts for bricks were let
out at q fixed price, and that they were amend
ed and higher prices allowed, on account OF the
advanced price Of bricks in the market; don't
think there WAS two feet Of grading on II street
done.
Cross examined-Am q produce dealer now,
" FRS