, 1874-03-06

TEE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION
Spectd! Dispatch to TIC Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March "a beginning
| was nado this morning by tho Joint Select Com
mitteo to Investigate tho charges against tho
District Government. Tho Committee wore all
| in attendance except Senator Boutwell,, tho
Chairman, who Is Ill, aud Representative Jow-
ott. Mr.. Thurman presided. Gov. Shepherd,
Comptroller Baker, and Collector Olophano Of
tho District Government, wore on hand, tho
frst-unned Of tho trio taking deep interest In
tia proceedings. IIe wna quito norvous
throughout tho examination, md appeared
| much relieved when the Chairman announced all
adjournment until tomorrow morning.
Tho object Of to-day's inquiry was to aHcer-
tain II possible why
THE puDL1c-aCHooL TEACHERS
Of tho District hayo beon compelled to 80 With
out their salaries sinco tho 1st Of September
Inst. Tho person most likely to know tho cauao
Of the trouble waR supposed to DO tho City
Comptroller, George E.. Dakor, and 1lo was
therefore invited to take tho wit.ieas-staud. He
Wow Of finding tho system Of taxation for tho
support Of tho public-achoo1a auoptod by tho
District Government, md tho manner of dis
burBinE the nloaoy for collection.
DAKEns PROFOUND IGNORANCE.
F1r. Bakers utter lack of familiarity with tho
aftatrs Of bis office was soon mado nnnffeat. He
had no dof1nito knowledge Of tho manner of
making assessments, and when ho was called
upon to giveshe figures ho became hope1csBly
tho scnrcl,iug questions Of hin examiners, aud
succeeded in making very bad Impression with
tho Committee, soma Of whom freely oxprcss
tho opinion that Bakor is unfit for the position
ho occupies.
WHAT HIS DARKNESS MADE VISIBLE.
hrt,11 pttf f111t%10 n4S1
that tho tax.lofy for school expenses amounts to
60 cents on tho 910O valuation Of roal property;
that there aro thrco Boards Of School Trustees
in tho District, who Heom to be almost indopcn-
dnnt Of any sort Of restriction by luw; that, on
their recommendation. tho Legislature makes
appropriations for school PURPOSES that tho
total levy for schools during the past tllree
years was about 81 100. .000 aud tho amount col
lee.od about 300, 1000, leaving delinquency Of
about S400. 200, and Of this delinquency ss200,-
600 occurred in tho levy Of 1873.
NEC0M1NG nts0usTED
with tho Ignorance dlaplayod by Comptroller
Baker, and hoping for nothing bottor from linn,
Thurman adyised thogo wortlljcs to 70 to thpir
Offices and prepare themselves against e. m to-mor NOR
row to answer definitely the questions propound-
ed today. His adrico did not acom to please
the attorney OF tho District officers mad the fol-
loving conversation passed just proyions to at|-
Mr: Mattlpgy--We think that tho memorial
istRshould Il otify counsel for the District Gov
orilnont what tloy expect to provo to mako
ooM..!'" H. TtMrSan,,-ot TrtnHrSuS, oo,,~o. ..,<o
,ayc oren,nnI +to covorsa." Ho, "nua % .moy gna'1
+; 49, . ";+1 ~ 4, oretnut M"hM9r, WhiGh
require the memotialiatB to mako specific charges.
We can't toll. TL.eo OF tho mumbers or tho
Committee arc nov nbEont.
cd liz Governors answ"r nn n~'u
papers on bollalf Of the 1nemorialiets, I giye
notice that We will put tho ot1lcuss OF tito
faction' ''A SA'"' ~ ''''' 4u'i oa''s-
'"S''on' .rrrr n,,, ,,,orn>,.a
Of tho Committee. ito III Slr' I"f Thnr,,nn aoid th.t
memorial nunerous)v slrucd had been @ prcsont. @1 l.
,a,;;,n ~ tho 1a''n5a1 IoAb ~ W the
~ Tn1y,.i;e H. 49,. 80 ,a;je ~ .HE O'stllct
mittoa tLnf rniogv tto om . ~ 'ne Coi
to i'm hv oo ~ to s11 ,n Mas felorfoa
ton nvar .ao tGo anh;oct "ou4o na'e ho 1nf'sdlc
% In1ce STerp;oI; sTo pIJ!'st st.to, Thai
uTdfe 3;,',. niutIch s:aeea !hn.: Us sho question
e Moli tnn corro of tnn ocnant sn rtoSG"on e
It r"fnrrei IN La Iu t nna aase
~ ,I,,nnr1a mn nrnI3 .nv 1esu1ar way
so,oa ,o,,,,ao,t ,auansL nsnEL1or'oS. n
.,s9 n3H1e oommont thlaVora3lo to Mr. Anbbel, Of
u th4i oniona nns poua o COURSE aaoptea
room ". nj 81 onr1, ,m ,,art ~ tuo co:iua.uee
a9H, a1tnn ~ IT, ~ tatty Iafs o. Ino plocSeangs to
,np " ro ho fansGu 10 business IN to Depart-
snrt e; ,,.ai,,, nn " or thus
1o',. - ~. ~ VI uen greater lnpof.
tnn " ~ nr.or e.orHsnps ama
..ori. r ,atsnssa. - 49, Souy 1uasn!nalota' 1Ao
to 20 20 oi' H. nu .ne closeat alter
ta;n a7;a u"o'o VI" 1n'eal'eato1s 10 mako up
4"tt 1,,ane tn.atGt. 'G1.,,,,,,, H., at ..
1nuso thurman NJ nla 1nost OF tilo questioning
~ to.unsi huu lug ostagn1ty thotongn knowledge OF
oau n' LIN; 10 iaa as 70 - con
49, H.. '.,n ~; W io!t nliaen ny tho
'uAo '''o ~ ~ - .. ieauy so report
H.. n,.,,., ,aa.. ~. ~. W. coAcoHAS,
n1 inn5 "o'iS prupof's,oMMs;r ~ o1 ts city who
jo!ueu ~ Ho Potltlon 10 have tho
lot ao!ne ~ hns Doom sllamoiuIy nbus-
1iova tia Histrct n,,hnr;t;as n.y. I,s W rn ~
it,r to advance the nmount necoyuoru :,
pny tho sehool-teaclers for tho month Of Bul,tom-
Dor. Ihls generous oi1or having boen CONF
.nsm'eu @ % gu ~ .osG wn9 poleyo that becnnHe ho