Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-05

By Mr. Thurman:-What school houses have
been finished under the present government?
A. The Jefferson and Franklin. The color ed
schools have the Sumner and one other one, /
think. With the exception of the Sumner they
were In course OF erection when the present
government went into existence; they were. I'm
ished by the original contractors, under the
original contracts.
q. Give us the names of those contractors
when you come again. A. Yes, sir.
Cross-examined by Judge Merrick:-Q. You
say In the present year you have received on
account of the school fund S131 900. Please dis.
crimInate as to that fund. What proportion did
town received IS, 800, the county received 80 600
In addition, to Georgetown there has been paid
sl2 500 for their new building.
q. That only makes S126 600 according to nv
calculation-where did the residue 90? A
Well, the expenditures for the present year are
less than the receipts.
to know where the balance went? A. 1t has
been used for other purposes. Perhaps what
confuses you may be that KAYE not given you
the exact figures.
Q. Are the accounts of the school fund for
the three boards kept distinct? A. Yes, sir
each board has its treasurer.
q. You keep in your Office no check on the
trustees as to expenditures? A. Yes, sir, we do;
they take their receipts from the teachers, and
the auditor issues the warrant. The superin-
tendent OF public schools does not make these
drafts.
By Mr.. Mattingly, re- direct:-A large per-
centage OF the levy OF taxes Is taken off and the
hence the exact proportion of the school fund
cannot be definitely fixed.
BY Mr.. Thurman:-Q. Did understand Won
to say that large amount of property on your
will mention case. The Baltimore & Ohio
railroad property is on our books, but they
claim they are exempt those renting property
for school purposes claim exemption.
q. Has the school fund any other source of
revenue except taxation? A. Yes, sir; it re-
ceived some odd thousand dollars from fines in
q &c 30 At,..A
thousand dollars per year. The schools have
no other source of revenue.
q. Have you been Controller since the new
government was organized? A. Yes, sir; /
make an annual report to the Governor, and he
transmits it with his report to the Legislature
witness was requested to furnish the COM
mittee with copies OF his annual reports1
Mr.. Thurman This examination so far was
10 certain extent OF course, not known to the
witness, and he could not come prepared to an
swer definitely the questions which have been
put to him, which he could answer definitely
by reference to his books, and it would be the
same way were we to proceed with the collector
and the superintendent of schools now. We
think 1t better, therefore, to postpone the fur
Their examination of these witnesses until to
morrow morning, and request them to come
prepared to answer definitely the same ques-
tons substantially which have been propounded
to the controller.
Mr.. N attingy. We think that the memorial
lists should notify counsel for the District gov
eminent what they expect to prove. To make
Mr.. Thurman.-Of course, when they shall
have examined the Governors answer, which is
not now printed, the committee Will probably
require the memorialists to make more specific
charges. We can't tell. Three Of the members
OF the committee are now absent.
Judge Merrick.-When we shall have exam
ined the Governors answer and accompanying
papers, on behalf of the memorialists. | give
notice that we will put the officers of the District
government on trial to their full satisfaction.
The committee then, at twenty minutes of two
O'Clock, adjourned until tomorrow morning at
IL CLOCK.
1t was Mr.. Thurman, and not Mr.. Sherman,
who offered a resolution in the Senate Yesterday
asking that the District Investigating Com
mittee be empowered to sit during the sessions
OF that body.l
ANOTHER MEMORIAL.
After the adjournment of the committee, Mr..
thurman said that a memorial numerously
signed had been presented to the committee
asking 1T to investigate the validity of the gen
eral sewer tax of the District of Colum bia He
stated, on behalf OF the committee, that unless
the memorial was referred to them by one or
the other branches of Congress the committee
would have no jurisdiction over the subject
Judge Merrick stated that as the question
would be likely to arise during the investigation
he would take charge of the document, and
nave 1t referred to the committee in the regular
way,