The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-03
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
The Joint Committee OF Congress Listcn-
ing to Tedious Testimony with Very
Little Spice of Fraud-Au the Com
tractors nd Officials VirtuOus.

The Joint Committee of Congress Listen.
ing to Tedious Testimony with Very
Little Spice Of Frnud-An the Com
tractors and Officials Virtuous.
WASHINGTON, April 2, 1874.
At the morning session of the District of Co.
lumbia Investigating Committee several witnesses
were examined as to the value of real estate In
the eastern section OF the CITY, which has been
subject to general sewer tax Of two cents per
square foot, to show that the tax amounts to q
large part or the real value thereof.
Mr.. Todd, citizen OF Boston. testified that he
owns improved property in the eastern section or
the city which is assessed at about $40, 900, and
that the aggregate OF his taxes this year, includ-
ing special improvement, sewer and general taxes,
is over $11, 600.
Samuel Strong, large contractor, was recalled
and questioned at length in relation what moneys
he had paid to William A. cook, Attorney for the
District OF Columbia. His examination grew out
OF the imputauon that Strong had been feeling
this attorney to decide in his favor certain
matters in which he was involved with the Board
of Public Works. Strong denied the imputation
and showed that Cook had been his lawyer for
some years, and that the money paid MIN was In
legitimate counsel lees.
Mr.. b. LeversOn was sworn IN the afternoon
and presented a number OF statements and est-
mates made by him from actual measurements
and from reports oil the Board OF Public Works.
and also from reports OF General BabcocK, relative
to the various contracts executed under the
Board. He stated that he believed the statements
were correct. Most OF these papers were cOllated
from different reports, ana contain comments
made by LeversOn In relation to the nature OF the
work done. He had made those calculations for the
memOrlallsts. The work around Rawlins square,
Government Reservation witness had remeasured
and compared with the measurement made by the
government engineers.
The chairman stated that the papers presented
would ne referred TO the engineer appointed by
the committee to verify the measurements, which
had been questioned by the memoriallsts.
Mr.. 4. 1. Fowler recalled, stated that he was
wrong yesterday in testiiyng that the CONVEX
sations ne had with Mr.. shepherd were III August,
1871. They took place in August, 1870.
OF Public Works, was examined in relation to the
manner IN which the contracts were drawn and
executed. AS rule the contrac ors were
ments were made to them. Often, wnen
contracts were awarded the witness was
required to draw them, and this was frequently
done when the contractors were not present.
Some contractors were under the impression tnat
contract, and under that they would go on with
the work; but when they wanted payments the
rule OF the ONCE required them to come up and
sign before they could get payments.
Mr.. George W. Linvie testified that he had one
contract in d street. John o. Evans was u part
ner, and he sold out TO Evans before the work was
completed. The original arrangement was that
Evans was to furnish the material and means and
divide one-half the profit with the witness.
THIS witness was questioned regarding what he
knew OF Mr. Evans transactions with the United
States government and Hallett KilDourn, but re-
piled that he had no knowledge OF these matters
He was interested with Mr.. Evans In the lumber
business and sold out all his interests at one time
Mr. Daniel A. Connolly, contractor, stated that
he SOLD $1,000 worth of dirt TO Edward Clark. The
Board found 1t out and cancelled witness contract
and charged him for the dirt. Governor Shcp-
herd told witness II he ever did sucn thing again
he should never have another contract; witness
got his contract back, but had very hard work to
DO II; witness hauled this dirt at times. when the
superintendent was away; no one had direct or
indirect interest with witness in any contract ;
under the Old system government contractors got
paid Tor grading, and where they used dirt Tor
1illlng got paid Tor that, and always sold the sur
plus earth; witness has known seventy-nve Gems
yard to be paid by the old corporation Tor grad
ing; witness got paid both for grading and filing
under Mayor Bowen; did $4,000 worth OF work
under his administration.