Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-18


Congress of 8 ,59I ,sl04s leaves an expenditure
chargeable to the people OF the District OF
80 a. D. when 70 mat Is added the debts
makes S27 ,5I4, I2i.65. or this last amount, BY
the receipts from the people in the shape Of
general taSea, payment Of 10 per cent. assess
ment certificates, aud per cent. Improvements
certificates, there have been realized IS, 1885,
s27.I2, which deducted, leaves the present debt
OF S22, l07 1895. How far this result may be az
accurate exhibit of the true Indictment
brought upon the people, a. IL in point of fact
Stands to- DAY, no man can tell. 1t is certainly
correct computation from the only accessible
data which have been furnished. And IL prob
ably falls much below the true amount which
would appear If all the elements were furnished
by those who alone possess the sources OF in
formation.
He then speaks OF "the sewerage tax it,
absolute and crushing injustice, aud its utter
illegality."
Speaking of the measurements he says
=. This committee has been also specially
charged to inquire whether correct measure
meDts have been made of the work done by the
board. Here we have the most humiliating
spectacle of fraud and falsehood in the long ca
reer of malversation. Ii may seem TO be q bold
assertion, but In the $50 contracts for work
and improvements of various kinds, il cannot
safely be maintained that there was absolute
accuracy in single one of them. say &c can
not be maintained that there was accuracy OF
measurement and charge In any one OF them
for the reason that in all of them, where oppor-
UNITY Tor examination has existed, there are
found serious, in many cases enormous, may l
not say willful, errors, and in none OF them have
there been errors against, or to the loss OF the
contractors"
Speaking of the accounts OF the treasurer of
the Board Of Public Works, Mr.. Merrick asks:
but how have the accounts OF the office been
in fact kept?" and answers Is by saying, "as
loosely and unsatisfactory as every other
branch of the service has been administered"
"And now after all these proofs OF
extravagance and folly-of prohigacy, fsyorit-
ism, fraud, disregard of law, and open usurpa-
ton OF power, who are to be held responsible?
Are we to pass over those whose solemn duty IL
is to take care that the laws he faithfully exc
cuted and seek for scape goats among the trem-
bling underlings of office?
What is the practical remedy for the evils
with which we are confronted? L answer
promptly, total reconstruction of the frame
Of government for this people-a total recon
stTuction, and new and reliable body of agents
TOT Its administration, having no constituent OF
the old framework in its composition; a tenn
porary assumption of all administT alive facul-
lies by officers appointed under congressional
authority, and particularly an auditing board.
10 be selected by this committee, with the sane
tion OF the two houses, TO take Inc tant posses
sion Of all the books and vouchers and papers,
lEd to examine vigorously into the accounts OF
he present administration, and to report the
result OF their labOrs at the next session of Con-
gress. Unless such an auditing board be estab-
lished the faint traces of truth at which you
nave been able to arrive will be obliterated,
and the countless deeds of darkness yet unre-
vesled be forever hidden from the angry eye OF
justice. When this report shall have been
tanned burdens OF the people as may be possible
can be applied, and the respective rights and
obligations between the citizens of the District
ard the Federal Government be finally settled
and dc termned for guidance in the future"
MR.. sHBLLABARGER's LEGAL ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Shellabarger, in his legal argument TO
not as either judge, to dispose OF mere gues-
lions OF law; not as jurors, TO dispose Of mere
questions or personal guilt; not as citizens, tc
act without the responsibilities of oaths; but
n % hFOhn az nfaa~o not a-aH,
solemn responsibility in which man ever acts
AS the rulers of "A great people, AMI responsible
to them Tor how yoCr discretion, your prudence,
sour justice, Your integrity. your Intelligence,
and yoGr visdCm shall he exercised IN yoIr rule
mere III this District. Pardon rue, then, for ad
mOnishing you that il il not 80 much the Dis
iIsct government which is or t1ial here as it is
me congress Itself We do not desire
tbat meTe errors of opinion, or mistakes about
he law, or mistakes about facts, on the part OF
these authorities, shall be visited by your Sc
we're condemnation, where good faith and dill
gent attention to duty have not been lacking
SO. on the other hand, We shall demand that
VoIitism, fIsu'l, and disregard of la W shall nOi
eacape Its merited overthrow because il has
sought the cover Of learned ''opiDons," Of
mistake" or OF things of their own sresaip
got, in shape of 'isewer acts'' aud the like, out
ri their own iOins, upon the body OF an easy
legislature. He then argues, under the head Of
'tne PLAN" that the system of improvement
which the Board of Public Works has prosecH-
ted IL one not authorized by law, bat, on the
other hand, is sheer usurpatiOn, prosecuted in
,rlmlnal, oppressive, and fragrant disregard Of
Goth law. justice, and the publicly and officially
plighted faith and honor of these officers. tx
hausting the legal points here, he takes up the
question Of the District debt, and argues that ii
was incurred in clear violation of law. He then
argues the LEGALITY of the sewer tax, aud CON
ENDS that there have been clear violations o.;
other clauses OF law which he cites.
To.day's Session.
The Joint Special committee inv5stig atine
affairs in the District of Columbia met this
morning at half-past eleven O'Clock.
Jsmes Z. Gregg, sworp:-Resides in Urbana,
Ohio; resided prior to that time in Helena,
Arkansas, in Kansas, and in Saudusky, Ohio;
my occupation has been railroadi ng ON the Kan
sas Pacific railroad and other psints; was book
keeper and paymaster on the Sandusky rail-
road; was a contractor on the Kansas Pacific
railroad; have had contracts under the Boar
Of Public Works for paving a portion OF tn
and 18Th street and the Boundary sewer.
.: what portion OF the work did you do your
self? A. None of IL.
@. How came you to get those contracts? A
L made personal application to Gov. Shepherd;
never applied to any members of the board; lie
the GOvernor) awarded all the cOntr acts t.
me on personal application. did not apply to
the board; sub-let It'll and 18Th streets to DIR.
Filbert; he took it in charge; gave him an a5
solute power of attorney to do all tue work.
Y. How iong after you got this contract was
IL I'LL you suo-let? A. About a month or a
month and third; had no arrangement with
tract; was recommended to Governor Saep-
herd by Senator Dorsey.
z. On what terms did you sub-let? A. Tay
Tor & Fnbert were 10 pay me 25 cents per yard
for the pave ment and cents per ysrd for the
grading; have received from the paving con-
tract-leonsulti ng paperl-I can't tell now:
have not the figures.
Q. Approximately? A. About 90, 200; about
half OF the work is yet to be cone.
y. DID you have a partner in this trausac-
ton? A. None sir; was to pay one-half of
the profits TO Mr.. Colt, contractor and q resi-
dent in this city; he took charge of my interest.
q. Did you sub-let the contract for the
Boundary sewer? A. Yes, sir; to w. II. AG ANS;
the contract was executed directly TO me;
made no assignment to him; he was to go on
and do the work. Adams was to receive ali bat
~ per cent. of the profits. The sewer was to
be paid for at SSG.36 per lipeal foot. The con-
tract was let to me at the Office Of the Board OF
Pub lie Works.
Q. Do you know at what rate the certificates
to be taken for payment for the work were to
be estimated? A. Yes, sir; at par; am no;
aware anything was to be added to the price on
account of payment being made in certificates
Adams has Performed about 900 feet Of the
sewer work. have received S3i, 2S0.66.
@. How has that been paid? A. For auditors
warrants; don't know what kind. Mr.. Colt
received them; he acted as my agent, aud 4