Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-20
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of tho Joint Congressional Committee.

Committee closed yesterday, Wright Riyes who
was on the stand, testified that the nited States
overpaid on Connecticut avenue S6i COS OF, and
front foot; that on Market Space, frem tn 10
9Th streets, the United States paid for FIVE
sixtbs of the wood pavement laid, and $500 more
than the cost of the whole wood psvem emit, and
that the Board OF Puthc Works charged and
collected IS ,S45 81 beyond the cost of the street,
III AT on Pennsy lvants avenue, from 18th street
to Rock creek tue United States is overcharRed
on pavement Sc, 593 %; curbing, $1,000 20; cob
be stone pave ment. 81 24j 6s on the hole street
Witness testified that the United States had
BEEN Overcharged S34 $751; for 18th street, from
New York avenue to M street, and continued
as iollows:-N We examine the table we will
see thar the United States has been charged
with 50 81 20 in front of the War and Navy de
swer) We see that the United States has psi,
SIC, 62S 80 for concrete alone at the War depart
ment, and on page i34 it is charged for side
iootwslks, excavation, sewer, soddlng and curb
Ststes paid more than is stated IN the table, and
since the true amount was not deducted, the
rate per front foot, as charged to the property
holders, is too high. We sl.o find, for the same
street, that the sewerage FROM New York av-
enue to the canal is charged to the United
States at s14,255.10. Contract No. 2i5, sewer
vest side of 18th street, New York avenue TO
canal. 50 1882. Also, on page 1893, Governors
answer, 2, 1863 yards macadsm zed pavement
from New York avenue to L street. at S1.50,
S,SIo; r LG,s same VOTE {, was eoncreted at
and was paid for in full. Since the
stone bed was finished q deduction ought TO
have been made, and not $40 per square yard
In 18th street, from Pennsylvania avenue to
street, IL we examine the Governors answer
we will find that the United Stats has paid for
$50 square yards wood pavement, at IS 80.
sideV AXIS, at Ell IS, s4Sss 70; curb, brick pave
ment. and soddiDg, 81, 594 IL. Assuming 81, 900
for grazing, . low estimate, and We have
cy i as ps aS q ss d .s ss ss
street), Governors answer, page 433: Contract
No. 2o4, pages 253 and 3i4. sewer on G street
aoo linear feet, at 81 20, e.. go: Contract No.
u 81 1853. Massachusetts, avenue, New JERSEY
avenue TO Boundary, Governors answer, page
Az: Sewers, s36 AS; two-third. OF this was psid
by the United States. S24 "a. Report Board
whole cost. sa2 rs ~ The United STATES s' pss:
two thirds, S14 ,sI5.65. Deduct from the above
charged on sewer. Massachusetts, avenue, New
Jersey avenue to Lincoln square, Governors
answer, page Az: 49,4o0 cubic Yards, grad
No. 243,, which is the contrsc. for the
above, The whole amount received by con-
tractor, S23 ,702 .42-a difference Of S997 So.
Vermont avenue, | to 18th street circle, United
States overcharged S90I II; on 18th street aud
Pennsylvania avenue to Potomac river the
Board Of Public Works received beyond the
cost OF the same 81 $50; on list street northwest
witness thought the amounts OF work done
81 onld not be charged to the United States, as
the curbs and brick pavement were furnished,
set and laid by the architect OF the capitol, and
the cobblestones were removed by the contrac.
tor without charge; on New York avenue, from
9th to 18th street, the United States overcharged
on sewer s4.6c0I0, curbing, s2,1S4 q; pave
soddipg, S1034 80.
OTHER WITNESSES.
Ex-Msyor Emery testified that fair price to
lay and furnish tagging, such as has been laid
by the Board Of Public Works and charged to
the government, wOull be about IS cents per
lineal foot The parking would be additional.
lie also testified that the school teachers we're
only in ore months arrearages Of pay when he
went out Of Cffce.
VIM. II. Clsgett took the stand to deny q
statement OF VIM. A. Cook, the district attor-
hrst sewerage bill, which he (ClagstD says
passed but one branch Of the legislature. He
produced the original sheet OF the bill, with
Gov. Cookies signature, which he showed the
committee. The witness said former clerk OF
the legislature had found it among the waste
PAPER.
Col. Msgruder was recalled, AMI examined by
Mr.. Bass. His attention was called to Sc eral
che cks issue by him. in sums Of $50 900, $50 900,
and 500 000, which do not appear to be charged
aga'nst him in bis report OF moneys received and
replied, stating that the charge against him
might not appear, even with the date OF the
Issuing of these checks; that he did not recol-
lect these checks; but that he would be able to
To days Session.
The committee was called to order at 1910
O'Clock a. M.
Adolf Cluss, sworn:-Am member and en-.
gineer OF the Board OF Public Works; was ap-
pointed October 20, 1872 AN protest. )nsl en-
sineer and architect; finished nv education in
q. What have been your duties in connection
with the board? A. When a contract was
aw arded was notified; gave the necessary di-
re q nna Hr ho
ured the Work after il was completed.
q. Have there been any difficulties with the
board in connection with your duties? A. The
organization OF the board is such as to impede
any engineer; the vice president takes an assis-
taDt engineer and gives him private instructions
to take up the work; measurements have oesn
made not under ny super sision. and l wish to
state that L will not be responsible for any err
Tors; had nothing to do With the estimate on
which an appropriation of 81 ,240 900 was based;
1t was made up by an assistant enginser taken
from under my supervision; l never Jaw the
estimate made until 1 saw it in print in the
Governors answer; am not responsible for the
errors; Mr.. Forsyth has only been noninally
subject to my control; Mr.. Oertley made the
estimates; L have not seen Oertley for a fort
night.
9. Where is he? A. Making mp statements
ior this committee. wish to say all the inn
Portant contracts have been awarded without
consulting me At all, and WITHOUT my knowl-
edge. L only know one Contract which has
been awarded where the board was consulted
tracts. The minutes Of the board were made up
by meeting Mr.. Shepherd on one corner, Mr..
Willard on another, and MIR. Magruder on an
other, and agreeing to something, aud calling
1t meeting. 1 protested to Magruder once.
he said. "Well, they have agreed to a propo-
sition which you oppose. Three is q majority,
ana majority rules" Such action was then
entered up as q meeting OF the board and spread
on the minutes. Wherever the vice president
sat down to write a contract Ii was considered
as q board meeting, whether any of the board
but him were present or not. Some work was
once proposed to be done which L considered
unnecessary. 1t was said 1t muss be done, a.
ass< ssments were made out for the work. I
asked to see the assessments, and was bluffed
on. There have been many contracts let and
the men were Ut work on the streets befor the
eDgineers' department were notified Of the
award. consider cross sections a. absolutely
ne cessary even In the simplest case. Where
there were no cross sections It was impossible to
get at an accurate measurement OF work done.
The assessment sheet In advance OF work done
10 for 18th street. have made demands to SOC
1t, but up to thie day 1t mas not been forthcom-
ing.
Q. Has Mr.. Oertley measured any work.
What IL his position? A. He was to have
charge OF the inside work.
q. Has he done outside work? A. Not under
my Of ders; he has uncer the vice presidents;
he measured for Albert Gleason, Joan o. Ey.
ans, the Richmond Granite company, and Dr.
Fiibert. Ii was my duty to designate who
ahT r1tA ma 0 A.~S-.