National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-14
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
PREPARATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
THE SITUATION YESTERDAY

The course Of action developed by the sub
committee for the Investigation into the affairs OF
the District has received the seal of approval
from the committee as an entirety. In yester-
days NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, the programme
arranged was fully given, and 1t has been favor
ably received by the whole committee without
any alterations or notifications whatever. As q
steppng-stone, the committee directed the chair
man-Senator Boutwell-to call upon Governor
Shepherd for the Information required and to re-
quest speedy compliance with the demands
made. 1t can be safely assumed that no ex-
tended delay will ensue this account, o con-
| siderable portion Of the matter asked is already
in print, barring, of course, the business trans
to Congress. Already the passion for fault
finding with this method Of action has been CON-
menced, and charges" are made that "cor.
ruptiOn Of books" will be the rule and falsified
account rendered. But fortunately, this allega-
tion will be groundless for at the present time an
expert accountant, employed by Congress, is
making q thorough examination of the affairs Of
government, and It is absurd to charge fraud,
when II can only be contaminated under the i'm
mediate supervision OF GGxsrnmenfsi d15spsst9r
systematic arrangement favored by the commit
tee which can establish guilt, II It exists, and
unjust aspersions, should that be clearly ex-
hibited.
It is claimed by those who witness the rapid
evaporation Of sensational" interest in the COM
mittee proceedings that the daily session should
be consumed, not In the sting Of specific chars es,
but with the view of hammering sway at the
beating something startling out Of them This
course would undoubtedly satisfy the clique that
have an especial object to attain By the District
that would be we'll spent In malignfng their neigh
bors, but 1t can hardly suit public men who have
mission to perform and are now borne down with
!hg .kRGEl {aasyss Y legitimate duty: -. As D1
those who desire general fishing expedition in
the hope that something, no matter how small,
PROPOSITION 70 examine the relative Obligations of
the General Government and the District for GER
tain improvements should induce the utmost latt
cult to see how the l.memofialists Who have in
stituted this Investigation, can claim any partic-
patton in question In which they, - Individuals
also receive attention 10 true, but It viii be con-
Quoted without Interference from outsiders who
are not parties to the contest In the disesssions
opinion that something must Be- proven against
District SsS,: b
sas or *
hitit, It is argued, must be accepted as correct.
TSsn i . An
vho Ssds 20 appeal q iSis high eSurt: The
..,sPp9sitOn that the committee Will ss an Impair
nonsensicai 'Asthe srbitrators Of . controversy,
they propose 70 decide from the evidence, after
ssin Al. M ssss
:S ~ sY%.'; e.. ~ t n
they were inimical to the tdEtfict. IL conse.
qaentiy Will be AZ III retrrn ~ the sssai.Sts Of
PfoS1es. 70 open Their ttsries upon men who
t tney nave ~ gsn neos .i ssyor q an A.
battery d those cal spoo 10 Sctermins xSiIsus