, 1874-05-11

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1NVEBT1GA-
TON.
The evidence before tho District Of Columbia
Investigating Committee ia all in, aud careful
poruaa1 Of the testimony and tho documentary
avidonoo eo,nre1o un to royerso III part our pro-
conceived opiniona Of tho case. 1tcanuot he a!-
legged that tho Commttno havo been dorelict 10
their endoayora to get at the facts, or that they
hayo leaned towards the accused IN tho exami-
nation OF witnesses. Az to tho connection Of
Gov. Shepherd with tho alleged corruptions,
there is no evidence to Hhow that he acted dis
houeatly, or that ho received dollar corruptly,
or TINT tho Board Of Public Works Was brsbea.
There is no evidence to show that ho 30
gave out contracts or directed work Us
to benoht special property. As he ID
IL very wealthy man, and as his property is
widely scattered over Washington, there WAS
no necessity for it, iuaa1uuch al thu general
system of improvement that was in operation
could not ho1p boing positive benefit to all
his property. Ills great wealth has undoubt-
edly come, in part, from his questionable busi-
ness connections with Mullett the supeEyiaing
Architect OF tho Treasury, in the roofing aud
plumbing Of Government buildings.
There IL evidence, however, Of tho most direct
kind to show that ho WAS guilty Of extravaganza,
Of tavoritlsm, aud Of awarding contracts at
exorbitant figures, and for this tho Board Of
Public Works will undoubtedly be soyoroly cen-
suroa, and perhaps abolished.
mi. -, al,
| of llr. George Il. Chlttendon with the paving.
contract business aud 1t shows that, instead ol
bribing tho Board Of Public Works, be in rcalt,
was the victim Of a gigantic confidence game
and squandorod luis money without bribing any
body. hlr. Chittendsn WIS unused to this kind ot
business, and blindly Walked into q nest Of sharp
ers who wore readyand ablo to rolcyo hin, Of hil
cash. As he stated IN his own testimony, ho fol
that it was necessary to spond money, although
with characteristic naivoto 10 did not suppos,
tlst tho money would he used corrnptly. Th,
event shows thai it was not; that plenty O
money WIS spent, but nobody waH bribed,-
which must ho i groat relief to his mind. Fl
met Kirkland. who repseHcnted to him that b.
lad influence. That was what Chittondon wa
iu aearcll of. He bought that influence, an
maid $72,000 In notoa for it, and he Was exaetl
, iu tho condition Of the groom eountryman VII
llas bought his brass watch from P. Funk Eao
, | kirtlaud bad no moro influence with tho Boar
of Public Works than child. He wa
| simply dead.boat who bud sprung
3 confidence. game upon C4ittenden. Tho ma
| who secured tho contract in realit
u WAS 0en. Garfield. Kirkland had no intluene
, with Gov. Shepherd whntevor, but when Go
Shepherd fou.M Gau. Garlald, Chairman Of IL
a Cotnmitteo OIL Appropriations, arguing n11
q pleading for this contract, he reasoned a. Al
y man would havo done under tho circumstance
tint 1t would bo q wlne thing to award tho COZ
tract, mud lio did 30. The $4,000 which vi
y evoi' to Parsons '7aH thesefoFo we'll placed. III
Y. $72,ooo in notes given to Kirtand was slmp
ID Bquandorod Oh 1oaa.beat.-a unRyailing
il water poured upon the saud.
ID TAe evidence furthermore does not shc
r, that Col. ". q. Moore, the partner Of Go
ID Shepherd, has received my money, or that
ly was brbed in any way In tho awarding OF Il
Or contract. Kirtland had tho advantage Of aot
I'd acquaintance with Moore, mud. after he /,
H. soen CAittenden, won't to 300 Moore aud
o. quested lin to apoak to Shepherd about h
ar which Moore agreed to do. After tho oontr.
Ut hAa bseR awarded, Kirkland aAms " Iooss 1