, 1874-05-21
| WASHINGTON.
The District Investiga-
tion --- Astounding
Developments.
An Ill-Used Engineer Makes
Some Startling Dis
closures.
Gov. Shepherd Comes in for
..:. Several Hard lEnocl1s4- .
Unparalleled Looscncss in tho
Board Of Public Works.
Only Eight Actual Meetings of
. the Body for Two and
Half Years.
Public Business Transacted with One
Member as a Quorum.
House Committees Amendments to
the Finance Bill.
The Greenback Retirement Clause Fixed
at 40 Per Cent.
The House COncurs i'll the Final |
Adjournment Resolution.
House Committees Amendments to
the Finance Bill.
The Greenback Retirement Clause Fixed
at 40 Per Cent.
The House Concurs in the Final
Adjournment Resolution.
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune,

THE MORT n1roRrAST w1rNEss YET.
WARRINGTON, D. G., May 20.-Through the
compassion Of Adolf Cluss, niombor, and The
Ohief Engineer Of tho Board OF Public Works.
the District Investigation Committee to-t}ay
camo into possession OF what, unleas con-
travortoa, must prove tho most damaging testI-
mony yet laid boforo thom. A nero denial OF
the allegations got forth In Mr. Oluss testimony
will not satisfy the Committee nor tho COM
munity. Tho witness ia no ordinary person, but
man OF great acientitlo attainmonts, It
Is true that, like Senator gohurz, ho is
German by birth, and Gov. Shepherd
may say OF him, as did Morton Of
the Missouri statesman, that ho loca not unilor-
people in this city tonight who think him
AN EXCEEDINGLY cosrrETENT w1TNEss.
Bhophestls lawyers vonturcd onco or twice to
croas-oramino HI. Oluas, but gladly dosisted upon
discovering his entire willingness, not only to
submit to their badgoring, but to toll family
socreta that otherwise ho would not hayo di-
vu,god. Previous to becoming member Of tho
Board Of Public Works, Mr. C1uas was ono Of
the most prominent architects In the
Eastorn stateH. Indeed, nearly all tho
handsome modern business blocks and dwellings,
In Washington are built upon plans drawn by
him. He graduated aa civil engineer In 1916.
aud has had lnrEc e1perience in that profoagion.
both in Europe and America. His appearance
before the Committee to-day waa rendered neces-
hary In order to prcsorve, not only his own rcpu-
tat1on, but the good names OF four Of his sub
ordinateH, from tho rayages OF Forsytho and
Ocrtley, nominafy members Of tho Engineering
Department., but really tho creatures Of Shep-
hord, and used by him TO perform "cgooLed"
work.
nIn. CLusB' TESTIMONY.
mr. Cluss testified to-day TINT, notwithstand-
ing ho reported to GOV. Shepherd, on three or
four different occasions, that Foraytho vag ttnk-
Ing wrong measurements againHt both tile Dis
t7ict and United 6tatea GoYo1umentB, and In
favor OF tho contractors, no notice was ever
taken Of hH complaints; on the contrary, the
Enginaor Department., sent Folsytho out TO-
mako measurements. aud continues him In ofIlce
to this day. b1r. Cluaa also showed that tho
man oertley. though employed aB an intaide or
Office engineer, was sent out by Shepherd to
mako measurements, and sometimes, for woekn
at s*rotch, was not soeu by the Chiof Engineer.
ENORMOUS PAYMENTS OF MONEY
we're frequently made to contractors on what arc
known hs partial measurements, or estimates
made by oortley without the atd Of Instruments.
TTo'llnon, or assistance Of any kind, wllatoyor,
Tue Wltnoss mentioned QUO instance where
as overaid on Of
With the arrangement that he haa nj neyor % callod
1of t us finsl voucher. Shepherd lad oertley to
maze az tho measurements OF work
Eyans and rioo,,n oo@iu II. ~ !9hn ..
In regard to thu mnasu,on,ant. I 1pogtal gn pets
Aboyo contractors. unon wcI nartov W. 1a ene or
amned lat week If. Cnsn staed tosd.a "a1 ts,.t
Osrtloy concealed the truth from The Gommtts ME-
too Just 81 he aid in bin nttemnt to nInnin III
Pipe BOWER contract. The following is s'''@' '1o
o1uss' own LANGUAGE.
used In speaking Of Oortley'a partial meaeure-
ment:
tin my opinion thoae measurements are
grosnly fraudulent and outrageous, The Eyans
& Gleason contracts we're ali paid for without
final vouchers"
Mr. Cluss could do nothing to- atop these vii
lanous proceedings on tho part Of his
nominal subordinatos, because they were slls-
tanned BY Shepherd who was In himself the Board
OF Puhho Works, and mover deigned to consult
any of hs associates on any SUBJ joot. Mr.. Oluns,
during tho. two years and half that ho hss
been member Of tho Board Of Public Works,
has known Of only oghs meetings being held.
seven of which ho attended,. Tie longoHt OF
these meetings was all hour and a half, and WAT
nea of te Of as ths
Mcclellan continue their contraot. The min