New-York tribune., 1874-03-31
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
FURTHER TESTIMONY REGARDING THE AWARD OF
CONTRACTS AT EXTRAYAGANT PRICES
ron Apu To TUF TRTRVNT

rURTHrR TESTIMONY REGARDING THE AWARD or
CONTRACTS AT ExTRAvAeANT PRICES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, March 3O.-Onc of the accusations
that has been made against the Washington Board
of Public Works is that it has awarded contracts
at most extravagant prices without publicity, and
without competition Much of the testimony taken
by the Investigating Committee to-day was directed
Ia this charge and very generally seemed to sustain
H. As the grade of almost every street IN the city
has been changed within the past three years,
one Of the largest items of expenditure by the
Board has been for grading, and the hTst witness
today was Mr. Bliss, a practical engineer, who
was engaged on public works in tins city under the
old corporation, and has had large experience IN the
building of railroads and canals. The Board pnce
for removing 'earth is 40 cents a cubic yard, ana
this price includes hauling 200 feet MI Bliss
testified that allowing for the rise in wages III the
District during the past few years, q cents cubic
yard is now fair price for this work. The Board
price for hauling over distances greater than 2OO
feet is II cent. Mr.. Bliss said that about three
mills would be what ought to be paid. To Illustrate
the difference between these last prices, Mr. Wilson
called Peter Mcnamara, a contractor, who said that
IN performing certain contract he hauled the
earth 1890 feet. The price he got for the hauling
was 37l cents yard. At the pnce Bliss gave the
price for hauling would have been nine cents yard
Mr. Heusts a practical stone mason and con-
tractor said that he would furnish such tagging as
was laid around psf circle and set it for 60 cents
square foot The Board of Public Works charged
the United States Government 81 %. He would
furnish, dress, and set curbing, such as had been
placed around the same circle for 81 35 foot. The
Board has charged the United States 81 so foot
Another witness testified that he took a sub-con-
tract for sodding at 20 cents yard The price paid
by the Board for the work was so cents yard The
sub-contractor paid nothing for the sods. Several
persons who were employed on the B-st. sewer, for
which the United States Government paid. were
called and questioned in regard to the quality of the
bricks used in that sewer They all agreed that they
we're Of q very inferior quality. One of the wit
uesses said that there three supernendents OF
the work: one was painter, one shoemaker and
one a brcklayer The last was discharged because
be knew too much. The other superintendents kept
sman on the watch for the engineer, and when he
was coming caused water to be poured on the bricks
In order to make them look darker and better.
1t has been said that newspaper men and persons
holding official positions were given contracts in
order to secure their support of anything the Board
did Some testimony was taken on this subject to-
day Faehtz and Rhinehart the former a member
Of the Auditing Commission of the District, to audit
claims against the old corporations, and the latter
Chief Clerk of the District House of Representatives.
obtained a contract in September 1871, tOlay wooden
pavement. Before work was begun Rhinehart with
drew, and ID. G. Foney, proprietor of The
Sunday Chronicle, became interested. He
raised 81 OO0 which had to be deposited
when the contract was awarded and
indOrsed the notes that Faehtz gave for the pur-
chase of material. For this he was TO receive one
half Of the net profits. But little work was done,
ol1ac ol H. I,afor -
was sold out for a bonus of $7OOO of which Forney
got $3.50. II. V. Cotton was the nominal contrac
tor for building all of the wooden fences in the
cty He was placed on the stand, and said
that Frank Smith, official reporter of
the House, furnished the money, drew
the amount due from the Board and was to have
some indefinite interest in the profits. 1t has been
asserted that Cotton only the superintendent of
Smith, and this theory was sustained by his admis-
son that during the progress of the work he Coton)
drew regular weekly salary, and that all the books
and papers relating to the contract and the work
are now locked up in Smiths safe. Smith has gone
TO California for his health having been appointed
Indian Agent by the Interior Department. The
amount of money paid to Smith by the
Board Of Public Works was more than $4,000, and
the whole cost of the work was about $2s,OOO. The
TINE occupied in performing the contract was about
eight months. A German carpenter. Anamed Chas.
Huber. employed by the Board testified to having
used lumber belonging to the Board and having
worked himself, while under pay of the Board on
nyate buildings. This he did by direction of q
Superintendent of the Park Commission, who re-
hgned when his operations were made public.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
The District of Columbia Investigation Committee
assembled this morning in their new place of meet
mg in the east front of the Capitol, in a very
spacious and well-ventilated room, formed by tenn
pdanly inclosng of the large corridors.
hehard sOrrell and Mr.. Curry were examined in
regard to work done by chem as bicklayers on the
bst sewer and testified that the bricks used in its
construction partly soft brick. Mr.. Curry said
Nat all the bricks were what he called " slush
Hek," and Mr. Sorrell estimated that One-third Of
/ he brick used were soft brick.
". Cotton testified that he has contract for
tood fence; no one IS interested with him; 7. H..
4 smith furnished money TO carry the work and
aAd power Of attorney to draw the pay; meyer had
Il "y arrangement as 10 what interest the witness
4 vas To pay Smith for the use Of his money; has
never had any settlement with smith the witness
se'er told any that Smith the contractor
"Sood fence, nor that the witness only Smiths
\ feman; Smith advanced money as il was wanted
"otn time TO time by the witness
f ihe Committee have appointed Mr.. BlickendOrfer
4 oho a. engineer 10 test the Government meas