Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-27
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Cenuitte.
TO-day's Session,

minutes past ten o'clock.
Mr.. Allison inquired of Mr.. Msttinsly when
the District government would be ready with
their arguments.
Mr.. Msttingly replied to- morrow.
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GkNgRAL Will
LIAMs.
Attorney General G.. Fl. Williams sworn
Witness mace the following st ttement: ION
tn. VIZ ct side Of Connecticut avenue there were
several lots that were or 10 feet below the
str eet and where there was stagnsut water for
the greater PORTION of the time, they were pub
lie nuisance; Riley was anxious to get the job
10 fill up those lots ana break the dirt from the
high grade adjoining the lots on which my
house stands; he was at my house frequently
ard mpoItuned Mrs. Williams TO write a letter
to Governor Shepherd to aid Tim in getting the
Job; accordingly, at the instance OF Riley, she
wrote a letter to Governor Shepherd upon the
subject; Riley afterwards represented tbat he
had obtained the contract and come with his
ploughs and carts, and after obtaining Instruc
tiOns from Mrs. Williams as to when and how
the dirt should be taken, commenced hauling
Ii along; state emphatcally that Riley repre-
seDted that 1t would be a favor to him TO allow
him TO take the dirt. as it could be hauled with
little trouble and expense to the lots that he
engaged TO fiji; several persons applied for the
same privilege, ard It was given to Riley as an
act OF kindness; this is all the grading he ever
did upon the lots inside of the street and alley
boundaries, and say emphatically that he is
not and never vas entitled to one cent for this
work for it was done with the express under
standing that he should have the gravel for 1t,
which i understand was worth Is cents per
l0a0, several Otler partleS were allO we'd similar
privileges, and hundreds of loads have been
haultd away upon similar understanding, and
Mr.. Clark Is engaged to-day with a half dozen
carts and has been for three weeks in hauling
away dirt from adjoining lots upon precisely
the same understanding that was had with
Riley; state emphatically that Riley has no
right TO charge the Board of Public Works one
cent for the removal Of the earth, nor has he
any right to charge me, for the press under
standing was that he was to have the gravel for
the work DONE"
The letter of Mrs Williams written to Cover.
Dor Shepherd at the instance of Riley was read;
also, endorsements on the letter by the Board OF
Public Works. also, the order of the board to d.
the work; also, an opinion of VIM. A. Cook With
reference to whose duty it was to pay for the
cost of condemDing lets declared TO be nui-
saIces
quested to look at the minutes OF ths board and
indicate if ANYTHING there appeared concerning
the transaction.
Mr. wilson-Mr johnson, the endorsement
on the paper is "By order of the Board of Pub
lie Works" Now show me the minutes author
iZing the action.
MIR. Riley, the contractor, was called, and tes-
titled that he hauled dirt from Attorney Gen
eraI Williams lots to the English minister's lots;
only q little of the dirt came from the Attorney
Generals lots; some came from Mr.. IDgersoll's
property, and some from the Summer school
building lots.
Witness testified he received pay for some of
the grading and it was charged to Rhode Island
avenue, and All alley in square 40; no part OF
the dirt went into DR.. Blake's lots; his lots
filed last August; witness explained at length
what lots be had graded and where he hauled
the earth; that he had not yet been paid for the
grading h did for Attorney General Williams.
q. How much work did you do on the Attor-
ney Generals premises? A. removed 9,Si6
yards; ii was measured by Sir. Franklin; have
been paid g, leo; there is Il 500 due; the work
was stopped finally by an order of Mr.. Cluss;
Mrs. Williams told me to keep on until the
board stopped mt; she was satisfied to have
the whole place taken down.
d. c. FoRERY's TESTIMONY.
ID. q. Forney was sworn and stated that in
that portion of Mr.. Reinhardt's testimony whare
he stated he divided with s. P. Brown, that he
as mistaken; that he never had any money
transaction with s. p. Brown while he was
member Of the Board of p ublic Works.
MR.. CLEMENT HILLS TESTIMONY.
Clement Hill, an inspector under the Board
Of Public Works, said he made a mis- ak3 in
carrying out the grading ordered for Mr.. Will
lian.s, in constituting too literally the word
''pIemises." he a,sumsd all the blame, aud tn
beard was not responsible. When Riley's drst
bill was paid he thought il was an end oft; but
Riley kept o.; he should have notified Riley
bat the board was not doing the work further
than the payment made; he tried to make a
CONF remise, and really expected Mr. Williams
ADOLF CLUss ON THE STAND AGAIN.
Adolf Cluss, recalled Witness said about
the middle of last November Riley and Clark
brought in bill for 81 600 for a months ser
vices by days work. ordered them to stop; sent
Mr.. Franklin to make measurements, as the
bill OF 81 600 was only for portion Of the work;
Il
IectiDg him to make contract with Riley and
Clark TO cover the work which had previously
been done; contract was executed on Decem
Der 18th.
Witness made statement concerning the
prices Of tagging. This statement is to the ef
feet that John o. Evans was paid $3.50 ,336l5;
Van Brent & Co, Of New York, SIG ,9S3.75
consigned to John D. Evans, and by him as
signed to the Board OF Public Works; Nicholas
Acker was paid Sl1.275. The grand total paid
a % oil m a hU a I'd IA 70
BY Mr. AllisOn:-My statement OF tagging IL
for last season; before December, 1872, but very
little tagging Was laid.
Mr.. CLUsS KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT WHO MADE
The CONTRACT.
BY Mr.. Wilsop:-Do you know who N sde the
contract for the purchase Of the tagging? A
Witness resuming:-John o. Evans was paid
60 cents for laying the tagging around street
circle, and the board furnish ell the material.
MIR. Wilson called for the record of the boar
appeItaning to the purchase Of tagging.
Record pr0duced.l
PROOF THAT MR.. CLUss MADE 1T BECAUSE IT
WAS o. X.
Witness was shown a letter written by John
U. Evans proposing to do the tagging around
street circle for 65 cents, with his (Cluss) own
endorse ment upon Ii that he had made con-
tract with Evans in accordance with a request
from Governor Shepherd to do so IL il was o. X
Q. Then you considered 1t y. X. at the timer
A. Yes, il was go. X"
Witness thought If the tagging purchased and
laid had been put out at competition, it could
have been purchased at half tho cost.
By Mr.. Wilson:-Q. When did the natter OF
parking come mp In connection with iagging
contracts? A. 1t never came up In the epgi
noer's office; the vice president and the con
tract clerk probably talked together and in
Guided the parking In tagging contracts.
z. Have you examined p street, between
New Jersey avenue and 4th street? A. did
but alter IL was made the Governor did not see
ut to use II; have not the papers with me.
MIR. Wilson.-Well, send for them; we want to
get through to-day.
Wight Rives went for the papers to Mr..
Clues house.
@. What is 1t that you have measured? A
Mr.. Rives made certain statements about it, and
the Governor requested me to GO over il; l went
over 1t, and corrected overcharges; the assess
ment had been made when Wright Rtves made
his statement before the committee; the Cover.
nor then requested me to 60 over it, aud I did;
Mr.. Barney has been over the same work. and
We both sgI eed In the assessments made by me;
there was an overcharge Of 1 900 square yards
of brick pavement.
Witness stated in his direct testimony con-
corning the 81 ,240c eco appropriation tn at he had
reference to the voucher upon which the money
was paid, and not the estimate upon which the
appropriation was based.
Q. Have you looked over the statement upon
which the appropriation was procured? A
have, and find many glsring inaccuracies. For