Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-24
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Report Of the House Committee Charged
with the Investigation OF its
Affairs,
1t Specifically Charges the C0mmis-
siOners with Violations Of Law
In Expenditures.

WAsHINoToN, May 28.-The report
OF the committee on the District Of Co
lumbia, charged with an investigation
into the affairs Of the District, has bsen
prepared so far as portion Of the com.
mittae 10 concerned, by Chairman Buck
ner. 1t specifically charges the commits
sioners with violations of law in the ex-
penditures Of money, and says, in rela-
tiOn to the board Of audit, that the evil
dence will fully sustain the committee
in the statement that the favored par
ties had no difficulty In having claims
audited, and In some cases in which there
was no merit, ard in others for much
more than was due; while other claim
ants with equal merit or demerit were
procrastinated and delayed, until some
person In communication with the &C.
counting officers turns up to purchase
the claims at heavy discount, and are
thus unnecessarily hindered and de-
layed In the adjustment. The report
gives the names OF thirty-twO per-
sons who had improper or erro-
neOus allowances made to them,
ranging from $1,000 to $64 600, and aggre-
eating $320,667. The report says that If
the intention and meaning of the act of
June, 1874, has not been greatly miscOn-
ceived, there can be no doubt but the
commissioners have added So, ,09l ,046 to
the debt Of the District of Columbia not
only without warrant oflaw, but against
their own construction OF JneiT powers,
as shown by their report of December,
1874. The report says that, In
the investigation Of the contracts
by the board Of health, it
appears the contract with the odorless
eXcavating apparatus company OF Balti-
more was made under circumstances
that lead to the suspicion, If not to the
conviction, that improper motives con-
trolled two OF the members of the board
awarding the contract-Drs. Cox and
Bliss-who subsequently, to the award
received from the Odorless company GER
tifcates of preferred stock In the COM
paDy, guaranteeing seven per cent. per
annum interest on ten thousand dollars,
which they seem to have disposed Of
afterwsrd to the president of the
company. The committee say that
not only ought this contract to be
cancelled aud set aside, but your COM
mittee would call the attention Of the
authorities of the District to the proprie-
ty OF brig the conduct of Cox and Bliss
In this matter before the grand jury and
having thtge officers Indicted under sec
tion 55Ol Of the revised laws of the
United Stats
The report is a long one, and In con-
clusion recommends the passage OF the
accompany JOINT resolution:
Resolved, The senate concurripg
therein, That the attOrney-general of
the United States be and he Is hereby
directed to cause proceedings st law to
be instituted against VIM. Dennison,
John II. Ketcham and Seth L. Phelps,
or their several bOndsmen, as commits
sioners Of the District of Columbia for
malfeasance and unfaithfulness in the
discharge OF their duties as said COM
missioners, aud for this pur-
pose he is authorized to appoint such
special counsel as he may deem Advisa-
bic, who shall take charge of the con-
duct snd management OF said suits, and
also of all actions, whether civil or Grim.
inal, against the parties mentioned or
referred to in the report of the COM
mittee of the District OF Columbia, made
to the house OF representatives on the
blank day Of May, 1879, as having
loWAnces against the District Of
COlumbis, or of having been
guilty Of a violation of the crimi-
nal laws of the United States, and that
the clerk Of this house certify to the at
torney-general and to the grand jury Of
the District of Columbia Of said report
and accompanying evidence, for such
action in the premises as they may deem
proper; that the committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbia Of the house Of repre-
sentstives, by such experts as they may
appoint, shall continue the inves-
| tjgation Of the demands and claims
| against the board of public works
as audited and certified to by
board of audit against the District Of
Columbia, with view of ascertaining
whether any further illegal allowances
had been made, or improper movements
made; and such experts shall have ao-
cess to any papers, documents or records
| In any department of the District gov
ernmeut, and shall be entitled to copies
thereof, and said committee shall make
a report thereof to the next session Of
! congress.
The Republican members of the com.
mittee, and Mr.. Willard Mich. Liberal,
and perhaps some of the Democratic
members will refuse to unite in the
| above report. While they will admit
| that claims have been allowed by the
| board of audit which were improper,
| they will refuse TO indOrse the conclu-
sion that the District commissioners
should be held accountable for q board
| which is in no wise amenable to the
| commissioners, and whose powers and
! duties are as clearly defined ss their
own. This latter report will attach the
responsibility where It properly belongs,
! and censure the board Of audit.
/