National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-02-18
THE INVESTIGATION.
Eers Testimony Concerning the Purchsis and
Bale Of Claims,

Ecre 1essimoLY CONCERNING the kpfchatssAo
Sale Of Claims.
The Distric. Committee Of the House OF Repre-
sentetives beId a session yesterday, ami resumed
their investigation into the affairs Of the Distric.
Of Columbia and the board OF audit.
Comptroller Taylor submitted the original OF
the power OF attorney given By Newman and
Middleton to George W. Stickney, Of the Freed
mans bank. 1t was ordered TO DO put IN as evil
dence.
ARTHUR SHELTERED WAS RBcALLED.
and testified: / had some connection with the
claim OF ccntTac tor GcIaug HIN, which claim was
for putting earth in the canal; looked over tho
papers, and found the claim was based en- clause
in McLaughlin's contract directing linn to haul
was entitled only to the haul; put the matter
before the District Commissioners; Lieutenant
Mclaughlin was only entitled to the haul, and
not for excavating the earth, at so much haul
Last July McLaughlin asked me to withdraw the
papers, because no was applying for other work;
he said the papers in the claim might operate
against him. A week Afterwards I ascertained
$3.50, and the certificate had been funded in
favor of X. q. Hewitt; l met Mclaughlin q few
Gays after and asked him If he knew the claim
allowed; he said that he had sold it to Hewitt
for $500, which netted him (McLaughltn) only
something over 500 in cash. Mclaughlin was
paid both for the haul and excavation by the
Board Of Public Works: -
DAEIEL HANNAH TEsTIFIEs.
Daniel Hannah sworn: Am plumber; had one
or two contracts with the District government to
lay lateral sewers and main pipes; the aggre-
gate OF the amount Of work done by me zoos up
between $4,000 and $4,000; have been paid for
all the work / done for the board; have done
claim now have is for the work did for the
coDtractoTs-about 81 COO; have been paid part
Of the latter work. The last payment got go.
Sth Of November, between and O'Clock in the
evening, and asked me II had claim against
the Board Ct Public Works; said there was some me
their pay. He asked me If would take one
thousand dollars for my claim. said, "No; how
what my claim is ?" H5 said, There is a good
deal Of money coming TO yo1, and you can get i
Sy fGGGGgR me- me- ana my ne saa
power Of attorney" He said II must be settled
up that night, as his friends were going away
| You had better DO it, or you will lose the
muey." i still refused. He then said, John
s ss come on; we can't 90 anything here" When
sell or you will lose it," then said, "HeEett,
huSn care TO have any more trouble with the
He WI sen you my claim linn f9F sald
h9W CO you pay me the 900 when you
eso oNcn Enc what is coming to me" He said
would give IN one half Of what he could collect.
power Oh .torney was drawn up by johnson
anu VIII A''ctantly signed 1t.
| AN SEouAL DIVISION.
Hewitt mo srs OF zen zen trs. and gsTe
him ip lands sl,l5O; he amount Hewitt collected
Vac had 10 said he cOuN lot divide even,
I Y. Did you ever miREties; 80, -.
full amount. He has made pr6beSd MIN h ,So
my CLERK for compromise; ne told .cIerk TIA.
ne had done what was right, but that Se would
give me 500 more II would drop the suit hare
since ascertained that at the time HeWit nrst
came to see me certificate for 81 600 to my 9der
was Smsning me at the board Of audit; lad
keDt my CLERK on the dav
Ie9K ABOUT II, but he 1.-THE clerk) did not get tbs
information that the certificate was there
fore Hewitt came to see you? a. Ever SINGS the
board was organized; tn, re was odds and end
que me by contractors for whom l had done
z: What was the 5000 certificate for? A.
t aSnt knoN; never saw it: suppose 1t was for
from contractors. johnson was introduced to me
py hewitt. He read me paper at my holse and
went away after l signed it. This s., 90 trans.
against the Board of Public Works, other than
Shat was cue me from contractors, Ror whom
nsd worked as sub. contractor. l did work OF
lhls Kind for Andrew Gleasop, q. Z. Evans and
George Folansbee. l always GAINED that 1
never got fair settlement for ths work did for
Z. Z: EVans. don't know Whist is now coming
70 NE. cont know now but what to day tho
peafd eve NE 5000. The Tuf..was 10 take what
one got and say nothing:
~ JAMES FITZPATRICK. -. -.
JAMES Fitzpatrick swsrr: Am contractor;
WEEKS. When the old board went out OF exist
ence had claim against the board; l have
never got it, Mr.. Lay and Mr.. Need. who werc
10 collect it, made it larger than could swear to.
Hewitt camo TO me ard offered me 1000 for my
claim. refuEed 10 take it, and turned my claim
ever 10 Dickson & Patterson to collect. They only
collected 500, and told me that was all they
could get. Have never got the difference between
what Hewitt offered me and what my attorneys
Vines VAS thea iStefrogsscd a: e the ami.
cStion Tor an extension OF his contract for grading
on Eleventh street cast. mir. Blow had agreed
cents yard. He agreed to do so, and was to cali
the next day ard get the contract executed.
Meanwhile Blow went to Missouri, and in the
meantime ketchum had annulled the contract
and given 1t TO another party at ono third higher
ths. wrote to the COMMISSIONER to know now WIN
me VOTE was not given to me, and they replied
that Il was given 10 the oker party, because it
was Dlndirg obligation upon them to do SO, on
account OF an opinion of their attorney
.. Did Mr.. Blow complain of tie action of bis
esoiieagues: A. lie did in my presence. He said
II the other members anDulled what he had done
In his absence he did not like it.
q. How long after this occurrence before Mr.
Blow resigned? A. think he remained about
month. He told me one day it was no kind OF
place for him; that he Couldn't stay any longer
DR.. JOHN Z. FLAKE.
DR.. j. Il. Blake sworn: Was at one time men,
Der OF the Board Of Public Works. Fitzpatrick
1.-THE last witress) came to me once and asked me
If would 70 with him and help him TO get his
contract extended on Eleventh street east. told
Lin L NVuIu 10 anu introduce MIN, anu he C0ul1
state his own story. went with him and intro.
duced him 10 Mr.. Blow; the other two ConmIs-
sioneIs were at the time absent 1 told Mr.. Blow
that Fitzpatrick was quite able TO do tho work
ne wanted. Lieutenant Hoxie was opposed to
giving him the contract on account OF The work
being on the commons. Mr.. Blow said, We will
go tomorrow and see the street" Mr.. Blow did
not go tie next day. After Mr.. Blow returned
from Missouri this matter came up. He was very
much mortified at the action OF his colleagues
lie said there was an understanding with the
commissioners that when two were absent the
one pTeEert should do the business: that he had
promised the contract 10 Fitzpatrick, but he had
been oyeTruled. He was sorry, because, If Fitz-
patflek mad been given the contract, it would
save the Govern Gent Slj,c0O on account OF his
Offering TO 90 the work cheaper than the parties
Who got it. always thought this transaction
lIhuenced MIR. Blow to resign. think he re.
signed within two or three weeks alter It hap
pened.
At i o'clock the committee adjourned until
EEK TUESDAY.