National Republican., 1876-04-10
DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
The Board of Audit Affairs.

The Committee on the District of Columbia of
the House Representatives last Saturday morn
ing continued their investigation into the affairs
Of the board of audit.
WATsQN's DIsINTEREsTEp ADVICE.
]. G. Waters testified that he had claiui FOR
cement for S2.lOO against Wholly & Brainard. He
afterward sold the claim to ID. F. Hamlink for
Il 5000 after a consultation with WATSON chief
clerk of the board Of audit. who advised him to
do il as he did not thinking that he CWatrsl
could get much on il. As far as witness knows
Hamlink has not been paid yet. Hamlnk told
witness if he did not get the claim he would pNake
it warm for them when Congress assembled.
II. w. Columbus testified that no was the
perntendent of the Potomac Wills, and had
claim for $500 or 800 for cement against Wholly
& Brainard. Asked the hoard Of audit several
times ifthere was anything due Wholly Brain
ard. and Watson the chief clerk said there was
nothing due them. Had been asked by Hamlink
what he would take for the claim: no definite
amount was offered orr sked and it remains that
way yet. Took WatsOn'S answer as final and
never asked to see if there were any papers file
in the Office.
HANIINKs NOTE PROTESTED.
Washington F. Nailor testified that he was in
the livery business: had n claim amounting 10
500 against Wholly 4 Brainard for carriages
horses, &C. and has never received any of it as
certained during the last six months that Brain
ard had been paid Brainard afterwards gave him
a note Of Hamlnk in payment Col Hamlink let
il go TO protest, and witness has never received
cent: The claim not for hauling but for keep
ing BrainaTd's driving horses: has never made
any account against them. but remember signing
power ofattorney to Brainard: after witness found
out that Brainard had collected the money wit
ness asked Brainard for the money, when he gave
him Hamlink's note. Put the note in the bank
and Hamlnk let it 20 to protest
Judge Buckner remarked that although Con-
gress appropriated $4,000 to pay the iaborers, it
had been used to pay Just such bills as this.
CONTRACTOR THOMAS LUCAS.
Thomas Lucas testified that he was a con-
tractor; had 4 claim against the old corporation
as well as against the Board of Public Works
amounting TO over $4,000 for work on 1 and X
streets and streets in Georgetown: presented his
claim TO the board Of audit by an attorney, ind-
ing that he could not collect il himself; the claim
would get far as the chief clerks basket but
no further; ]. c. Lay & Co were his first attOr-
neys. and Mr. Arthur Shepherd thought he could
work il better. so he gave the accounts to him
Shepherd failed. and then witness gave the claim
to H. J. Mclaughlin: the difficulty was that the
claim could not get any further than DIR. Howe.
who was the chefelerk Tor the engineer; had to
give Mclaughlin one half of what he would get
Mclaughlin received about o., 500, of which wit
ness paid him one half; never could understand
why all Of his claims died when they reached
Charley Johnson's hands; thought Mclaughlin
could move the claim ahead witness always got
insulted when he went to see johnson McIaugh-
lin tlrst made the suggestion that witness employ
him, and give him one half to get the claim
through and paid. -
The committee then adjourned