Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-29
THE DISTRICT IyVESTIG TIOy.
THE TESTIMONY TO-DAY.

| Committee on the District of Columbia.
Judge John j. Reyes appeared as counsel for
the board of audit during the examination
| to day.
| NO REFLECTION on THE COMMISSIONERS.
| Mr. Birney, counsel representing the Dis
trlct commissioners, stated to Mr.. Buckuer,
chairman OF the committee, that he under
| stood there was testimony taken privately
| before the committee Yesterday which re-
| lated TO the conduct of the District Commits
slone1s, and II such was the fact he desired to
| have the privilege OF reviewing IL, in order
| that be might be able TO cross-examine
| should he deem it advisable.
| Mr.. Buckner.-"NO, sir; You cannot have
IL. The testimony did not relate To- the Dis
trict Commissioners as a body" Laughter
Nor did 1t reflect upon any mem Der OF that
Commission, that know OF. Nor TO any
| body else. lLaughter.l
| THE BECKETT AND WILLIAMS CLAIM.
The first witness was Mr.. William Beckett,
| who testified that he and his partner, Will
liams, had a contract with the board of pub
| lie works, which was finished up in the latter
| part of 1872. He had q claim against the
board for hauling, old material and extra
hauling, which the auditor OF the board dis
allowed. When he settled up with the board
| the firm found itself In debt. Witness spoke
to the present auditors about his claim not
| the settlement. The auditor to the board of
| public works would not allow the claim, and
witness thought this was final. He made no
works. Witness made no special effort with
the board OF audit TO get this claim passed,
y. II.
| This was some time last fall.
q. How did you come TO give il to Nc
Laughlin-was be lawyer or agenP
A. found Mclaughlin was around that
Cfhce, and some one said to me that he was
for that business
@. Did you tell him the nature of your
| claim?
A. 1 did, and offered to give him one-half
| he got.
q. How much did you get?
A. About 81 500; the claim was for g, 900.
q. Did he get The extra hauling In that
| claim?
A. He did; so he told me.
q. How long after you gave him the claim
was II before you got the money?
| a. About week or over; maybe more.
| HALVES.
@. Did he pay you the half Of that claim?
| A. He did.
q: pid you say anything TO your partner
A. did not, as had no opportunity to do
| so, having 10 90 TO Pennsy lvania to see a
@. Who gave you the Information that you
had any claim there?
| y. Once of the contractors.
q. Did you get the Information from Nc
| A. No, sir; some one told me that Nc
| Laughlin was good man 10 employ, as he
A. Did any one in the Office of the board
| give you any information, or did McLaugh-
| lin tell you what was due you there?
| a. No one in the Office told me anything
| about il. Mclaughlin said he thought there
| was right smart due the firm.
q Did you approach him or he you first?
| A, / approached him, as i heard he had
| got such claims through.
| q. " by did you suppose there was any
thing due you, when, as you state, you
| didn't know whether your claim was &C
| cording to contract?
A. Because others had been allowed for
| the same.
NOT SURPRISED AT ANYTHING.
! @ Was not the amount of the cal n al
| lowed far beyond your expectations?
! A. was not surprised at anything; would
not have been surprised if less had beel
awarded.
| q. Since your return from Pennsylva MIA
have you had any talk with Mclaughlin?
| A. / have; / told him 1 had been sum
moned before the committee, but had 30
conversation as TO what the testimony
| would be here.
q. Did he make any suggestions as 70
/ what you should say?
| A. He did not.
WHAT AsToNrsHeD WILLIAMS.
| q. What did your partner say when he
| heard of the allowance OF the claim-did he
| express any establishment?
| A. No sir; he did not. His establishment
was expressed when he heard of the allow
| ance before this committee.
| q. Have you had any conversation with
| your partner about your transactions with
| A. have, and have explained it all salts
| factorily 10 him.
| SECRET SESSION.
Here a recess IN the public session wa, was
!
| Inspector OF concretes undei the present Dis
trict government, which was taken in secret
| session, occupying half an hour.
MR.. NC LAUGHLIN EXPLAINS.
On re-opening the door Mr.. H. j. McLoptJh-
| tu was put on the stand, and proceeded TO ex-
| plain how he transacted his business. He
| said Mr.. Beckett called on him and asked
| him TO get his bill passed. A conversation
| eDsued which resulted in Beckett giving him
power of attorney. Witness got 1898 on his
| claim, be (witness) holding half the amount
| The claim was given him about the 10th or
| 18th Of December, and he got the certificate
| from The board OF audit the Sd OF January
| last.
q. Amt you mistaken as to the time be-
tween those dates?
| A. No. sir.
q. How did you make out the account or
a. made it out from the statement
| Bee kett gave me about the work.
q. Did Beckett have ny.papers to show
! you on which TO make out his claim?
a. He did; and from these and his verbal
| statements made up the claim.
q. In making out this claim did you have
any conference with any one inside the office
| OF the auditor?
q. Did they pass on your accounts without
any deduction; or did you get the eaLire
| amount claimed?
| A. The whole amount, nearly.
z. TO whom did you present the accounts?
| a. TO Mr.. Appel.
q. And he found these accounts all right?
A. He did, with the exception of a charge
for extra hauling-a small deduction was
made for that
q. What did Beckett say was due him?
| A. He did not say what the amount was,
| only he thought there was about IS 900 due
| him. The claim allowed was IS ,913.
| c. Did BecKetts books or papers show the
former settlement Is made with the ir1l?
| A. They did.
q. Did you have any talk with Williams,
Becketts partner?
A. No, sir; never knew him.
q: Did you consult with Mr.. Stone or Mr..
Williams In reference TO this claim OF Beck
| ett's?
| A. did not.
g. Did Beckett say that he had put in this
| claim before?
A. He said he had put in a part OF it-that
| portion allowed for old material only.
O. Did you see Beckett's contract before
| you made out the claim?
A. saw copy Of it which he had at is
| house.
Q. Had you any information from any one
| inside the Office of the board of audit or from
any one who had formerly held a position in
that office, as to Beckett Williams claim?
A. never had any such consultation.
Beckett said he had put in claim for some
| S140O, but knew nothing as to what was
coming 10 them.
| MR.. MORRIS. THE EXPERT.