The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-06-08
REPORT ON AFFAIRS OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

concerned, by the Chairman, BUCK
ner. 1t specifically charges the Com
missieners with the violations oflaw
in expenditures of money, and says,
in relation to the Board of Audit, the
evidence will fully sustain the com
mittee in the statement hat favored
parties had no difficulty in having
claims audited, in some cases in
which there was no Aterit, and in 9th
ers for much more saan was due,
while other claimants, with equal
merit Or demerit, we're procrastinat-
ed and delayed until some person in
communication with the accounting
officers turns up to purchase, at a
heavy discount, the claims thus e.
cessarily hindered and delayed in
their adjustment. The report gives
the names of thirty persons who had
improper or erroneous allowances
made to them, ranging from $1,000
to $4,000, and aggregating $32O,667.
The report says if the intention
and meaning of the act ofJune, 1874,
has not been greatly misconstrued,
there can be no doubt the Commits
80
~sioners have added So, 09I ,046 to the
debt of the District, not only with
out warrant of law, but against their
own construction of their powers, as
shown by their report of December,
1874. The report says that in the
investigation of some ofthe contracts
of the Board of Health it appears
that with the Odorless Excavat-
ing Apparatus Company, of Balti-
more, was made under circumstances
that leads to the suspicion, ifnot to
the conviction, that improper motives
controlled two members of the Board
awarding this contract, Drs. Cox and
Bliss, who subsequent to the award
received from the Odorless Company
certificates of preferred stock in the
company, guaranteeing eve per
cent. per annum interest on $4,000,
4
which they seem to have disposed Of
afterwards to the President of the
company.
The committee say not only ought
this contract to be cancelled and set
aside, but your committee would call
the attention of the authorities ofthe
District to the propriety of bringing
the conduct of Cox and Bliss in this
matter before the grand jury, and
Having these officers indicted under
; Section 5,501 of the revised laws Of
the United States.
The report is a long one, and in
conclusion recommends the passage
of the accompanying joint resolu'
ton:
"Resolyed, &C., the Senate concur
ring therein, That the Attorney Gen
eral of the United States be and he
It's hereby directed to cause proceed
ings at law to be instituted against
William Dennison, John Fl. Ketch
am and Seth I. Phelph, on their sew
eral bonds. as Commissioners of the
District of Columbia, for malfeasanct
and unfaithfulness in the discharge
of their duties as said Commission
, ers, and for this purpose he is au
thorized to appoint such special
counsel as he may deem advisable
who shall take charge of the conduct
and management of said suits, ant
also of all actions, whether civil OF
criminal, against the parties men
toned or referred to in the report O
the Committee ofthe District of Col
umbia, made to the House of Repre-
sentatiyes on the - day of May
1876, as having obtained illegal ane
improper allowances against the Dis
trict of Columbia, or of having beer
guilty of a violation of the crimina
!. laws of the United States; and tina
the Clerk of the House certify to thu
Attorney General and to the CRANE
' Jury of the District of Columbia salt
report and accompanying evidenc'
> for SUBTRACTION in the premises a
, they may deem proper; that the Com
! mittee on the District OF Columbi
I of the House of Representatives, b.
/. such experts as they may appoint
= shall continue the investigation Q
: the demands and claims against til
: Board of Public Works, audited an
. certified by the Board of Aud
against the District of Columbi,
= with a view of ascertairing whethe
any further illegal allowances hay
. been made, or illegal or impropt
movements made, and that such e,
Il perts shall have free access to an
. papers, documents or records in on
" department of the District Cover
ment, and shall be entitled to copi'
thereof, and said committee sha
make a report thereof to the ne,
. session of Congress"
>. The Republican members of tt
= committee, and Mr.. Willard, of Mic
e igan, Liberal, and perhaps some
" the Democratic members, will refns
:, to unite in the above report. Viii
n they will admit that claims have bee
: allowed by the Board of Audit whie
were improper, they will refuse to il
:, dorse the conclusion that the Distri,
Commissioners should be held a
a countable for a Board which is in I
. wise amenable to the Commission
!. ers, and whose powers and duties al
u n, o1oorl,y l,fpnI nc fbo;ro ~ Tx