Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-17
WASHINGTON. D. c., Al

WASHINGTON. ID. c., April l6 1878
Editor EUenfnO Stur.: Your paper of TODAY
contains another effusion from Thomas B.
Bryan, Commissioner DC. The afix of Com,
missioner d. C. to his name when and wherever
It appears suggests the tact that the tau is
the animal, instead of performing its natural
functions.
How fortunate, Mr.. Editor, that the board
Oh puDhc works have made a city over which
1. b. B., I. d. e., can preside, and from which
he can Illuminate DEGREES and correspondence
as yolumlnous. and verbose as they are mali
ness that l have steadfastly advised our cti-
zens against the revival of past issues, the
elimination and recrimination which have
been so detrimental TO our material interests,
and the action of the Committee of One Hun
dred was to this end. just as the desired Ob-
ject was about to be attained this individual
PUSHES into print with Wlllful perverSiOn OF
facts and tissue of misrepresentation which
cannot fail to retard and possibly defeat the
object fef which we are sfFbIn To illus
committee called for the opinion of the Com
misSiOnerS upon the matter of assessments.
Commissioners SIC Dennison and Phelps sent in
I. b. B. c. d. G. elects a stump speech into
separate communication, and forwards it over
hts signature. Is not this illustrative of the
man? Referring to his communication / de-
monstrated its untruthfulness, and unfair
pess: His letter published to- day reiterates in
feeble terms some of his statements, and
resorts to rumOr as authority for the re-
mainder.
BY reference to the reports of the investi-
eating committee of 1874, the fact as stated by
me in regard to wooden pavem9ntS is fully
sustained. (See page 1888, which contains
i0rty petitions from property owners and resi-
dents ON as many streets. asking that con:
crete or stone be done away with and wood
SubSttuted) His reference to the DeGOlyer
contract and the $4,000 used in obtaining it,
is effectually disposed of in the same report
The amount of work done by this firm was
N,G00 yards, and they brought certificate
from the Board of Public Works of Chicago,
showing that their pavement had been in use
four years, and was then in good condition
The fitting up of the Morrison building was
done by Governor III. ID. Cooke, the BOOrd of
Public Works having no official connection
with it.
The cost $4,000 includes four-story back
building, fre-prOOf in every particular with
vaults for the records of the District govern
ment this part of the improvement alone cost
over $4,000, and yet I. b. b., G.. ID. c., would
have the public believe that the whole out
lay was for alterations in building and furni-
ture. The firm of A. X. Shepherd & Bro. were
employed by the contractor to do the plumb
ing under an order from Gov. Cooke.
Their Dill was passed upon by MeSSrS CluSS
& Rankin, the experts appointed for revision,
and paid in full without deduction.
The report of the investigating committee
for 1872 shows all the facts in this connection
and generally approved the action of the gov
ernOr The personal illusions to myself and
my dealings in real estate with contractors,
are, in my opinion, as petty and cOntemDtible
as is the writer of them. All such transactions
are matters of public record, have been invest
lgated for months by various committees with
all the thOrOughneSS that political and personal
anlmoslty could suggest or carry out, and
without result SO far as any imputatiOn on my
character, personally OF officially, is concerned
Respectfully, ALEX. X. SHEPHERD.