Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-16
The District Investigation.
TESTIMONY TO-DAY.


be held back for rurther Information.
The District Investigation.
TESTIMONY TO-DAY.
The House committee on the District of Co
lumbia to-day resumed the investigation of the
charges made by Treasurer Gilfllan against the
District OF Columbia Commissioners.
The first witness examined was Collector OF
Taxes John F. Cook. He testified that green
back certificates for general taxes are paid to
him as collector: no copies OF assessment sheets
are filed in the Office Of witness; the evidence OF
genuineness of certificates witness bases solely
on the signatures OF the officer issuing them there
was no way in which witness could tell II dupli-
cate certificates were issued; the Commissioners
told witness that drawbac signed by MI.
Roome and properly endorsed should be re-
ceived for taxes the genuineneSS OF an endorse
ment from one party to the other as to signature
was evidenced before being accepted by wit
ness.
Mr. Beall. clerk in the collectors Office. said
a statement of all drawbacks was prepared in
his office; when witness received drawbacks for
taxes he accepted the signature OF the issuing
drawback; if Mr.. Roome should issue four or
five drawbacks on one piece OF property witness
would have no means OF knowing that fact, un-
less his attention was called to 1t; never re,
Quired brokers to file any indemnity or collateral
in case the payment to them of drawbacks
might be erroneous: witness cancels all draw
back certificates as fast as he receives them
Witness was shown two drawback ceruflcateS,
and was asked if they were paid in his Office; he
said they were, but he could not tell when.
Witness was shown Two others for the same
property; he said that the first two had been
paid by him, but they were reported to be for
ger1es, and the second set was paid on account
OF the previous payment illegally on the Forged
certitieate 9ls' Which he paid: he said the only
signature he knew to be genuine OF his own
knowledge was that of William Dickson,
broker, to whom it was made payable. Dickson
has turned into office of witness for tax draw
back certificates aggregating probably $4,000.
Witness said his attention had previously been
called to the forged certificates; messenger in
was promptly dismissed by the Commissioners.
The forgery on the certificates is that of the en-
dorsers only; witness has no knowledge how
many forged certificates have have been pa passed. @ =,
VIM. Dickson, said he worked first for Dickson
few weeks in 1878. His business was to fill
up blanks Of complaint; by order OF Mr.. Dick
property to all complaint blanks; he supposed
Mr.. Dickson had verbal authority from the
owners to do so. Witness attention was called
on drawback certificates. Hts only recollection
of the proceeding was that he witnessed large
number of such endorsements, and believed
one to be sSah he had a
cate signed Phoebe Phillips. but, while he had
no distinct knowledge, he said he thought some
man had signed for her. He was also shown
another certificate which was alleged to be
signed by Thomas Wall and witnessed by him.
self. 1t was developed that Wall had been dead
for sixteen years, and that the signature OF
that If Thomas Wallis wife had come into his
office, he might have witnessed the signature
as genuine as that of Thomas Wallis, If his wife
had signed his name Witness was further
tiflcate signed Phoebe Phillips and witnessed by
himself. He said that If Phoebe Phillips was
dead, and her husband signed her name to a
certificate, he might attest it as genuine sig
nature in case he knew the signer was the hus-
band OF the deceased person.
MI j. A. Clarke was next sworn. He Is an
employe In the office OF William Dickson Wit
he was one Of the attesting witnesses to the
genuineness of the signature; he could not
swear definitely whether Phoebe Phillips signed
it or not; he supposed she did, because he wit
messed the signature. He was shown also the
Thomas Wall certificate, but he had no recOllec-
tion that woman signed 1t.
VIM, o. ROOme, the certificate clerk, was next
sworn; he has charge OF the revisions OF Spe-
cial assessments; he explained that in making
up assessments he took all the elements OF
at both sides of the street; all the calculations
in the revision Of assessments made by witness
are approved by the District Commissioners;
after the revisons get back to the office Of wit
ness he aScertatnS the amount to be assessed
upon each lot, which is the basis for the iSsu-
ance of drawback certificates. Witness does
not furnish the collector schedule OF the
drawback certificates he issues the certificates
are signed by witness only in his capacity as
chief OF the division of special assessments. If
man comes to his office and claims draw
back, ne makes hum l. take oath pa that ne Is the
owner and present ms PAID olll; II an attorney
represents an owner, WltneSS demands
power OF attorney; between the collectors
Office AID that OF witness there Is no
exchange OF accounts. witness SAID ne never
issued duplicate certlncates out twice, ana In
each instance ne asked Collector COOK and his
CLERK, MI. Beall, Wnetner tne originals nad Deen
pald, ana eacn reported tney nad not. witness
salu tnaI over oO,OOo compialhts had Deen mace
against the assessments OF the BOARD or public
works OF this number witness supposed that
81, 600 had been filed by William Dickson. The
orders witness had from the commissioners
were 70 go ahead WIN tne revision OF an tne
whether complaints were made or not. Draw
back cert1ncates were issued also, whether
Complains Us were maae % OF noI: VI Ine compialnts
t az Ino % uillSe "a apSuL M PEI Cene. came
lIoLi M piupeity p s oMnoss III IleiI oWn mame, per
tes. I'LL ,t,Gi tE atr n3S anu auouS ~ pei cenG;
.ioin a. , DiChsun @ Mitness mas revised ail
Feb. 18th, ISL. Witness allows the husband to
sign for wife or wife for a husband II they
nave powers OF attorney 10 SO sign, OUT In Sucn
cases the signature is as attorney one Tor the
other The amount OF assessments made on
county ROADS was $s6, ,63S 70: Witness produced
the orlglnal assessment on Water street, George
loWn, noM Hlgn 10 Ingan. Ine original assess.
menL was Sls tS6. rs; II was revised and reduced
10 ", 5Os..6 Oh tIn street ROAD the original
assessment was A6,9lS.42: IL was reduced In