National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-03-04
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Investigation of the Charges Made
by Mr.. GlIfillan.
Irregularities in the Issue of Drawback
Certihcates-somo Evidence which Re
quires ENplanatlon-The District
Commissioner Reply to Sem
Rtor Blair's Resolution
Other Matters, SC.
Tho GnaIlan Investigation.

The House District Committe resumed yes
tcrday the investigation of the management
of the financial affairs of the District under
the charges preferred by Treasurer Gilfllan
Tho testimony taken reflected very severely
upon tho management of tho drawback"
office. The first witness was Seth Schcll, who
testified that after attempting several times
to obtain drawback to which he was en-
titled, he found out that the drawback had
been issued to another person upon forged
application, and had fallen into the hands of
q broker.
Henry f. Davis testified that drawback
to which he was entitled was issued to
broker named Eddy. When the witness COM
planned to Commissioner Dent, that gem
tleman actively exerted himself TO set
the matter right. After some time
he was given two drawback certificates
in place of the one issued to Eddy. The wit
ness said that he did not know how the broker
got the certificate, unless he was in 'cahoots"
with some of the employees of the office. He
said also that lie had paid taxes on some
county property in 1878 and in 1880; he found
that he had not been credited with the pay
ment, and IN the meantime his property had
been advertised for sale as delinquent"
u. W. Denham, clerk in the Treasurer's
Office testified that the records of that office
showed that no interest on delinquent taxes
had been charged since October, 1879 and
that prior to that date the six per cent. al
lowed by law was charged.
G.. H. b. White, cashier of the National
Metropolitan Bank, testified that the bank
had received drawback Of two.thirds on an
assessment, though no complaint had been
made aud no revision requested.
At noon the committee adjourned until to-
day.
Reply to Senator BlRir's Resolution.
The District Commissioners yesterday sent
to the Senate, through tho Vice.President, n
statement in response to the resolution recently
offered by Senator Blair, requesting informa.
ton relating to the personnel of tho police
force. The statement contains a specific reply
to each interrogatOry in the resolution, ex.
cepting the last, aud to that the Commissioners
reply that no person has been appointed at any
time within the two years last past who has
not served in the army or navy of the United
States, and exhibited an honorable discharge
therelrom, excepting the two private watch
men in Georgetown, the circumstances of
whose appointment are set forth in II note at
tached to the statement, and who receive no
compensation from the District
An Appeal For Protection.
The committee OF twenty-five appointed al
the indignation meeting at McCauley's Hall
| last Monday evening yesterday waited upon
| Chairman Hunton, of the House District Com.
mittce and Chairman Harris of the Senate
District Committee, aud presented the resou-
tiOns adopted at the meeting. Both gentlemen
promised to do all in their power to obtain
early action on the bill to increase the force
now pending. The following petition is being
circulated through the city, and has already
received many signatures:
To The Senate aud House Of Representatives. IN Con-
gross Assembled:
| GENTLEMEN: Your petitioners, male and female
residents of the District of Columbia beg leave TO
call your attention TO the apparent inability of our
present police force TO restrain the terrible increase
| of crime in our midst, and we earnestly and ur-
gently request that you Immediately raise tho
effective force of the Metropolitan police to three
hundred privates, besides officers and that you
amend the criminal code OF the District Of Colim.
| bia, by making the crime of rape a capital
| ofense.