Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-26
The District Investigation.

The House committee on the District of Co
lumbia to-day resumed the investigation Of the
charges made against the District Commission
eTS by Treasurer Giifllan.
Commissioner Dent was sworn and testified
that he had been Commissioner since the I'd of
July, 1878; the resolution of the District commit
tee suspending the receipt of drawbacks for
taxes had seriously interfered with the collec-
tion of the revenues due the District the attor-
ney of the District Commissioners has given the
Commissioners an opinion that there was no
power to stop the Commissioners receiving
greenbacks for taxes except Congress Witness
considered the resolution OF the District COM
mittee only in the light of a request.
Witness was shown an annual report by the
Commissioners. which stated the amount OF
assessments ' was only E ssss, while over 81 ,oea
had been received in drawback certificates
This was up to october 1st, 1879, when per
cent interest was charged.
Q. What was the amount of cash received on
account OF special assessment for the three
months subsequent to october 1St, 1879?
what the % Whole ca amount @ Of cash receipts are on
account of special assessments. Witness re-
freshed his memory by letter written to Chair
man Howe, of the Senate committee. and said
the whole amount OF cash received for special
Improvement taxes was $3.50.
Witness impression is that the request of the
committee to suspend the issue Of drawback X
taxes: cannot tell whether the cash receipts
have been more or less since the resolution SuS-
pending drawback certificates was passed; his
impression is, though, that it has tnterfered
with the collection Of the revenues of the Dis
trtct; drawback certificates on all imposed
taxes reduces the amount due the District; wit
ness explained that the revenues of the District
were interfered with by the suspension OF the
receipt of drawback certificates, because par
ties who otherwise would pay their general as
sessmentS do not now pay them while the order
what e7fdenee rH' have f sou that the nom
receipt of drawbacks affects the collection OF
fayy ffDrf fra1ok.r rol fr,,rNr lnnfC
A. base it on the general fact that know of
many parties who are anxious to pay their
taxes but who hold back until they can pay in
drawbacks.
Q. Are you acquainted with the settlement
proposed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company for amounts due on account Of special
improvement taxes?
A. am. do not know the amount of the
assessment. Negotiations are pending now for
a settlement.
Witness continuing said that no tax certia-
Gates were issued after May, 1876. bee ause the
Commissioners thought 1t best TO wait until all
the rev1siOns were complete aud issue them all
at Once the Commissioners are now, however,
preparing to issue such certificates; witness
last night signed two hundred to be issued;
witness thinks that If there had been no tnves-
tigation OF District affairs, that the work OF
Vision of special assessments would have been
completed by July 1st next. Since it has been
pending. however, the clerical force Of the Office
has M been kept busy answering the inyestlgator's
ers have not been able to move peg. The in
vestigation has arrested the Gevslon of all
special assessments. Witness said that the
complaints made touching erroneous assess
ments were overwhelming; did not know the
form Of complaint; understood they were made
either by the property-hOlders themselves or on
behalf of them by attorneys acting under pow
ers Of attorney.
Q. De you know Mr.. Fague?
A. lido.
g. Did you ever tell him when he made an in
divldual complaint for property holder on a
certain street, TO file complaint for the whole
street?
A. have no recollection OF ever having made
such statement to Mr.. Fague or anybody
else.
witness said that he had had very little to do
with special assessments; the engineer depart
ment had charge Of them.
@. Do the Commissioners approve the assess
ments sent them by the special assessment
division?
A. take it for granted they do. II Major
Twining should come in and say "Here are re-
ports from the special assessment DIVISION
and say he had examined them, witness would
approve the same upon his recommendation.
At ten minutes after twelve O'Clock the COM
m1ttee adjourned until tomorrow.
MR., WILLIAM DICKSON
said that his private business affairs had been
the subject OF investigation, and he renewed
Ills request to be summoned as witness. He
was assured that he would be summoned at
some subsequent stage of the investigation.