Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-27
WASHINGTON GAS COMPANY IN.
VESTEGATION.
Testimony Before the Select Conn init
To-day.

The select committee OF the House to inquire
into the relations OF Mr.. John Bailey, CHIEF clerk
OF the House, with the Washington Gas Light
company, met at 10 80 O'Clock to-day.
JOURNAL CLERK SMITH EXAMINED.
Journal Clerk Smith, OF the House OF Represen-
tatives, was called rs a witness He tssta.
ned that Mr.. Bailey looked after the In
terests OF the gas company I'm matters az.
fecting legislation He knew he looked after bills
pending looking to the Incorporation OF new gas
companies. He used to witness about bills
introduced or reported. He asked witness once In
relation to gentleman, named Harmon, whom ho
sal, SAID the gas company had employed to defeat
Dill pending for new company, as TO his reabil.
1ty, and whether he had influence with Gen. VII.
liams, OF Michigan, who was chairman OF the
House committee on the District or Columbia.
This was In the 44th Congress He said he wanted
TO defeat Dill for new gas company. The con.
versauon sPoK pace On She avenue In the con.
II he had influence with the democrats. 81 said
knew him to be q lobbyist" Bailey had asked
pration bills affecting the gas company; had
asked what the conference committee had
done with certain amendments reducing the price
OF gas on the gas lamps, on one occasion, when
the House adopted a resolution calling for the
stockholders OF the company. Alter the
ness the document would be printed.
Witness said there was no order TO print the docu-
use in printing it witness never received as gaS a
receipts from Mr.. Bailey. He had received theaser
tickets. These were generally distributed; don't
witness said, the general law was amended so as to
prohibit by the company the giving OF free gas
latiOn was really favored by the washington Cas-
company. The newspapers-the Capital-had
made made an attack upon the company, and the pro-
nlOltOry legislation was favored by the company.
FREE GAS FOR CoNGREssMRN.
MI John NJ Barclay testified that he was an ON.
Ger OF the House OF Representatives from lsl7 to
1876 and from 1850 TO 1876 was the journal clerk.
Had his own gas free for three or four years;
gas to members of Congress. Bailey once said TO
witness, " You have a pass on the railroads and
an his as OF
witness heard Mr.. Bailey say word on the sub
1ect Of Of legislation affecting the gas company; dd
gas than himself.
SURETY FOR Mr. ADAMS
Mr. J. W. Stokes, Of Philadelphia, testified thao
he knew ex-C2erk Adams OF the House OF Repre-.
sentatives since ls596n. He executed the ofricial
bond for Mr.. Adams and was his surety. Mr.
Bailey did not solicit him TO 60 on the bond. He
went on Mr.. Adams bond at the solicitation OF
Green B. Adams, who was an uncle OF Clerk
Adams and q son-in-law or the witness. He asked
reason to believe he was an efficient oficer.
Neither Mr.. Bartol or any officer OF the gas COM
pany requested him to go on the bond OF Adams.
TESTIMONY OF PRESIDENT BAKroI-
Mr.. John Bartol, the president OF the Washing.
ton Gaslight company. testified that he had known
Mr. Bailey for forty years. The wife OF Mr.. Bailey
was cousin OF witness, and when witness came
70 washington from Philadelphia ne always
stopped at Mr.. Ba1leys house when the family
were in town. he had no recollection OF having
met Mr.. Harmon at Mr.. Baiey's house. He did
employ Harmon TO look after outside legts.
lati0n. He came TO witness with q let.
ter from q friend In Detroit The gas
company were annoyed by people who came TO
its Oflicers with all kinds OF worthless patents and
wanted the company TO buy them at fabulous
prices Failing In this they would come 10 Con-
gress and get bills introduced for new companies
Mr. Harmon was employed to look after such mat.
ters. Witness however, had no recollection OF
meeting Harmon at BaiIey's. or OF ever having
from parties at the Ebbitt house. Witness thinks
ne may have told Mr. Bailey OF tho
employment OF Harmon; has met Harmon when
Bailey was with him, onl y, however, casually ana
not by appointment Wftne IS never asked Bailey
TO use his ocial position for the purpose Of Affect.
Ing legislation In the interests OF thegas company.
Here j. w. Nightepgale and z n. johns weGo
called, but knew nothing on the subject
Mr.. HARMON RECAILKn
Mr.. j. W. Harmon was recalled He said tho
particular bill he was to defeat was the bill 70
incorporate the Citizeps' company. Upon further
reelection, he thought it WAS the Capital company.
When he was leaving Mr. Baileys house after tho
interview with BartOl, Baileys buggy was &C ne
door, and he drove him TO the E0bitt house
The committee then, without finishing the crooBs
examination OF Mr. Harmon, adjourned unt1
wednesday next
DE1.eA1loN OF colored republicans from Ten
nessee headed BY M. q r. Walker, had an inters
y1eW with the President to-day n regard 20 mat