Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-26

ciuded, and the secret consultation was begun.
out OF the rear room, leaving the door open,
through which the court followed.
THE COURT OPENED.
The session was begun at 10:45 by Lieut.. Davis
| reading the proceedings of yesterdays session
including the courts decision to sit with open
doors. Mr.. Maurice Pechin was then sworn as the
stenographer OF the court. The recorder read to
the court communication from Beckwtth
s asking for at the
Perry should be recognized as their legal adviser
and representative. Mr.. Perry was introduced to
the court by Lieut. Davis who read letter from
Mr.. Perry.
MR.. PERRY WANTS ONE At TINE.
The latter called attention TO the fact there are
now sitting two boards OF Investigation upon the
| same subject, namely the Congressional joint
committee and the military court Of inquiry. In
eject charged with fraud upon the Government,
and were to be tried by two tribunals at the same
as Sven n SnaS S me S0%r ~ OF
committees investigation Is made known The
court retired for momentary consultation, an
court should proceed with its investigation in
compliance with the order. The recorder read q
letter from Senator Ingalls, chairman of the Senate
investigating committee, TO the Secretary Of War,
urging that the investigation be made thorough.
Gen. Casey's Endorsement on this letter was to
brothers ana OF Thos. Lucas has been referred to
MAJ. Lydecker Tor investigation and report
READING THE AFFIDAvITs.
The aff1davit Of Inspector Thomas Lucas was
| read. He said that he became satisfied that i'm
perfect work was being done on the tunnel, and to
test the amount OF cement used he required that
the attendants on one occasion drop brick for
each barrel OF cement sent into the tunnel The
next morning he found six bricks, indicating six
barrels OF cement while the space covered by
masonry would, If work had been properly per-
formed, have required about forty barrels. He re-
ported what he considered the Irregularities to
| r6Ur1malded doing.
the anidav1ts OF VIM. and Geo. Kendall. the
brlcklayers, were next placed in evidence. They
| the aQueduct tunnel, from May 70 september, and
| were impressed that the work done on the tunnel
the contract. The space below the nng brick and
roof was not packed with stone tmbedded In
cement but with loose stones. and in places there
was no packing done whatever. The works were
continually sighted, and there was faulty con-
struction throughout: no Instructions were given
20 remedy the evil The work was sighted In
both labor and construction; in the former case
BY the discharge OF skilled labor and the employ
ment OF unskilied workmen. One man was sup
posed TO 90 the work OF three The quality and
and quantity OF cement used were not up 70 the
standard; when barrel should have been used
there was buShel, and fifteen barrels were re-
ported when but nve were consumed.
LIEur. TowNsENDs REPORT.
The next paper presented to the court was the
report to Major Lydecker by his assistant Lieut.
Townsend, which has been published in full In
The STAR Lieut. Townsend, in this report de-
|
That done under Inspector OBrien was the report
said, crtminally bad. That unoer Mcnamara was
better, ana seemed to improve as he became better
found over the key OF the arch. The work done
under Inspectors Kowzee Woodward, and Lucas
by Lucas for examination proved bad. Iieut.
townsend suggested that the Investigation extend
to the work done In former years. and that every
l0ot OF the tunnel should be examined.
MAJOR LYDRCKRR's REPORT
was next In order. but some deav occurrod
ing from the fact that the paper was then being
copied for the use OF the court During the wait
Major Lydecker and Lieut. Townsend appeared on
the scene and were introduced TO the officers.
After few minutes the papers arrived, and
Major Lydeckers report to the Chief OF Engineers
dated October 15 relating TO the charges preferred
ing had not been done according TO the specifica-
lions, was read. He said that he visited the tun.
mel on the 1st OF october, and caused the brick
Champlain avenue heading. solid rubbla backing
was found up t. the key OF the arch, where a VOID
feet long was discovered This was In the WORK
done under Inspector Lucas. The next Opening
was made about SO feet to the east and a hole ~.
feet long was found over the key. TIE backing
O'Brten's section, and 1t was concluded that the
rest OF his work was like that examined. number
q noes orsa through Sns walls showed
that the packing was Improperly laid
do not seem to be sustained, aud there was no
spectors, except In O'Brien's sections SO far as
the work has been examined externally there Is
no reason 70 believe that the work should be de-
report states, all the evidence that the ofcers
have Is TO the eject that it was good in quality
sna sas sstsa Sore gas going s0ss aS
the tunnel, and all inferior material
was rejected. During the course OF construction
sponsible for It have been discharged In two
cases inspectors were dismissed because they were
Of bad wore nsSe ever %soe no
the oficer directly in charge Of the construction
no new points Of detective work were
and sesr Of ss osn ann
that lad work was ever called 70 tSsr Ssns
II Is useless continued Major LydecKer TO arrive at
anything conclusive In regard to the character OF
tion likely ensue through the EFFORTS OF the con-
gressonai COMMITTEES, he has decided not 70 push
Ins sasminatiop \, h, o. the tunnel any further az
work Is fraudulent the reports OF the inspectors
also Will be found 80. The major said that he mad
not taken any steps as yet 70 remedy the defecta
10 VISIT TIE TUNNEL.
Col Craighill offered q motion, which was
adopted, that a. the work on the tunnel neces-
sarily ceases on the LIST OF November BY the
action OF law, and a. II is highly important that
the tunnel should be inspected while the work
yersity shaft at 10 O'Clock tomorrow, and that
Major Lydecker and the contractors be requested
70 Oe pre6ont W accompany Coe court tnrOuRn Inc
tunnel Gen. Ruger offered resolution asking the
adjutant general TO furnish the court with q his
tory OF the work Of the construction OF the WASH
tngton aQueduct, a. embodied IN onictai reports,
giving the names OF officers, both principal and
subordinate connected with the work. together
with the dates OF their entry upon ana relief from
such duty. This was adopted The court than as
12:16 adjourned.
GOULD NOT GIVE OUT FHB PAPsxA
In view OF the fact that Major Lydeckers report
has never been made public. the attendant 70
porters submitted . request 70 Gen. Rugef that
they be allowed 70 make copies OF the pupen Of
fered In evidence before the court Gen. Ruger 70
plied that he had no authority to give out any
papers bue whatever gieanlngs the reportefs
might make from them as they were read was
their property.
NOTES o. 1HB INVESTIGATION.
The compoeitaon OF the court u generally r.
garded by Army ofncers with great favor. Sad
one Of them 70 sfAR reporter this morning:
ssrhe Secretary could not have found. oeeter
court General 1uger1 former expeglenoe N e1o
Engineer Corps nfs him Tor such duty ana = .
whole the court = % drawn - - roitevo u nom
any idea Of local preJudice. A lDr ny own oplA-
ION there y out one thing % b done % ne tun-
mel, and that y % bEeak down the entire arch
nom one END % the other. Ioo noe oeoeve tAAs ls
wlli be necessary for tto court - yomA1n n -
sion tor more than . NV 0ayAs
General Rugor at 0no time studied law.
Each o11cef cayYtea h1Swog0, with knoe o(
Grape In the hilt. aroaeo with Inn, vhersvsr h