Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-11

70 investlgate these matters, and IN view OF tne
concessions made in the paper just read, to
find that the District Commissioners should
attempt to forestsn an investigation. / saw
the articles published in the papers with refer
ence TO these purchases, and must say that
read them with great deal OF increduiity. 1
noticed, however, in the EVENING STAR OF week
ago last Friday, an article purporting to state
the Commissioners side Of the question, and
taking for granted that that article contained
the truth, / say that the transactions had
sioners amount to an ofense against the law
constitute crime really-and cannot see that
the situation is made any better as explained
by the document just read from the clerks
desk. Now, am 1 TO understand the gentleman
from Iowa, Mr.. Henderson, as meaning to say
that the Commissioners have agreed to pay
greater price for these sites thus purchased
than was asked by the owners OF the property
II it was not to be used for school purposes? II
SO, maintain that the persons who have
reaped the profits of this transaction have done
so by deceiving and defrauding those affected
by the purchase-the owners Of the adjacent
property. would not be party to any such
transaction"
1T Is BREACH OF FAITH,
a breach of propriety on the part Of any pub
Lie officer to be instrumental in the purchase
Of property through any such strategem or by
any such method as would induce the owners
of that property to accept a less price than
they would if they knew for what purpose the
property was to be used. Now, all this expla-
nation Of what has transpired has nothing to do
with the merits of my amendment or the para
graph to which it relates. The amendment
have offered proposes simply that il these pur-
chases are TO be made Of any persons other
than the owners Of the real estate, they must
be made through regular dealers in real estate
in this city, and in that event these dealers
must have had control Of the property from
the date Of the passage of this bin; and il is
further prnyIhad hot M mic hall hA
paid except the usual and ordinary commits
sion, which / think highly proper provision
in the event that the Commissioners are COM
PEELED to purchase this property through the
mediation of real estate dealers believe the
amendment have offered will obviate the re-
currence of such transactions as have trans
PRED or which are said to have transpired
during the current fiscal year.
81 am willing that the merits of the resolu-
ton which have introduced shall be discussed
when it comes up for consideration; but if
members Of this House are to be induced to
believe that no transaction which the Commits
sioners may have had with real estate agents
or other persons in this District is of such
a character as ought to be investigated. then it
would be proper to save the time of this House
by forestaiiing that investigation and smother
ing that resolution or those resolutions before
the committees where they are now pending
That is one question and will be considered
when it comes up. This is another question
believe that the gentleman from Iowa will
agree that my amendment. offered to this
paragraph of the bill. will obviate these occur
FENCES in the future, will prevent any such
transactions hereafter.
Il do not believe the gentleman from Iowa
would want TO cover up any transaction of any
public officer which would look like crooked
ness; and am sorry to see the District Com
missioners, for whom have high personal
regard, sending documents to the House of
Representatives In anticipation of an investi-
CATION which is as far remote as it is possible,
probably, for an investigation to be, where q
committee has a resolution for consideration
and it is not privileged. But this investigation
of what has been done heretofore will come on
soon enough. / promise the gentleman from
Iowa that will pursue it until the good con-
duct of the Commissioners is clearly demon
strated by an ascertainment of the facts or
until their bad faith is exposed by an investi-
CATION"
The amendment, as stated yesterday, was
adopted.
AN APPROPRIATIONS INCREASED.
The appropriation for the National temper
ance home was increased from 81 ,5OO to q, 500.
Mr.. Rowell asked unanimous consent to re-
turn to the first part of the bill so as to increase
the appropriation for permit work on the
streets from 100000 to 5000 OOO but Mr..
Clements objected The bill was then passed.
A SUPERB RoApwAY.-The Philadelphia Dr.
VISION OF the b. .. X. X. Is one of the best
roads ever constructed. 1t is laid with heavy
steel rails, on oak ties, rock ballasted All the
culverts and bridge abutments are of massive
stone masonry and the bridge superstructures
are of steel The great steel bridge spanning
the Susquehanna at Havre de Grace is one of
the finest on the globe, and the view obtained
from the car windows as the train passes over
the mighty structure is one of SURPRISING beau
ty. Those who have never travelled over this
line should do so on their next visit to Phila-
deiphia. The b. & O.. trains are equipped with
magnificent new Pullman Parlor cars, and they
are faster than those running via any other
Gne.-Adrt.