Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02
MR.. wHEATLEY's BOOMERANG.
The Commissioners Create "a Diversion
in the Real Estate Investigation.

AN EFFORT TO IMPRESS THE COMMITTEE THAT THE
STAR HAS BEEN sPITEFUL TOWARD THEM-A
GRAND wATER-HAUL-MR. wBEATLEY CROSS
ExAMISED-HE MAKES SOME NOTABLE ADMIs-
sIoNs.
When The Stars report of the inquiry con-
Quoted by Mr. Taulbees committee into the
real estate purchases of the Commissioners
ended yesterday afternoon Mr.. Webb was still
on the stand Mr. Rowell asked whether it
| occurred to the witness that in employing a
man to assist him and expecting him to get his
pay from another he was not putting this man
in the position of serving two masters, and that
one or the other was going to be cheated.
Mr.. Webb said this did not occur to him; he
| relied upon Mr.. Cox rs personal friend.
COMMISSIONER wHLATLEY EXAMINED.
About 8 o'clock Mr.. Webb left the stand and
Commissioner Wheatley was sworn as a wit
ness. He was asked in respect to the purchase
of the 9th-street station-house Major Moore
having indicated where he wanted the station
located witness said he requested Mr.. Cox to
find out at what price a suitable lot could be Sc
cured. Mr.. Cox reported the site that was the
one purchased He was not aware at the
time that Mr.. Cox had purchased the prop
erty himself. He had made an attempt to find
out whether the price charged was a reasona-
bic one. He had consulted the building in
spector and Major Moore on this matter. Pre-
vious to receiving this offer he had had no talk
with either with MIR. Weller or Mr.. Repetti re-
speeding the site. He had talked with Mr.. We'll
Ter after the purchase was made. He denied
that Mir. Weller had told him the price at which
the property sold. He said that he in
formed Mr.. Weller where the lot was that had
been purchased. and Mr.. Weller then told him
that that was property his firm had for sale.
COy's REL ATOMS To THE INSTRUCT
Mr.. Cox, he said. was not authorized at all to
make any deposit for the Commissioners. He
was not permitted to negotiate at all for the
Commissioners. but only to inquire and report
as to the location and price. After the selection
of the site Mr.. Cox told him he had secured an
option on it.
If he took an option at 37lS cents" said Mr.
ROwell, latter knowing that the Commissioners
had decided to buy it, and then sold it to the
District at higher price, would You consider
that exactly square dealing?''
Il wouldn't have countenanced that" said
Mr.. Wheaatey. ''if had known il. and l don't
know now that such was IKE case"
Did you know how Mr.. Cox was getting
paid?"
Il presumed" said Mr.. Wheatley, chat Mr..
Cox was being paid by the owners of the
property"
Mr.. Rowell asked if the witness thong
man could be agent for both buyer and seller
and deal absolutely squarely with both parties?
Mr.. Wheatley denied that MIR. Cox was the
agent of the Commissioners. He sent him. he
said to find out what the site could be bought
for, and did not propose to bebound by what
Mr.. Cox did.
Mr.. Rowell asked if Mr. Cox had not by virtue
of his being invited to assist become possessed
of knowledge to the decision of the Com
missioners?
80 far as was concerned" said Mr.. Wheat
ley, "any one could have had that information
from me-"
MIR. Wheatley was asked whether Mr. Weller
had not come to him before the sale was made
and spoken to him about selling a site. Mr..
Wheatley said he had. Il told him. he went
on. that he could have equal opportunities
with others, and to submit his proposition
He never submitted any proposition"
MIR. Wheatley said he was not aware that
MIR. Pickrell was getting the property for a
less price than the District paid for it, He
did not believe the District Commissioners
would have got it any cheaper If they had gone
directly to the owners. He did not think they
could get real estate cheaper by condemnation
or by calling for bids.
MR.. DAVIS PECULIAR QUESTION.
Mr.. Davis, the attorney for the District,
began his examination of Mr.. Wheatley, when
Mr.. Rowell had finished by calling attention
to the interviews published in TnE STAR and
remarking that the testimony taken had dis
covered the fact that the statements published
missioners than the statements made by the
same person before the committee. He asked,
then, If anything had been discovered that ex-
planned why The STAR should take this course
Mr.. Rowe1 said the committee was not in
vestigating The STAR.
Mr.. Davis submitted that it was proper to
show animus, inasmuch the statements pub
ished in The STAR had been before the COM
mittee
Mr.. Rowell said The STAR did not appear
here and the statements formed no part of the
evidence. The writer had been examined
merely for the purpose of giving the COM
mittee the names of the persons from whom
information was obtained
MIR. Theodore W. Noyes, associate editor of
The STAR, who was present. said that The STAR
had not considered that in this investigation it
was prosecutor, defendant or witness but that
the attempt to impugn The STARS motives had
already gone so far in what had been permitted
that he did not care if the examination pro-
ceeded, provided The STAR might have the
privilege of correcting any impressions which
the committee might receive from what
was stated. He could, he said. show
for The STAR that Its motives in this mat
ter had been proper. and everything said or
done had been considered with a view to what
was best in the interest of the taxpayers of the
District Mr. Webbs own statement. published
after the first reference to these matters in
The STAR, had been the basis of the criticisms
in The STAR, which had not alleged crimi-
nallty on the part OF the Commissioners, but,
considered from the taxpayers point of view,
whether the methods followed by the Commits
sioners had been judicious, and whether the
money that had gone to the agent in view of
Mr.. Webb's admissions. could not be recovered
for the District. The STARS arguments he
claimed. were based largely ON the Commits
sioners own admissions.
MR.. wHEATLEY's NARRATIVE
After some discussion the committee decided
to permit Mr.. Davis to pursue the course of in
quiry he had begun. and he asked Mr.. Wheat
ley again if anything had occurred that ex-
planned to his mind the action of THE STAR
Mr.. Wheatley said that there had been some
unpleasantness. few days prior to the LIST of
February last the chief clerk of the special as
sessment division had prepared list of de-
hnquent special assessment cases to be adver-
tised- The Commissioners determined that
the first batch should be given The STAR, its
circulation being larger and its influence
greater than the other papers. the second to
the Post and the third to the Critic He was
directed by the board to carry out this under
standing and he sent message to The STAR
Office. Mr.. f. b. Noyes responded The wit
ness said he recited to him not all the facts he
now told. but simply that he was directed to
give to him the first batch. A short time after
ward MIR. Moves came again into the Office He
said he had heard an absurd rumor in circulation
hardly needing refutation, that the Post would
print some of the special assessment advertise
ments. Witness informed him that that was a