Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-29

Continued from Second Page.

He sold it as agent and divided q commission
of 1925, or per cent
In answer to questions by Mr.. Taulbee tn,
witness said that in the 5th street case the
profit of himself and associate was 1921 go les.
expenses. The warranty deed to the District
he said. was from Jas. A. Taylor. Mr.. Taylor
he said. was citizen of England, and &
know whether he owned any property
or not. He did not think MIR. Taylor
name added any strength to the war
ranty deed. There was another rea
son for using his name and that was thai
if at any time the name of the District had ap
peared, the property could not be purchased
at any price. He said it was invariably the
case that
WHEN THE DISTRICT WAS KNOWN AS PURCHASES
the price was advanced. When asked
if he knew of such case
he said that in the case of the r street LOT
the owners had after the sale entered an indig.
nant protest. He insisted that prices would &c
up if the District was known rs purchaser
and that such was his experience as Commits
sioner, although he could recollect no particu-
lar case. When asked in regard to the 9Th
street site, whether objection was made, Gen.
West said: Il believe they had some arrange
ment with Mr.. Early that they were to divide
commissions with them. When they found
ont that the District of Columbia was the pur-
chaser the brokers representing the owners
flew the track and refused to divide"
RETURNING TO THE STREET SITE,
bought in the name of BENJAMIN Crane, the
witness said early in the summer his associate,
Mr.. Early, inquired about the property and
learned that it could be bought for 81 40 foot
When they got theCommissioners promise they
bought the property for S1l2, $500 or S1.40 Q
foot. The Commissioners were not then
obliged to take the property. There was nc
written agreement. They sold it to the Dis,
trict for $4,000. The Commissioners could
not have bought it at the price he did nor for
100000, on account of the objection that would
have been made to selling to the District.
When Mr.. Taulbee asked the witness what
kind of contract he had with his associates in
this business, he said
''cUT THING INTO THREE"
Their partnership was formed because he did
not dare appear as a purchaser of property in
suchlarge amounts in these localities. The part.
nership was formed to buy school sites. They
never had. as matter of fact, bought any,
thing which the Commissioners had not taken
off their hands. He was not, he said, trying to
save anything for the District. He was work.
ing for himself. He insisted, however
that prices paid were reasonable
To his mind the question in this case was
whether the Commissioners had paid more
than they ought to pay.
"Or, rather" said Mr.. Taulbee, ''is is no,
did they pay any more than they need to pay?' y
Il do not think they did" said the witness.
Gen. West stated, in regard to the published
report that he had told an owner that if he die
not sell through hin CWest) he could
not sell at all. that he was acting
in the case only for Mr.. Webb as q friend
and that he told the owner of the
property: aft you do not sell to the District
now you cannot sell at ALL" This was the re.
mark that had given rise to the report pub.
lished.
NH. COZ THEN RESUMED THE STAND.
When asked by NJ. Chapman whether
he held any fduciary relation to the
Commissioners or was their agent
Mr.. Cox said he was not. Mr.. Webb had re,
quested him to assist them in purchasing sites,
and mentioned to him that the Commissioner
had no appropriation for which to pay him.
Mr.. Cox was then examined as to other sales
to the District which he effected. His exami
nation was in progress when The Stars report
closed.