Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-04
THE SCHOOL SITE INQUIRY.
Mr.. We BIB Explains Further About the
Assistance Rendered by MIR. Cox.


Assistance Rendered by Mr.. Cox.
THE PRocEkDISas or Mr.. rAuLBER's COMMITTEE
THIS MoRNINa-MR. WEBB SAYS MR. cox WAS A
oUAs-AaENTAMR. TAULBEE SAYS HE HAS oNL,
TWO OR THREE MORE WITNESSES.
Mr.. Tsulbees committee, investigating the
| real estate purchases of the Commissioners
was to have met at 10 O'Clock this morning. Al
| that hour Mr.. Baker, the District Commission
| ers, MIR. Cox, and the counsel were the only
persons present. About half an hour after
ward Gen. Lee and Judge Rowell appeared
They waited until nearly IL o'clock, when Gen
Lee proposed that the committee should come
| to order. Mr.. Rowell took the chair As there
were no witnesses present Judge Baker proposed
that they should adjourn and consider the tes-
| timony closed unless Mr.. Taulbee desired ia
present more evidence. Mr.. Rowell, however
! suggested waiting ten minutes longer. and be-
fore ten minutes expired Mr.. Taulbee appeared
with the excuse that business engagement
down town had detained him. Mr.. Taulbee
said in looking over the testimony of Commits
sioner Webb, taken in his absence Friday, he
found that there were points he desired to
question Mr.. Webb about.
Mr.. WEBB RECALLED.
MI. NepD Wac therefore Tecdlleu w tue Stdnu.
He was asked first about the site purchased at
New Hampshire avenue and r street. He said
this was purchased in two parcels, one from
Mr.. Lipscomb, the other from Mr.. b. Crane
through Gen. West. The witness said Gen.
West made an offer of the property, and he
consulted Mr.. Powell. the superintendent of
schools. about it. That was after Gen. West
had submitted his proposition. He said he
thought he had consulted one of the school
trustees, probably Mr.. Darlington, aboutit. Mr..
Powell said IL was the best piece of property
in that neighborhood for school site He had
consulted the building inspector, Mr. Entwisle.
about the price He did not recollect now what
was said In his conversation with Mr. Entwisle.
1t was the witness impression that in some
propositions, but the proceedings went ON on
the strength OF his verbal approval.
THE ABSTRACT OF TITLE IN THE CASE.
Mr.. Webb was asked whether there was any
expense in the way of preparing an abstract of
title incurred by what are called the middle
men," Mr.. Webb said that he did not know,
but that he did know that no such expense was
borne by the District.
The witness was handed the papers in the case
and could not find any written offer of the
property. He thought from that that there
was never any written Offer and that the offer
and its acceptance were both verbal
He got letter afterward. he said,
from gentleman representing the late
Mrs. Patten, who owned considerable
property in the square, protesting against
the location of school there. They had also
received protest from Mr.. Schneider, who
had built row of houses on CorcOran street
This was after the sale was effected The
Lipscomb part of the property was bought
directly from the owner, Mr.. Lipscomb He
came to the Commissioners and offered the
property for less than they had paid for the
other part, because he was Disguised by
the location of a school building there
Mr.. Webb was examined to some extent as to
the abstract and certificates of title in this CASE
The title company's abstract came down to and
covered the title of Thos. ]. Fisher and Curtis
j. Hillyer, who conveyed the property to b.
Crane, the grantor to the District. Then
there was supplementary certificate
as to the conveyance to Crane,
and an endorsement on Cranes deed to the
District, correct" by the attorney for the
District. MIR. Webb said he did not know any
thing of Mr.. Crane. He had to trust to tic
attorney for the District about these matters.
In reference to the property at LIST and l.
streets, the witness said it was purchased from
Michael b. Harlow. The offer was made by
Gen. West. He did not recollect that he had
any conversation with Mr.. West or MIR. Harlow
about any price other than that agreed on.
THE PROPOSITION FOR THE SALE OF Mr.. HENRY A.
VILLA RD's PROPERTY,
LIST street, between b and c southwest, came to
the Commissioners from Mr.. Cox. Mr. Webb
could not find among the papers any written
offer or proposition respecting the property
He could not remember when he had the first
conversation with Mr.. Cox. He did not re-
member having a conversation with him before
MIR. Cox submitted an offer. though he may
have indicated to him the neighborhood in
which they desired to get a site. Mr.. Webb
was asked what there was to prevent him in
this case dealing directly with Mr.. Willard,
the owner, in making this purchase.
MATTER OF CONVENIENCE.
Nothing" said Mr. Webb, but l found it
convenient to have my dealings through Mr..
Cox"
Mr.. Webb said Mr.. Cox kindly assisted him
in this matter. He said he did not recollect
asking Mr.. Cox or MIR. Willard or anyone else
whether he could purchase the property at
less price.
THE BALDWIN PROPERTY.
Mr.. Webb was next questioned as to the site
at 22d and streets, which was sold through
Mr.. Cox. The vendor to the District was
Chas. W. Baldwin. Mr.. Webb said he did not
know who Mr.. Baldwin was Mr.. Rowell said
he failed to see the point in going over these
abstracts. MIR. Taulbee said it tended to show
whether those whose names appeared as grant
ors to the District had any real interest in the
property. Mr.. Rowell said they already had
testimony on that point. Mr.. Taulbee said he
thought the moral of the whole question was
involved in this. Mr.. Rowell said he could not
see the point, but he would not object to GO
ing on.
Mr.. Webb said he thought all the converse
tions he had with Mr.. Cox respecting the prop
erty were prior to the date OF the transfer to
Mr.. Baldwin.
WAS MR.. COX AN AGENT?
MIR. Taulbee asked again respecting Mr..
Webb's idea of Mr.. Cox's relations to him.
Mr.. Webb. having explained his own duties
respecting the purchase of school sites, and the
preliminaries involved in making the selections
and purchases. said: Il simply asked Mr. Cox
to assist me-" Mr. Cox, he said, never
decided anything, but merely brought
the information he gained to him.
He was asked if he had any knowledge or
understanding or supposed that Mr.. Cox was
to make exorbitant or unusual fees in these
negotiations.
mot at all" said Mr.. Webb, II would not
have employed Mr.. Cox if 1 had known he
would get any unusual fees out of these trans
actions"
Mr.. Taulbee persisted i'm an inquiry as to
whether Mr.. Webb did not regard MIR. Cox az
his agent Mr.. Webb said he had inadvertently
spoken of him as his agent. He supposed.
critically speaking. it wasa quasi-agency. Still
twas quasi-agency that did not bind the
witness to anything.
GEN. LEES SUGGESTION.
Gen. Lee asked if Mr.. Cox were not. using a
military term, mere scout to gather informa-
ton, and Mr.. Webb responded in the afirma-