Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-01
MIR. WEBB AS A WITNESS.
His Testimony Before the Congressional
Investigating Committee.

Investigating Committee.
HE EXPLAINS THE RELATIONS OF Mr.. coz 10
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS IN THE FUR
CHASE OF SCHOOL sITEs-soME THINGS He
DOES NOT APPEAR TO EXPLAIN.
The room Of the committee on reform in the
civil service was filled with smoke at 1 O'Clock
to-day. This is the room where Mr.. Taulbee's
committee is pursuing its investigation of
the purchase of school sites by
the District Commissioners. The Com
missioners were there and other
officials, and nearly all had cigars that sent up
blue wreathes Of smoke. The committee ad-
journed yesterday to meet at 1 O'Clock to-day,
but as the vote on the Oklahoma bill delayed
them, the committeeman did not get together
until las. Meanwhile DIR. Mary Walker came in
to see Maj. Raymond, but she Immediately
rushed from the committee room with her
hands over her mouth, making complaint
against the smoke.
When the committee met Chairman Taulbee
and Messrs. Rowen and Baker only were pres
ent.
COMMISSIONER WEBB RESUMED THE STAND.
Chairman Taulbee handed the witness COPY
of the morning Post of December 20, contain
ing what purported to be an interview with the
witness. Mr.. Webb was asked to read it and
state whether he was correctly reported in that
interview.
II can't say, Mr.. Taulbee," said Mr.. Webb,
after he had read the article, shat is exactly
what l said. There are some expressions
think not exactly correct-those expressions
about the agency of Mr.. Cox for the Commits
sloners. Mr.. Cox was not an agent at all. The
expression made use of that asked Mr.. Cox
TO assist US expresses more distinctly the rela-
mi, ha hnrA 30 H. II
not an agent If used the term agency 1
used it Inadvertently" Mr.. Taulbee having
called attention to other sentences in the in
terview, Mr.. Webb said, II did not mean that
MIR Cox was the agent of the Commissioners. I"
"EMPLoYED" SYNONYMOUS WITH ENGAGED"
Mr.. Taulbee asked if Mr.. Webb used the
word employed" as he was reported to have
done, what he meant by that
~ used it," said Mr.. Webb, "as synonymous
with engaging. 1 did not mean that I had
employed him in the strict sense-that he was
to receive pay"
Mr.. Taulbee asked if he meant he had desig-
mated Mr.. Cox, and Mr.. Webb said he had; he
had requested him to assist the Commissioners
He was examined at some further length as to
his understanding about Mr.. COx's compensa-
ton.
u did not suppose" he said, ''Mr. Cox was
Had you any idea, asked Mr. Taulbee, chow
he was to be compensatory
81 had no idea about it at all-how he was to
be compensated" said Mr.. Webb. "Isupposed
he would get some compensation either from
the owners of property or by sharing commits
sions and that in some cases he would perhaps
not get any at ALL"
MIR. Webb was examined then as to the pur-
chase OF the 9Th street school site. He said
that Mr.. West had submitted this with
other plots, at the same time lot on 4th
Gfr ,hx,x,N %A1 -,
1t was owned by Judge Wilson'S wife.
Judge Vinson was uncertain about
the price he wanted, but finally fixed it at
5000. He said afterward he would have
taken less if he had had time to consult his
wife, who lived in Rockville but the Commits
sioners could not wait for that.
MIR. Taulbee having been called from the
committee-room, Mr. Rowell continued the ex-
animation. Mr.. Rowell asked:
If the immediate transfer showed that the
property had changed hands just before it was
conveyed to the District whether Mr.. Webb
would not have thought there was some
SPECULATION AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DISTRICT?
MIR. Webb said he did not think that that fact
would necessarily have excited his suspicion.
made to complete or perfect an old sale.
Did you ever have information" asked Mr.
Rowell, causing you to believe that Mr.. Cox
was making more than the usual commissions"
NO, sir"
'.If 1t had come to your ears that Mr. Cox
had received $500 where the ordinary commits
sion would be but 800 would you not have in
quired whether the District was not paving
more for the property SO as to allow Mr.. Cox
this large commission"
II should have thought" said Mr.. Webb.
"that it might be we'll for me to have some
talk with Mr.. Cox and find out how it was.
should look to see whether the property had
been advanced in price on this account. If we
had been paying a fair market price for the
property do not think 1 could have thought
much about the amount Mr.. Cox received"
Mr.. Webb was asked what he would have
thought if he had known that Mr.. Cox was
buying on his own account and selling to the
District.
well" said Mr.. Webb, II shouldn't have
liked the transaction at ALL"
WELL" pursued Mr.. Rowell, suppose Won
knew he was receiving commissions twice as
much as are ordinarily charged and did not let
the District know?'
las 1 said BEFORE" said Mr. Webb, "if were
satisfied that with the price that it was a fair
market price, and the parties selling chose
to reward him with large commissions,
don't know that it would have interfered at
all with the relations We held l don't know
that that was the case, however, in any in
stance"
Mr.. Webb was asked whether, considering
the number OF employees about him, there was
any need
OF EMPLOYING AN OUTSIDER.
81 did not know any one about me that
could employ" said Mr.. Webb. He said he
could not use the services of the building in
spector because he was too well known as
District official
Mr.. Webb was satisfied that the method fol-
lowed of purchasing sites was the best He
believed under the proposed plan of condemn
ing property the sites would cost 20 or 25 per
cent more.
Mr.. Davis also examined Mr.. Webb at some
length, going over again the practices of the
Office concerning the purchases of real estate.
Mr.. Davis having referred to the statement
concerning Mr.. Cox's relationship to Mr.
Wheatley Mr.. Webb said Mr.. Cox was spoken
to by him about this business before Mr..
Wheatley became Commissioner.
He said that he knew nothing about this re-
lationship until Mr.. Cox spoke of it.
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
JUDGE MERRIcK IMpRoyING-Judee Merrick