Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-01


MR. BEPErTIs ACCOUNT OF TWO SALES.
At the afternoon SESSION yesterday of the
Taulbee committee. Mr.. George r. Repetti
Of the firm of Weller & Repetti, was ex
smined. He testified first substantially
as Mr.. Weller had done respecting the
sale of Mr.. George Francis Dawson's
lot on 9Th street southeast for school site. Mr.
Early, he said, had made an agreement to buy
the property at 80 cents foot, paying deposit
of slO0.
He never saw j. A. Taylor to whom the prop
erty was sold. Mr.. West came and asked
to have the deeds delivered to him. The
Commissioners could have bought from them
at 80 cents. He could not see any reason why
the Commissioners should pay the price they
did (36 Clio cents). Mr.. Early said
he required forty-five DAYS TO complete
the sale. Before the forty-fve days expired
he received letter from Mr. Early stating that
his client had been suddenly called south and
would not be able to return in time to consum-
mate the sale and asking for an extension OF
time. After two other communications Of the
same tenor. Mr.. Dawson being away, the witness
took on himself the responsibility OF extend
ing the time fifteen days. In the meantime
the fact that the property intended for a
school site came out, and witness consulted Mr..
Dawson who said he had no objection. The
firm, however. objected to closing the negoti-
ton. They did not care to share
their commission under the circumstances.
He told Mr.. Early that if his (Mr. Early's) eli
emit was not willing to pay a commission the
firm would not sell. and that if the property
was sold TO the Commissioners within thirty
days at the same price at which Mr. Early got
it the firm would hold themselves ready to pay
him half of the commission.
The witness said this property had been on
their bulletin for nine or ten months at 35
cents. Property not always sold at the
hnl A
in this case; they submitted it to the owner,
and he accepted.
In reference to the sale of lots on 9th street
northeast, for the police station, he said Mr..
Cox called to see him. asked the price of the
property, and if he sold it whether witness
would share commissions with him. Mr.. Repetti
told the story OF the transaction substantially
as Mr.. Weller had-the transfer to ID. s.
Pickrell for 3712 cents and the transfer from
Pickrell to the District Commissioners for AZ
check for q, 400 to witness, and his payment of
$32344 by check to Mr.. Cox. the difference
between the two prices and the part of
THE COMMISSION DUE MIR. cox.
He thought Mr.. Cox might be entitled to
what he could get for the property in excess of
3713 cents. His judgment was worth some
thing to the person for whom he was acting.
He thought the Commissioners paid an excess
sive price for the lots in view of the fact
that the price fixed by the association
owning it and Autographed on their plats was
but 81 cents. Prior to Mr.. Cox's negotiation
he would not have hesitated to have made
the same bargain with the Commits
sioners he had done with Mr.. Cox.
The witness was questioned regarding his
opinion to the reasOnableness of prices paid
by the Commissioners concerning other sites
in East Washington. As to the GiddiLgs school
site. for which so cents was paid the witness
thought 40 cents would have been fair price.
MR.. ROBERT o. HOFFMAN,
real estate dealer, was next examined as to his
opinion respecting the prices paid by the Com
missioners. He did not think, he said. as a
whole. the prices were very unreasonable. OF
course. he said. the difference between the
prices paid by the Commissioners and that
paid by Mr.. Cox was excessive. He regarded
that as excessive. still he did not believe the
Commissioners could have gone out and done
any better than Mr.. Cox did. on account of the
objection to station houses. engine houses and
school houses. He did not thirk they could
buy property from a man who would still own
any property adjoining. If man did not own
the adjoining property he did not know why the
Commissioners should not buy as cheap as Mr.
Cox.
Gould they find out until they tried?" asked
Mr.. Rowel.
mo, sir; they could mott said Mr.. Holtz-
man. In answer TO a question by General Lee
the witness said in relation to the lots where
he thought there was an excessive price paid.
he did not know whether in such cases the
Commissioners could have bought the prop
erty as cheap as Mr.. Cox did or not.
COMMISSIONER WEBB ON THE STAND.
About 20 minutes to Commissioner Webb
went on the stand His examination was be-
gun by Mr.. Rowell. He began by a prelimi-
nary statement that in the division Of duties
among the Commissioners he had full charge
81 Co., Al
public schools. When he first had spoken of
buying school sites his colleague, Judge Ed
monds, told him of experiences that led him to
believe that they could buy property for school
sites only through third person. He there
upon spoke to Mr.. Cox. with whom he had had
business when practicing law. Il simply
called him TO my assistance" said Mr.. Webb.
He was simply engaged by me to 60 and as
certain the location of the lots. who were the
owners of the property and at what prices they
were 10 be had"
"You say employed by you?'' said Gen. Lee.
mo, sir" said Mr.. Webb. He was engaged
by me In this as he might be engaged in any
other matter"
THERE WAS SOME WAY.
He did not remember having any converse
ton respecting Mr.. Cox's compensation. He
knew it was customary for real estate agents to
divide commissions. He felt satisfied that
there was some way in which he would be COM
pensated-
Mr.. Webb then went on taking up the differ
ent school site purchases, beginning with the
Bradley site, bought December 10, 1885, which
was the first purchased by him. He had no
knowledge, he said, of what part of the sum
paid went To Mr.. Cox. When asked by Mr.
Eowell IN reference to the Weightman school
site and DIR. FardOn's letter Mr.. Webb said: Il
may have given that letter Immediately to Mr..
Cox see note on it that it was referred to
the inspector of buildings"
Did you answer the letter?''
mo; don't answer letters" said Mr. Webb.
1T should go TO the secretary"
The secretary should have answered the let
ter, he said, in due course Of time. He said
the offer for 80 cents a foot was made by Mr..
Cox, as attorney. He consulted the building
inspector and others respecting the values of
property. He had much confidence. also i'm
MIR. Cox's judgment. This site, he said was
approved by the school trustees before pur-
chased.
MIR. Taulbee. who took up the examination at
this point, called attention to the letter and
statement prepared by the Commissioners in
answer to the inquiries addressed to them by the
committee before the committee began its open
sessions
did you consider" asked Mr.. Taulbse
that the Commissioners fully answered the
inquiries?''
Il thought So" said Mr.. Webb.
Were you cogniZant then Of Mr. Cox's con-
nection with these sales?'
Yes. sir"
You think you knew facts?"
Yes, SIR" said Mr. Webb.
Also with the facts of Mr. Vests connection