Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-30
AFTERNOON SESSION.
of the School Site Inquiry.

After the recess Mr.. Weller's examination
was resumed. In answer to question by Mr..
Taulbee the witness said that in the event the
Commissioners or Mr.. Cox had approached him
to purchase the property and told him that it
was for police station he would not have hest
tated to have sold II for thirty-seven and one
half cents. He did not think a
dealer in real-estate or any other person
would have exercised good judgment or bust
ness sense in paying AZ is cents n foot for the
property. because the property had been ad-
vertised widely for 81 cents, and the real es-
tate association had still in the same square
other property for sale at the same figure. The
three lots adjoining the station-honse could
have been bought for 37]2 cents. There was a
good deal of other property in the neighbor-
hood that they could have offered
FOR THAT PRICE OR LESS,
and if the Commissioners had asked them for
proposals the firm would have submitted sew
eral pieces of property in that part of the CITY
at the prices which the owners had fixed
Mir. Weller at Mr.. Taulbee's request, went
over again the conversation he had with Mr.
Wheatley when he had been informed that Mr..
Cox was acting agent of the District and
when, he says. he incidentally informed Mr..
Wheatiey that the price of the property was
81 cents. He said he objected to Mr. Cox's
making half of the commissions off of his firm
and then making what he could of the Dis
which he could hold him. He read the form
of a receipt for 525 from Mr.. Cox. to be for
feited in case he did not fulfill the terms of
purchase. He said that under the decisions
here they could not even hold the forfeit 1t
was customary to hold il if one can do it.
Mr.. Rowell did not think this very good law
THE MAURv SITE BIGH.
Mr.. Weller was asked respecting the price of
IL cents a foot paid for the Maury site, b street
hot nj
lie said the price was high and he should not
like to have paid it although he would have
liked to have sold at that price. Property
there was selling at that time for from 10 to II
cents foot.
In relation to the Carberry site he said he
had property for sale in the same locality five
cents cheaper.
Mr.. Weller was then asked respecting the
sale of the school site on 5th street southeast
which sold by Mr.. Geo. Francis Dawson
to JAS. A. Taylor for about $3.50 and then i'm
mediately transferred to the District for
$4,000.
1Ir. Weller read the receipt given to Mr..
Chas. Early for an option on property. When
Gen. West and Mr.. Early came and talked of
closing the transaction Mr. Weller said he
asked Mr.. Early If ne was buying for the Dis
trict Mr.. Early. he said. lodged the ques-
ton and asked him Why's he wanted to know
that. Witness told him that they
IHAD BEEN vIcT1MIzED
in another transaction, and referred to the DO
lice station site case. He told him that they
would not divide commissions ilsQ,is property
went to the District at highe Syrice than it
was sold for. He insisted also that the true
consideration should so into the deed. Mr.
Early had never come back to ask for his half
of the commission. There was no reason WHY
the Commissioners could not have purchased
of his firm at the same price as it was sold to
Mr.. Early
Mr.. Weller said it was the system he blamed
He thought the only proper way to purchase
was by open competition. He said if Mr.
Early took his chances and got options on sew
eral pieces of property as speculation he
would not complain; but if he knew in advance
what property was to be purchased he would
complain against It as unfair, as he thought
that they should all be treated alike.
He subsequently ascertained. he said from
other real-estate agents that property could he
sold to the District only through two men
Messrs. West and Cox. Gen. Lee asked Mr.
Weller if he had any grievances against the
Commissioners. Toward Mr.. Webb and Major
Raymond he said he entertained no feeling
whatever.
AS TO MR. wHEATLEY.
4 remark was brought to him. made by Mr.
Wheatly, which had caused him to have some
feeling against Mr.. Wheatley. That was after
the publications in the STAR In answer to Mr.
Davis he said Mr.. Wheatleys remark. as re-
ported to him, was, who would believe NJ l.
Weller" He declined to state who brought
that report to him.
Mr.. Davis examined the witness further as
to his criticising the Commissioners He said
that he was a member of the committee of
One Hundred and had publicly criti-
cised the public actions of the Commissioners
He asked if he had not criticised them
about an alley-tax due him. Mr.. Weller said
he had claimed S109 as due him, and that the
attorneys Office had decided in his favor, but
he had not criticised them.
Mr.. Weller, in reply to hIr. Taulbee. said he
had no feeling against the Commits
sioners or Mr.. Wheatley that would pre-
vent him from doing justice in detail
ing anything in the way of testimony.
Having been asked regarding his characterize
ton of Mr.. Cox's action as surreptitious. Mr.
Weller said he would not have considered it
surreptitious if he had sold to the Commits
sioners at the price the property was sold to
him.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Payne. Mr..
Weller said the real estate association that sold
the police-station site was never asked to give
full warranty deed.
Mr.. Weller's examination was closed little
after o'clock
i NkA -