Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-10
WHAT MR.. CRANE SAYS,

The Charges Of Street Sweeping Frauds.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The STAR Of the Sd instant contains the fol-
lowing under the head of "A collapse Of the
charges against Health Officer Townshend':
The charges relating to street sweeping frauds Mr.
Gladmon testified he knew nothing personally but
they were given to him by MIR. Crane. This latter
charge 1t will be remembered was investigated soon
alter the new board of Commissioners into office
and settled"
Allow me to say,that have had nothing what
| ever to do with this investigation, except on
| application to furnish a copy of my letter to
the first comptroller, showing twenty duplicate
charges for sweeping C street from Indiana
avenue to 7th street and a copy Of . full state
ment Of the street sweeping frauds or 'irregu-
larities," as some choose to term them
lou say that the street sweeping frauds we're
settled soon after the new board of Commits
sioners came into office. but do not say how
settled, and the public is yet ignorant Of how
the matter was settled. "a. -.
1t il a mistake that this matter was settled
soon after the new board came into office. as
over one year had elapsed after the exposure
was made before the contractor gave his check
for over $500, the amount had shown, backed
by the statement OF the expert accountant
| Daniel Donovan. had been wrongfully paid
him.
II is due to all concerned that I now state
how came to be interested in this street sweep
| ing business. The President having stated
soon after his Inauguration, to a delegation of
| Elk prominent citizens. that he was satisfied
| there was something wrong in our District gov
eminent, and thatit was his intention to reorgan-
| ize IL from its foundation, 1t was believed that
many changes would be made in the personnel
Of the District Offices and fair share of those
ofhces given to republicans, the democrats
then having. as they have today, more
than three-fourths OF the best positions.
Nv ha wing haa tal IL
dent Endorsed by 1000 prominent citizens rep
| resenting every part OF the District for the
position now held by Mr.. Douglass. was ap-
pealed to to urge upon the Commissioners
| change in many Of the District offices, which
did. was met by the answer that no changes
could be made except for cause. ''Show us a
man, said both Mr.. Douglass and Mr.. Hine.
that is guilty OF fraud or Incompetence and he
| shall be removed at once, it matters not what
his politics may be. We cannot help it if q
large majority Of the District offices are filled
| with democrats. We did not put them in, and
| so long As they are honest and efficient we can
| not turn them out"
Knowing from observation that the street on
which reside was not swept as often as called
for by the schedule my attention was naturally
given to the street sweeping.
commissioner douglass took the street
| sweeping records to his house. where he in
vited me to examine them. In less than half
l an hour discovered twenty duplicate charges
u
between May ~ and August 49, 1890, amount
| ing to an overcharge every night of 1887
square yards, or total Of 49,, 740 square yards
Mr. Douglass expressed great surprise at this
discovery, ana volunteered the statement that
1 DIR. Townshend would be removed from office
| In less than one week from that time Two
i days later the street sweeping Was taken out Of
/ DIR. Townshend's hands and turned over with
the books and papers to the chief of police, but
i Dr. Townshend sits as firmly in office TODAY as
ever, and doubt II anything short of an
earthquake will dislodge him while the present
| form of government continues This il all the
more remarkable from the fact that the stree.
sNeepmg was taken out OF his hands without a
days notice. III the business was conducted
| properly and there was nothing whatever
against him, as IL now claimed, why this ann
mary proceeding?
At Mr. Douglass request / followed nm the
matter, urcarthing large number Of clearly
fraudulent charges for street sweeping among
them q charge made fourteen times for sweep.
ing dirt road that could not be swept An
other showing an overchsrge of over 600
square yards for sweeping II street from 18th
| to lsth street, winch overcharge was continued
and regularly certified to the treasury for over
| six months after had placed the correct meas
| urements in the hands of the Commissioner
| Some Of the explanations made of these street
sweeping charges only add to the original
odeuse:
Il IL but u few days since the District aus,,,or
| said to me, on q street, where the duplica. e
charges occurred: '',ir. Crane, the Contractor
has at last been able to explain how these du-
plicates occurred. He states that there was
snow and ice on the street and he was ordered
TO remove that first and then to sweep the
street, making twice they had to 60 over the
street In one day. We have not returned him
his money. but are considering it,
! said: Mr.. Petty, II YOU vii, examine the
street sweeping records you will see that the
first duplicate was charged May ~ aud the last
Augass Is, all occurring during the warmest
weather Of the whole year"
His reply was; Il guess We had better let the
matter rest where 1t is"
In conclusion desire to nay that have no
personal feelings in this matter. have had a
vast amount Of hard work put upon me which
has been rewarded by ingrstitnde and trsach.
| cry, but have the aatisfaction of knowing tina,
hAvs established beyond yefutasion ali the
charges made, which ID proven by the cover.
ing hack into the treasury the money wrong
fully taken from IL. ]. II. CnAyE.
The estate Of the late p. T. Barnum, - shown
by the inventory taken by the appraisers and
died In the probate court on Monday at Bridge
port, 10 estimated 10 BE- worth ~, 40, 5S9
IL has BEEN decided to hold the A. A. u