Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-28

sion. 1t is confidently predicted at the DIS
trct building and by friends of Mr.. Stuller
that he will not resign. but that he Will al
low the Commissioners to remove him.
Judging from information obtained today
there will likely be some interesting devel-
opments within short time growing out
of the Stutler investigation, and. it is pre-
dcted, that in the denoument to the Stutler
case another prominent District official may
be concerned. and the Senate District COM
mittee may be asked to take hand in in
vestigation of various branches of the DIS
trict government.
Declines to Make Statement.
Superintendent Stutler declined today to
indicate whether or not he will resign. He
also declined to make any statement for
publication prior to announcing his decision
on the request of the Commissioners for his
resignation.
The Commissioners went into executive
session to consider the Stutler case at =
clock yesterday aftarnoon, and for nearly
two hours they remained in secret confer
ence. They finally sent for Mr.. Stutler,
who Immediately came to the board room
with his attorneys. MeSsrs. Cole and Don
aldson. The Commissioners informed Slut
Ter of their decision and he requested ten
days in which to consider the matter. The
Commissioners. however. decided to grant
him only forty-eight hours.
Commissioners Verdict.
The verdict of the Commissioners. which
was announced yesterday. is as follows:
THAT the charges of dishonest collu-
sion brought by Royal Robinson against
Warner Stutler superintendent of the
street cleaning department, were not sus-
tanned: that regards the alleged financial
relations between said Warner Stutler and
the firm of Lilly & Robinson, the evil
dence. while tending to prove a question
able transaction. is circumstantial and con-
Trajectory to a degree which affords the
accused the benefit of the reasonable doubt
to which he is entitled: but. apart from
all the charges, the evidence, and espe-
cially the testimony of Warner Stutler, dis
closes the fact that the best interests of
the District will be subserved by change
in the office of superintendent of street
cleaning:
Therefore. it fs ordered that the resg-
ration of the said Warner Stutler is here
by requested
Charges Preferred.
The charges upon which the investigation
of Mr.. Stutler was conducted by the Com
missioners were filed by Royal Robinson a
former street cleaning contractor, June 10
last, and the first hearing in the investi-
cation was held July %. The first set Of
charges filed by Robinson embraced sixteen
counts, alleging maladministration of the
office of the superintendent, and also
charging that Mr.. Stutler had wrongfully
favored R. V. Rusk, the present street
cleaning contractor, and was in collision
with that contractor in connection with
street cleaning and other business matters,
to the detriment of the Districts interests.
The investigation continued with several
Interruptions through several weeks and
the case was finally submitted to the Com
missioners upon the evidence adduced upon
the sixteen counts. While the Commission
ers were considering the abstract of the
testimony on the first sixteen counts,
frin ovid nP nj Gnt,bc Cf,,~ n1l-r
called to the attention of Commissioner
West a statement made to him by Mr.
Robinson to the effect that Stutler had
blackmailed Lilly Robinson, the former
street cleaning contractors, during the con-
tinuance of their contract.
The Case Reopened
The case was thereupon reopened for the
! investigation of the additional charge Of
blackmail against Supt Stutler, and the
inquiry on this subject concluded about
two weeks ago. Since that time the de-
cision of the Commissioners has been pend
ing.
Warner Stutler, against whom the
charges were fled came to Washington
from West Union. w. Va, as a clerk in
the census office in 1889. When the force
of the census office was cut down Mr. Slut
Ter was one of those relieved of employ
ment.
In February, 1898 he obtained place in
G
Waterman on one of the District DUMPS at
$1.25 day. a year later he was promoted
to the position of foreman of street clean
ing al So a day and served in this capacity
for about two years, when he was made
assistant superintendent of the street
cleaning department. In 1897 he was ap-
pointed to the position of superintendent
of that department at annual salary of
1850. During his seven years of service
as superintendent the salary of the office
has been increased by Congress to 81. 500 a
year. The department, it is stated has
grown rapidly and is now considered as
one of the most important departments in
the municipal government
Mr.. Suffers Accuser.
Royal Robinson, who preferred the
charges against Stutler came to Washing
ton from indianapolis in 1899, when in
partnership with John NJ. Lilly he was
contractor for machine street sweeping. In
1903, however, Lilly & Robinson were un
derbid by r. V. Rusk for machine sweepinp
and the latter was awarded the contract for
the work. Mr.. Robinson, it is stated, spent
large portion of his time in Washington
after his contract for street. sweeping ex-
pired. He was engaged to manage a stone
quarry near this city, 1t is said but the
enterprise failed. Robinson, 1t is alleged.
was foreman of the jury in the District
Criminal Court which was the first to pres
crbe the death penalty for rape under the
provisions of the new District code.
He stated at the investigation that since
his contract with the District had expired
he had spent a large part of his time here.
settling up the business affairs of Lilly e,
Robinson, and attending to other matters.
although he said he was not engaged in
any particular business. He is now in
Indianapolis.
Changes Contemplated.
1t was ascertained at the District build
ing today from a reliable source that as
a result of the investigation of the street
cleaning department there is a strong
probability that the near future will wit
ness a number of changes all along the
line in the force of that department IT
is believed that a general reorganization of
the department is In contemplation in the
minds of the Commissioners, occassioned
by various things developed during the in
yestigation of the case of Superintendent
Stutler.
During the progress of the investigation