The Washington times., 1904-07-31
.STUTLER HEARING
ENDS FTER TEN
HOURS SESSION
Sunday Morning Comes
Before the Case Is
Closed.
MANY DAMAGING FACTS
inspectors Say Contractor
Was Paid for Work Not
Performed.

continuous session Of ten hours, be-
ginning at 2 O'Clock In the afternoon.
was held by the District Commissioners
yesterday with the determination 10
complete their investigation into the
charges of maladmlnistration in Office
preferred by Royal Robinson against
warner Stutler. Superintendent OF
street Cleaning for the District
Although the decision was made carly
Ia the day 10 complete the investigation
yesterday on account Of the belief thar
Robinson had little evidence TO offer
IN support Of the last six OF his sixteen
charges against Stutler. it soon devel5p-
ed that the most damaging evidence YET
aeaneed against the superintendent was
about 10 be heard.
Al midnight the general impression
was that Robinson had won his battle.
Throughout the weary ten hours m
spector after inspector in the departs
ment took the stand and swore TO facts
that made against Suffers defense.
Every hour Stutler seemed more and
more worried. Before the hearing end
ed. Judge Cole. Suffers attorney. was
on his feet and attempting to break
down BY fierce and rapid questioning the
evidence OF his clients inspectors
The Strain Was Intense.
The strain OF the long ana continuous
work Of investigation was intense
Two stenOgraphers were worn out by
taking down the evidence The Com
missioners We're weary. although at diff
ferent times they partook Of such light
refreshments as peaches and crackers.
Attorneys Cole and Donaldson. repre-
senting StutTer, and Attorney ]. Holds
worth Gordon. appearing for S P. Bay
ley. Rusk's manager, together with
Acting Corporation Counsel F. H.
Thomas, showed the strain OF the long
labor.
Robinson seemed encoura eed by the
developments. and for the first time dis
played real ability in the examination
of the witnesses.
AS Evening Came.
Just as the gas was lighted in the big
board room. the serious evidence bear
ing on the thirteenth and fourteenth
charges against Stutler began 10 come
out From then on. Suffers lawyers
battled for every inch OF ground. try
ing 10 overthrow the assertions of in
spectOrs that Stutler had allowed Rusk.
the contractor for alley and other street
cleaning. TO be paid by the District for
work that was not done
Those who sat through the entire hear
ing were Of the opinion that il was not
proved that Stutler had profited hnan-
c!ally by his methods IN dealing with
Rusk. but that he had been guilty OF
the affairs Of his depart
ment in such a way as 10 show wOeful
carelessness and inattention TO detail
Missing Paper Found
At the opening of the a->ernoon ses-
sion. S. P. Bayley. Rusk's manager. ex-
planned that he had found in his Office
the paper and report on Rusk's observ-
ance of the eight-hour law, which paper
West last Friday said had
been lost in the District Offices
Ii was submitted. said Attorney Cor
don. not as evidence. but merely 30 show
that neither Rusk nor Bayley had run
away with the document"
Following this, charge eleven was
taken Up. This asserts that on Friday.
February D. last. Rusk worked the
street sweeping machines. and did not
have them followed by gutter or broom
men In spite OF this says the charge.
Stutler although fully informed Of the
idclS III luc case. uIQtIeQ Illll EQSh De
paid practically the fun rate for the
work. only a small reduction being
mad
Inspector Pruitt was the first witness
on this charge He said that on the date
mentioned III the charge all the nine ma
chine sweepers on his section OF the
streets, in The Northwest, were ordered
out. but We're not followed by broom
men OF carts.
Witness said he thought about one
third of the work onght not 70 have
been paid for. He recommended 70
Stutler that a certain territory be dis
allowed. Stutler said he would do so
Pruitt said he and Inspectors Barnes
and Beymer all agreed that the reduc-
ton should be made and 50 reported 10
the superintendent
How much do you generally disaIow
when the contractor fails to have broom
men and carts follow the machines
asked Commissioner West
About onc-half."
why didn't you cut OF one-half in
this Instance
Il don't know sir. Maybe we consult
ed the superintendent about IL, and de-
cided how much 20 cut of"
Then you acted on the superintsnd-
ents recommendation?
Yes, sir.