The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-01-26

purpose Of correctly informing itself on
| October %, 1913, called upon the auditor
| for a statement in detail of his collection
from fees, and the expenses of his Office
from the date of his appointment nearly
| four years previous. I neither had previ-
Gus knowledge OF this action being con-
templated, nor did I have anything in the
| world to do with it, as each of the JUS
tees composing the Supreme Court OF
the District of Columbia at that time will
| verify. I might further say 1 never had
the pleasure Of Mr.. Spalding's acquaint-
ance prior to the time of the publication
of Mr.. Dents alleged defense a few days
ago.
Il have not attended a meeting Of the
Brightwood Citizens Association since
the spring of 1914. l did not know the
resolution referred to was going to be
presented to the meeting in October;
had never had any conversation on the
subject with Mr. Shoemaker, Mr.. O'Cal-
laghan, Mr.. Lancaster, or Mr.. James M.
Wood, as each OF these gentlemen will
verify by affidavit to this committee, so
any statement to the contrary by Mr.
Dent is false.
Prior to the time that the editorials
complained of appeared in a local news
paper. had never had any communica-
ton on the subject OF either Mr.. Dent or
the proposed bill, with any member of
the newspaper corporation, or its edi-
toTial staff, so the statement in this re-
gard likewise is false, as will appear by
the editorial of the newspaper OF jan
uary 10. 1915, which file herewith.
Suggestion Declared False.
1.-The suggestion or statement that
Crandal Mackey and myself have CO.
operated in sly way in reference to the
matter is entirely false, as the subject
hnNr NJ
Mackey and myself. This, Mr.. Mackey
will verify.
For some thirty years prior to the ap-
pointment of Mr. Dent in 1910, which was
occasioned by the death Of Col. James
G. Paine, the latter, with marked ability
and fairness, had conducted the office Of
Auditor OF the Supreme Court Of the
District of Columbia so well, and placed
It upon such a high legal plane by rea-
sou of his eminent, legal qualifications,
which fitted him to take his place on a
par with any of his contemporaries
among the judiciary of the District OF
Columbia. that the office had become to |
be regarded by the members Of the legal
profession as one of almost more than
quasi-judicial character, and many de-
cisions were sought from that office as
supplementary to the general work of the |
court itself. thereby, by custom, greatly
OEASllldl SCOpC anu
power OF the auditors position.
Tribute to Col. Paine.
up to the very last, Col. Paine was
a hard and conscientious worker, and
/ am satisfied dispatched the business |
of his ONCE with commendable prompt
itude.
Tn conclusion, I desire to submit /
that while believe the portion OF the
statement of the auditor, included I'M
der the head The Origin OF the Attack |
on the Auditor and the Character of Its
is impertinent to the issue in
volved for your consideration, and is
so scandalous in its character as to
it's being expunged from the
yet II it is to be a part OF the
record OF this committee, request that
this answer. together with such like
character as may be submitted by the
other citizens affected. be also made
part of the record. and that IL deemed
advisable. the personal testimony OF
the different parties affected be taken
under oath effectually to annihilate the
OF there being any truth
in the auditors pamphlet re-
garding the subjects I have treated Of
herein"