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A.—I have never heard any one say that of their own knowledge, they knew such things existed. The general terms of the remarks has been that so and so was said to be the case.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-What is the precise character of the allegation? With- out giving any names, could you give us any specific allegation that is made, so that we could discover it? We are fighting with shadows at present. Without mentioning any names, what is the precise allegation?
*A. That certain people receive cumshaws from Contractors.
Q.-And for what do they receive them---bad work or extension of time?
A.--Really I never thought of inquiring.
Q.-You know of no specific allegation?
A. No.
Q.-Simply the general one, that bribes are taken?
A. Yes, taken and given.
الية
Q.-And does that touch other than the inferior Officers of the department, or the superior ones?
A.-I have never heard any one say anything about the superior Officers.
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.-Could you give us one single name of any person who has
made these remarks?
A.-No; I don't feel justified in mentioning the names of people who may have passed these remarks in my presence.
Q.-I don't think you ought to have any objection. A witness at our last meeting made the same remark, and when pressed for his authority he named a person perfectly well known to us as a source from whom many of these rumours have come. I think you might give us the name of one person
whom you look upon as your chief source of information in the matter.
A. No, I would not give any name, because you hear a little from one and a little from another. The conversation I may have heard may not have been addressed to
I may simply have heard it passing between others.
me.
Q.-Quite so, but when people make remarks of that kind they take the responsi- bility of them. If I say so and so does something, I must not object if afterwards that remark is repeated and I am asked to say why I said so. Really I think we may reasonably ask for one name.
A.--I don't know that I could give the name of one person specially who made these remarks more than another. I could not even name a day, or a week, or a month that
I heard them.
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