Case ID: us-ct-cl_23/html/0505-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Field", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOB BARNARD, Administrator of Robert H. Ryan, v. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
    (20 C. Cls. R., 127; 127 U. S. R., 409.)
    
      On the claimant's Appeal.
    
    An express contract provides for grading and excavating a designated street at a specified price per yard. An entry on the journal of the Board of Public Works designates a higher price for “ roelc excavation.” The contractor is paid the contract price; his administrator seeks to recover the other.
    The court below decides:
    (1) It is well settled that an entry on the journal of tlio Board of Public Works establishing prices could not control an express contract subsequently made.
    (2) Where the District of Columbia seeks to recover back money paid for contract work, the burden is on it to show that a certain deduction ordered by its engineer should have been enforced by its auditor.
    (3) Au overpayment allowed by the board of audit may be recovered back.
    The judgment of the court below is affirmed on the same grounds.
   Mr. Justice Field

delivered Ihe opinion of the Supreme Court May 14, 1888.