Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-07
To the Editor Of the Ase.randria Gazette.


and con of the different subjects that might be
brought forward for discussion; little believing,
or even supposing, any gentleman there would
deem it proper or necessary to step out of the
business of the meeting to speak of an indivi-
dual in the manner was then and there spoken
of then had no opportunity to reply: there
fore, as an act of justice, / beg permission to
use the medium of the Gazette in order that |
may now do so.
Such of your readers who were then present
will doubtless recollect that resolution was Of
fered by stakeholder, the object of which was,
that each voter should endorse on the back of
his ticket that he piShed the future operations of
the work to be let out by public contract The
resolution was amended by consent Of the mo-
ver by adding, in substance the following
words-that nothing herein contained should
be construed to delay the works, or to the injury
of the Company. The resolution was opposed
(although rendered dead by the amendment) on
the ground that it would tie up the hands of the
Board of Directors and confne them to the
lowest bid or public contract system-that it
would be deemed and taken by the Board as
their special instructions, from which they could
not depart-and in short, as was commended,
might destroy, or greatly impede, the whole
work: and, finally, that it would shut up every
door but one, through which willy competitors
would run in at and take every advantage
After this, a gentleman rose in his place, and
by a speech, admitted and maintained the
same ground, to the fullest extent, in all its legal
bearings, remarking "that we should have the
same game played ouer again as aods for
nser occasion in this Hall, but on different sub
ject by competitors, to impose upon the pub
lie, aud then support such imposition by grave
argument and chop logic" Is it possible that
the gentleman on the present occasion, can
make good that it is competent for the stock
holders to tie up the hands of the Board of Di-
rectors, by the soft expression of a l0ish, and
even that, qualified in the manner have be-
fore stated when on the occasion to which he
had reference he contended and maintained
that law of the Cooperation Of Alexandria,
worded in the most positive language, and
placed in the statute book nearly twenty-five
years ago and regularly acted under every year
since, was not imperative on the agent of the
law, but that the law was subordinate to the
agent?
What are the facts connected with this at
tempt at imposition and chop logic? They are
these: In December, 1882, the agent of the law
advertised the street contract: made my offer
at 1896, and there was none made lower. The
law gave me the preference; and that prefer
ence, being secured by making the lowest offer,
secures the contract to all ntents and purposes,
and which had been given me precisely in the
same manner for the last eight years. | might
here rest my reply to the charge of imposition
on the amount of the offer itself but will add
to that, that am prepared to prove, by the &C
counts of the Corporation, that the work en-
braced in the contract cost the public, previous
to nv entering into my first engagement, about
eight hundred dollars annually. am also pre-
pared to prove that have saved to the public
Since have had the contract, at least s. 500
and am also prepared to-piOve, by reSpecta-
BILE testimony that my offer would not pay me
more than one-half of the per diem allowance
(for the labor | use) of that which is paid by
the Corporation for the same KIND Of labor OF
the canal al -Four Mile Run. | ask, then, where
is the imposition? But there is another subject
which is Immediately connected with this. |
then asked advice as to whether the agent Of
the law had Il right to override my bid and de-
duct ninety-SiX dollars, and to make a private
contract out ola public one. lreCeved no opinion.
If was in error should have been told so. The
public atthat time, had nOtreCeiVed my attention
or labor; but at the end of the year, after had
performed all the duties required by law and
the officer who superintendent the work and
relying on the protection of the law and the JUS
tice of the case, deemed my case entirely safe
in the hands of the Common Council as to the
difference of ninety six dollars: but in this
was mistaken; for when | came there | was
gagged and not suffered to speak-a privilege
extended to pauper;-and the gentleman, in
another situation, was nearly the first to say
that my case was without remedy: and he now
says that an attempt was made to impose on
the public, and supported by grave argument
and chop logic:--the charge does not reach me,
as l have sufficiently proved At the Canal
meeting to which have referred the spirit of i
berality was also manifested as to salary Off
GERS, and the Engineer must have full compen-
sation, lest he might put his foot On damp piece
of ground, and thereby endanger his health
to this ] have nothing to say: but if there be
danger there, in an open plain, and free cur
rent Of air, it does not appear to me to require
either much logic or sagacity to tell that there
is much more danger in confined streets and
alleys, where there is constantly gathering both
animal and vegetable putrefaction, that has to
be removed, &C. If it is proper and necessary
to allow to those who are engaged on our pub
lie works, in order to open avenues of trade to
our town, a reasonable compensation, it is no
less so to allow those who are engaged, in order
to preserve the health and comfort of the peo-
pie of the town: but with the latter the modus
operandi is changed. Liberaty is out of the
ouestion--a reasonable compensation is not to
be had, and even half price cannot be allowed
without a charge of imposition. ! could tire
you out with my losses and sufferings during
the year of the Cholera,-but | will stop.