Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-08

LEVY CoUET.-On Monday, the regular
meeting Of the Levy Court was held in the
Alderman Chamber.
The Chair laid before the Board a communi.
cation from Colonel O'Beirne. Register of
Wills, and from the Mayor, on the subject of
furnishing the Orphans Court and the Register
of Wills office with suitable rooms; referred
Mr.. Magruder, from the committee to ex-
anime the accounts OF the Coroner. reported
that they had agreed 10 recommend the appoint
ment of clerk 10 prepare from the account q
abatement showing when and where the in
quests were held, and whether the deceased
were paupers, soldiers, or strangers: which
was adopted. The object is to ask Congress to
pay for the inquests on soldiers and men con-
nected with the army.-Rep.l
Mr.. Sargent called the attention of the Court
10 the TACT that a bill was now pending in Con-
gress to incorporated railroad company which
proposes To place railroad on the county
road leading from 1tth 10 eth streets, and moved
that the committee before Congress be instruct.
ed TO have the bill amended so as TO protect the
interest OF the Court which was agreed TO-
several petitions Tor an abatement of county
taxes were presented ana referred.
Mr. Roland stated that be had reason to
know that many complaints had been made
that while the taxes levied by this Court were
very heavy, the money had been Hisapplied
and squandered. Having but lately become a
member OF the Court, he was not as well pre-
pared TO answer these charges as some other
members.
The President Of the Court Judge Sargent.
remarked that he had heard of such charges
being made; they had been frequently made
but the Conrt had never deemed IL necessary
10 reply TO or refute them, preferrng TO be
judged bv their works. In regard 10 himself,
he stated that he had come into the Court in
May, 1861, al the urgent solicitation of one of
Its most efficient and valuable members He
served two years under the old organization
They were acting under Maryla laws, some
of them one hundred and fifty years old. They
could hardly tell what the law was. The Court
consisted of II members; they levied a small tax
for roads, appointed super yisors, and made ap-
preparations Tor repairing roads but how the
money was expended, or whether expended at
all by these supervisors, there did not seem to be
any way OF knowing, as no mem Der of the court
ever felt II TO be his duty 10 see how the roads
were made, or whether made or repaired at
all. The conseQ uence was the roads OF the
county were nearly all in a most miserable
condition; so bad as TO be frequently impossible
in the winter on account OF thin deep mud
Mr.. ). said that seeing this state Of things he
prepared bill, defining the powers and du-
ties Of the Levy Court, reducing the number
from III 70 9, and fixing the term of service of
members at three years, one third to 20 out
each year, leaving six experienced men always
in the court. The bill also pro vided for the
whose duty was to supervise the whole. The
bill became a law March 3, 1863. Since then
the.work on the roads has been systematicallv
andecenomically Performed under the super.
VISION OF the Superintendent. tr
The reore eanized Court set 70 worS to improxe
the roads, which they found an such bad con-
dftion, and they Wen upon the plaa of so con-
structipe them that they sbouid. hereafter, re.
: Mr.. > referred 10 the road Leading from MARY
land avenue TO benning's Bridge; the road nov
called Lincoln avenue, leading IN and past
GlsnW wood Cemeisry-so bad in the wintsr OF
IeC2 and 3 as 10 be impassabie, and in q mud
hole OF which a fGoverumept mule Was
drowned; 10 wss then bat narrow lane, it is
sew beauiiful road 66 feet wide. The road
leading from IN street turnpike 70 the Soldiers