Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-09-03
WASHINGTON d. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER
undersigned recommends the rejection or iu-
Ge efinite pcstponement OF the bill.
VIM w. MOORE.

undersigned recommends the rejection or Ia
WM. W. MOORE.
BY resolution Of the Board At its last meet :
ing the bill defining the qualif cations OF EN-
ployees OF the Corporation' was commit, ed TO
the Committee Of improvements, with instruc-
fions TO report thereon In wri ing. As each of
the thr,e members Of the Committee has his
own views to present there can necessarily be
no n ajority or minority report.
The undersigned, membe of the Committee
reports in favor OF striking ont ali Of the frs,
section OF the bill after the word .color'' in
the fifth line: and all of the bill afier the word
.color" in The third line OF the second section,
inserting after the word "color'' the words
"proyid,ng, however, that poihing In this act
shall be construed 10 require any contractor,
or employ &c OF The city to employ werkmen
deemed by bim to be incompetent, or at a rate
of wages higher than he would otherwise
pay"
The bill as amen ded will read as follows:
BET enacted, de-, Tnat from and after the
OF every description for. or in any way cen !.
nected with the city OF Washington, shall be
open to competition by any person, without
any discrimination on account of race or
color. a1 -..E
Sec. 2. That in the employment of workmen
0Y any contractor or employee of the city OF
Washington there shall net be any discrimina i.
ton on account of race or color Propidsd,
howersr, I hat nothing in this act shall be con
strued TO require any contractor or employees
OF the city 10 employ workmen deemed by hia,
to be incompetent. or at a rate Of wages higher
than he would otherwise pay.
There is low NO law making discrimination
on account OF color In the matter Of proposals
for contracts; but il there is any misconce eption
on his point there can be no objection to an
enactment stating formally that no such dis
crimination ls recognized by this Corporation
all notices in viting bids Is deemed TO be mad
visible as keeping upan unnecessary iteration
OF the phrase, "without distinction OF COLOR"
which iteration has been heretofore warmly
objected to in Congressional bills by earnest
friends OF the colored people.
As regards Section 2, 1t may be proper TO
declare that in the employment of workmen
by any contractor, or employee of the CITY,
there shall not be any discrimination on ac-
count OF color, but proviso should be added
enabling the contractor, or employee of the
CorpoIaflon 10 protect himself from incomps-
tent workmen, or exorbitant demands for
wages.
TIE other provisions OF the bill strkeu out
are held TO be impracticable or inadmissabIe.
While the City Councils OF Washington,
should always be prompt to express their
detestation OF traitors and treason, it YeuId be
carrying this expression to an unwarranted
extreme 10 refuse employme to those
amongst rs, who may have been directly. or
indirectly connected with the rebellion.
These persons must live, and any penalties
for their transgressions should not take the
shape Of enactments 10 hinder them from earn.
ing their bread.
The provision of The bill enac ting that no
contract or engagement for work shall bs en-
tered Into with any Pc rson W no may hereto.
fore have dismissed or discharged any person
from employment in the performance or any
Corporation contract or work "because of his
color, or because Of the manner in which he
may nave exercised or proposed to exercise his
right OF voting at any time,' is considered to
be utterly impracticable. 1t would probably
cause almost every person discharged from
any cause TO make allegations that he had been
discharged for political reasons; and the ves-
tiea'ions following upon these allegations
would almost inevitably have no practical re.
suit, since il would be nearly impossible to
prove In any case that such discharge was
made Tor the reasons alleged.
Section requires that before any contract
or epRageme ent for work shall be completed il
shall be presented to the Boards OF Aid dermen
and common Council, with ali bids received
10 relation to II, ano IL shall not be binding
until ratified by the said boards
The matter of awarding contracts is properly
an executive and not a legislative act, and no
good results would follow from weakening
the responsibility Of the executive Office by
dividing 1t in this manner. Otherwise the ar.
rangement would be cumbersome awkward
and in tact, impracticable.
Respecif fully submitted. e.. S. MOVES
Mr Eivans said he had not understood that
written reports were to be presented, bur ne
would be perfectly satisfied to have the bill
introduced by him printed with the two re.
ports as an expression of his views
Mr.. Given moved an indefinite postpone
nent OF the bill. Not agreed TO.
WI. Lloyd moved TO postpone one week
Yeas, Messrs Lloyd. McCathran. Moore, and
Noyes-f nays. Messrs Eivans, Given, Grind
ar. Richards. Tait, Turton, and President
tBarr)-7, So the motion was not agreed to.
After some further discus sion the question
was Indefinitely postponed.
COMMON COUNCIL President Dulin in the
cha II, and all the members present.
The chair laid before the Board a message
from the M Mayor, announcing his approval of
n p n r1Qv fny ASoin $,rn
in the first. second, third, and seventh wards:
granting permission 10 G. @. Wilson to erect
an iron ience in front of his house, in square
366 Also, message returning acts to reIm-
burse John Riggles and w. b. Hooper certain
moneys, without his approval, which was re.
ferred 10 the CLAIMS Committee.
The message was read, as follows:
Gentlemen. return 10 your Board, where
the o originated, the acts 10 reimburse TO John
Riggles and w. r. Hooper certain moneys
without my approval.
The acts are intended 70 reimburse to these
parties certain moneys-in the case of Mr. Rig.
giles two. thirds, and in that of Mr.. Hooper the
whole OF what was paid by them tor hcensesr 10
DO business as The agents of certain companies
Ihe moneys were paid by the parties-Mr. Rig.
giles on November l, 1866, and Mr. Hooper on
March >, le6.-under the act Of the Council
approved April %, 1866, which required for
snch ilcenses the prepay men OF The sum of 500.
1867, repealed the act OF the Councils REQ hiring
the prepayment OF the sum OF three hu ndred
oollars and provided 'that the tax or license
should not exceed one per centum on the cash
premium received" The effect Of this inter-
vention by Congress has been to deprive the Cor
poration of The power to compel the prepayment
for license, and leaving il to the option OF the
party doing business as an insurance agent TO
account or not for the tax on cash premiums
IL is now sought by these bills, which return
without my approval, to remb burse 10 Mr. kig-
giles two thirds and to Mr.. Hooper the whole OF
The sums paid by them for lice nses ae insur.
ance agents. In the case Of Mr.. Riggles, who
obtained and paid for his license long before
the passage OF the act OF Congress, and has
been doing business under them ever sipca
there certainly is no legal obligation on the
Corporation TO refund any part OF the moneys
paic by him. Both OF these gentlemen have
been doing business as agents of insurance
companies in this city, Mr. Rigeles for A
period over nine months, and Mr. hooper for
period over i've months. and are indebted 10
the Corporation. respectively, in sums equal
10 one per centum on the cash premiums re.
ceived by them as agents OF the several ipsur-
ance companies they represent.
1t seems 10 me, therefore, that the better, il
not fhe only proper way 10 settle with them
whatever, IL any, of the moneys paid by them
Tor licenses That may be in excess after de.
duc,irg what may be due and owing to the
Corporation on account OF the one per centum
OF cash premiums received or let the matter
rest until the expiration of their present
licenses, and then. rejmburse TO them Whatever
they may be entitled to receive.
Very respectfully, 3a aH
fs-.sa, RICHARD WALLACE, Mayor.
Mr. Nalley sent to the desk the following,
which Was read fzeaHsEf
City Of Washtngton, August y, lss7-Dear |
Sir: In reading the proceedings Of the Board
OF Common Council of which Won are a
n m l. ~ Old f~A- -hr,m