Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-05
Corporation Affairs.

the ANNOUNCING MS approval OF several
acts originating in this Board. Also, a
communication from the Mayor transmitting
one from the Wood and Coal merchants of this
city, calling ''attention to the condition of Canal
street. between 14th and 18th streets, as it is
almost impossible to remove wood and coal
from the wharves bordering on said street.,
and requesting to have it .put in proper pas.
sable condition; referred to Improvements
COMMITTEE Also, the report of the lntendant
OF the washington Asylum for the month of
April; referred. Also, a communication from
the Mayor transmitting one from the Secretary
of the Board of Health stating that in accord
ance with directions of the Mayor he had ex-
amined X street south, bet. 4 II and eth streets
west, and found that it was much below the
grade, particularly from 9th to 9TH streets,
and that il has been for a long time
so filled with stagnant water as to be absolutely
impossible. Further, that quantities of filth
OF every description are being constantly
snrOWn int9 TINS pond, giving rise to foul
smells which certainly annoy the neighbors,
ana must be highly detrimental to the public
health. In fact, the nuisance is of a very grave
character, and 1t is important that meas ures
for Its immediate abatement should be adopted
and this could be safely effected by at once au :
thorizing the property holders on the So uares
10 lay loot pavement. after which incon-
siderable amount of filling in the street wouId
ehectually remedy the evil;'' referred to Health
Committee. Also, report from the Surveyor in
answer to the resolution of this Board of April
9th. The Surveyor reports 'sCost Of grading
and graveling 18th street east, from e to X
street south, 81 ,5312S also, cost OF grading and
crawling street south, from 18th to l4th
street east, 81 ,tSo1O;'' and adds: "There is no
street south, from 18th to 18th street east re.
ferred to Committee on Improvements.
MIR. Richards arose and SAID all the teachers
OF tins city were unpaid for two months, and
many OF them for three months, and that there
was great suffering among them on account of
the failure Of the City Government to pro vide
funds for the purpose, and introduced a
resolution which he hoped would be immedi.
ately considered. The preamble to the reso-
in thao
resolutions authorize the Trustees of Public
Schools TO 'bOrrow S15.OO0 AT the rate of six
per cent. per ann UNI. and use the same TO pay
teachers salaries and school expenses i'm ac-
cordance with the laws of Cong and of this
Corporation" and liz payment of said loan she
authorized TO draw the above sum out of any
funds credited, or which ought to be credited to
the appropriation for public schools for the
year ending June 3Oth, 1865" He stated that
the suffering was great that the tea chers
were now considering whether they would not
De compelled to withdraw from the schools in
body. and thus suspend the public schools in
TINS city. He referred to the case of a lady
teacher in distressing circumstances, who had
been obliged 10 sell her salary at a ruinous dis
count OF D per cent month, and would be COM
PEELED to do so again if relief was not given
MI. McCathran suggested that the resolution
should be so amended as to authorize the Mayor
10 borrow the necessary amount.
Mr.. Richards again advocated the passage
OF MS resolution without amendment, saving
that the trustees would be able TO raise the
necessary amount if the resolution was passed
Mr.. Noyes said that from facts within his
knowledge he was satisfied thai the embar
raised condition of the teachers was not over
colored by the gentleman from the Second
Ward, and remedy must be promptly applied
or the schools must close. He doubted, how
ever. whether they could authorize the Board
OF Trustees to borrow money.
Mr.. Elvans said be not only doubted the pro-
pfiety tut the Legality OF authorizing the Board
of Trustees OF Public Schools TO contract a
debt in the name Of the Corporation. But, he
said, on the other hand, we all know how rot.
ten the financial system of the city is. and il
the Mayor ia authorized TO borrow this money
for specific purpose there will be a pressure
on hiIG from all other creditors of the Corpo.
ration. There might be an other dead.loc In
fact, the question was surrounded with DIFF.
fculties.
Mr.. Richards again urged that the appro-
priation had been already made for $500, of
which one-half only had been expended. The
Trustees now owe S29,@io, and they can. he
was informed borrow the amount Of SI5,UOO on
the unexpended balance Of appropriation.
Mr.. Moore seid that the resolution WAS i'm
practicable and illegal. The city cannot bor-
row more than $1,000 without the authority of
Congress, and the Trustees of Public Schools
cannot be authorized TO contract a debt for any
amount. The Mayor the executive officer of
the Corporation and he only could bind the
Corporation in making loan. Ii the money is
borrowed for a specific purpose il must be de-
posted IN bank, and if warrants are presented
on il for other purposes, ii will be drawn out.
"a
rious funds separate, but as matters now stood
IL could not be done. and the moLey would be
used 10 pay outstanding warrants. He in
stanced the bounty fund and other special funds
used TO pay the general Indebtedness of the
Corporation.
Mr.. Richards said he had framed the resolu-
ton 20 meet this very difficulty. 1t does not
propose to make a new debt. The Corporation
arrangements TO pay it. Any man whose cred
itors Were suffering, and who would not raise
money at six per cent. TO relieve the suffering
if his credit was good, would be setdown "a
rascal.
Mr. Moore moved to refer the resolution 20
the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Noyes asked il the committee could re-
port to- night.
Mr.. Moore thought not They would wish
10 cons ult about the matter
Mr. Noyes SAID he trusted, then, that the mo.
ton 10 refer would not prevail. II was neces-
saTy TO take immediate action, as the teachers
were now in a pecuniary condition that they
could not 60 on, and would hold a meeting this
week to suspend work unless they Were paid.
They had better amend the resolution and pass
IL Tonight; and where so many hungry cheers
had their pay at stake, they would be Ii, ly 10
look after the money when il got in bal as
promptly as any other creditors Of the Go. 20.
ration.
Mr. Elvans thought there was a way out Of
the difficulty tonight, and that was by taking
up his resolution vetoed by the Mayor, for
keeping separate funds, and passing IL over the
NclO. II ndu Dttu ODJ'Cteu tudl pdSsage
would affect the ward funds unfavorably, Dut
that objection could be overcome by an amend
ment. This would solve the difficulty, and
unite the knot at once. 1t would be a kindness
to the Mayor to relieve his human nature from
the pressure which would be brought to bear
upon him between now and election, by credi-
tors whe are voters, which would be done by
passing this resolution.
Mr.. McCathran thought the Mayor had too
much honor to misappropriatea fund OF $1,000
raised to pay the teachers, by using it to pay
contractors or others, neither did he believe
that we had no authority TO borrow the amount
for this specific purpose. The charter limited
the amount we could borrow at $1,000, but
precedent was established for raising larger
amounts, without authority from Congress
Mr. Richards said he had used the word
s.borrow" in the resolution, but 1t was not for
the making Of a new debt
Mr. Moore withdrew his motion to refer and
offered a substitute as an amendment author
iZing the Mayor 'st0 anticipate the revenue
TO the amount offs 200 for the purpose OF pay
ing the salaries Of the teac hers of the public
schools, the said sum TO be repaid in six mon tbs
with interest at the rate of six per cent; and
that the sum thus borrowed shall be made pay
able TO the Treasurer of the Trustees of the pub
payment Of the salaries OF the teachers afore-
SAID"
The substitute was accepted by Mr.. Rich.
ards. Mr.. Moore then move to strike out a por.
ton Of the preamble; not agreed to. The reso.
luton as amended was then passed.
MI. Elyans presented the petition Of ]. B. Os.
good and others for the grading OF portion Of
18th street west: referred. Also, introduced g
resolution requesting the City Register to
furnish this board at its next meeting with a
list Of non resident traders who have licenses
in this city, &c; adopted, Mr. I.loyd pre.