Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-21
Corporatiou Affairs.


acts passed by this Board. Also, a communiea.
ton from the Mayor informing the Board that
the appropriation for the burial of outdoor
poor has been exhausted; referred to Finance
Committee. Also, communication from tn /,
Mayor transmitting a proposition from Chas
Il. Wood TO lease from the Corporation, for a
term OF years, the unopened alley sit uate in
square No. 37S, on the north side of ID street
north, between eth and 10Th streets west for
the purpose OF erecting two-story brick build
ing tnefeoni referred TO Improvements Com
mlttee. Also, communication from the Mayor
transmitting the account of the Corporation of
washington with the Bank Of Washington to
me zStn instant showing balance to credit to
pay corporation interest, SS,299.35; balance
ferred.
Mr.. Richards presen ied the petition of Ferdi-
rand Count and Baron De WydenbTuek, the
Austrian Minister, praying To be relieved from
payment of certain taxes on his property; re-
tered Mr. Lloyd presented the petition of
referred. The Char Mr.. Barr presented pc
tition of +. Stahl for alley Improvement ac-
companied by bill to grade and pave the al
ley IN square Al; referred. Mr.. TaIbert pre-
sentsd the petition of Michael Backey and
others for street improvement; referred The
Chair presented the petition of property
owners for street Improvement, with bill to
set the curb stone and pave the footways and
cutters on the north side of street north
from It'll to 9th streets west: the bill WIS
passed Bill for the relief Of Maria Mcguire
was passed. Mr. Given, from Finance Com
mItfee, reported bill making an appropriation
TO pay the judgment obtained by Jeremiah Cos
tello against the Corporations; passed Mr.
moore, from Improvements Committee, re-
ported bill to pave the carriage way on G. street
north, between l4th and 18th streets west in
tne same manner as stree. north; assed
Also, bills TO set the curb stones and pave the
footways and cutters the south side of A
street south, between 9Th and .th streets cast:
on the west side Of 9th street west, between X
ana Boundary streets north; en- the south side
of U street north, between 18th and I4th streets
west; on the south side of Z street south be-
tween 2d and 3D. streets west; and on the north
eide OF street north, between 9Th and eth
streets west; passed. Also. from Committee on
Wharyes, reported bill appropriating 500 to
place a barrier at south end of canal, in front
OF me corporation wharf; passed. Also, from
a majority of Improvements Committee re-
ported adversely on the bill anne ndatory of the
act Tor appointment Of Commissioners of I'm
proyemenss, and prescribing their duties-(tfe
says:
This bill is Objectionable because IL it should
become law II would abolish the contract
system as respects a large proportion of the
work Of the Corporation. An experen CO q Z
half q century In this city, and of much longer
periods in other cities, has demonstrated the
when properly administered; il is impartial as
regards competitors Tor work; Just towards
tax payers, and a wholesome check upon ex-
trayagant and corrupt expenditures Of the pub
Tic money. The bill under consideration would
reEoye the safeguard incident to this well tried
system, ana substitute therefore an experiment
which would impose no restraint upon execu-
i've omcers In the corrupt use of public patron.
age. In the employment of men, horses cars
plowsi Fairness, DC, as authorized by the bill
Sao IN payment they would have the widest
latitude Tor the indulgence of personal and
partisan feeling; and while the public Interest
might thus be sacrificed to selfish purposes
the interests OF the actual laborer would not be
promoted. The limited revenues of the Cor.
Porahon necessarily impose limits to expendi-
lures tor laboring work. Only such suins as
can Or spared from more important objects can
De dev oted TO the opening grading and gravel
me OF streets Under the present system the
laborers receive nearly the whole expeuditure
on TINS account, while Under the prsposed
Shange large proportion would be bestowed
upon iaVorltes, as superintendents, over
seers, DC. Instead OF single commissioner
an each ward, there would be MANY as
sIstant commissioners and other oyerseers
whose pay would make the cost of sn
OF actual labor. Your COMMITTEES clnnot
recommend any measure so liable to abu p
ne Oil proposes IN addition to the abrogation
OF ne. contract system-only so far, however
as relates 70 The work of common or unskilIci
Iaoorers-to adopt the eight-hour system IS the
RUE OF employment; In this respect the pass
age OF Inc DILL would confer no new benefit on
the laborer. 1t neither proposes toircrsase his
pay nor lessen the period of his toll as at pies
ent regulated The last Council showed its an.
probation OF the maxim that ''The laborer is
worthy Of his hire" by establishing the eight.
hour system, and allowing under il liberal
rates OF pay. The laws established those rates.
and the elght-hour ystem, Is still in OPERATION
S.c as no new endorsement of that system
would add to the moral influence IN its favor,
winch might be supposed TO result from any
Act OF TINS Corporation, your committee deem
II impolltie and un wise to interfere with that
law at The present time, for the reasons here
Sality Of a portion of the bill, which it is up-
TO discuss in this report The com.
mittee recommend that the bill do not pass"
(Signedl WIN. W. Moore, John r. Elyans
r.. he Of
Committee be printed, and the bill made the
special order for next Monday evening. He
wanted gentlemen to be placed on the record.
MIR. ElYans said be had Just signed the re-
port In as legible hand as possible and said
ne was willing TO take the entire resnons;h,ii,v
OF signing such paper, and at the same tiuas
~ Nou,a state mat that be was in favor Of the
largest liberty to, and OF all the riphts of the Ia
Sor1ns men, without accusing any one of
eOsuery ne could not recommend the pas
sage Of bill which would place the laboring
men Of the city IN the hands OF their employer,
rs this would do.
Mr.. McCathran spoke of labor being arrayed
against capital, and signified his readIn IS to
d. fend the bill.
Mr.. Moore moved division of the question
on Mr.. MeCathran's mouon. The question be-
ing taken on the motion 70 print the report il
was carried unanimously. Mr.. Moore stated
that in reference TO the motion 10 postpone he
did lot see the use of it The bill was an alb
surdity and sham, brought in here Just on
the eve of an election CIt was so intended)
to cOeTce members. He would take the respon.
sIbility and rely upon the intelligence of his
constituents. He was opposed 10 enticing any
more deluded colOred men here with the hope
of being pensioners on the Corporation. Ha
reviewed the oill,saying 1t was n conflict with
the charter. ltproyid-s for doing the building
of sewers, and other corporation work, such as
the removal OF nuisanceS, paving grading, &C.,
under the supervision of the superintendent
and inspector OF carriageways and sewers, Jy
the day. Every one knew that there was no
man IN corporation Office vino was more
pbnoxJous 10 The mem oers of the lower board
than thIs same officer. They never would pass
it. He Vas ready for the question now.
Mr.. hcCathran said that ne, TOO, was ready
for the question. He was not afraid OF any
res pOnsibility, and II was poor dodge for the
chairman of the Committee of Improvements to
say that the bill would not pass the lower
Board. That gentleman was opposed 10 that
Board politically, and he was only afvad IL
would pass there. He expected no smiles, no
encOurs cement from the opponents Of this bill,
from the autocrats of the Corporation, or the
advocates OF capital against labor. He wanted
TO give the other side time 10 marshal their
force, a he promised them defeat " hen the
issue came. He was Diet rmined 10 introduce
eng h. hour bills until that measure became
success here and tnTou ghOut the land. Gentle
meE might amend the DILL If IL was imperfect
Mr.. Moore said the gentleman stated whe
he introduced the bill he would oppose all
amendments, even 70 the crossing of and the
ootting Of an 4. The bill was imperfect and
impTaetieable. IL did not apply 10 mechanics.
but TO unskiiled labor only, and IL was against
the interests of the laboreT, because II would
attract here sull greater numbers of the colored