Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-13

trsordinary. Tue deb, was created by thar
genuemsn's friends, who had had the admin-
present administration wi shed 70 pay the men
| 10 whom the money was due IL was name.
ard a disgrace to the ci. y that men VINO had
earned their money honestly should not De
plid, and il was III iust and ungenerous not 10
pay them. Tue Late Mayor could not estimate
the debt This bill proposed 70 pay tne debt,
SIKH ward ,Mr. McCathran) had correctly
stated the facts in relation 70 the s3D.u0O ap-
GENERAL Michier 10 pay contractors whom the
corporation would have had to pay if the Gov
eminent had not made the appropriation. The
y as n0, e. cent 81 s
(Mr. Moore) sand of not seeing the bill, he
might not have seen this particu lar BILL but its
months, and Congress had been importuned to
pass a law authorizing the issue Of bonds,
which authority they had granted. He then
read the act OF Congress to show that the bill
with thai act. The bill was introduced in the
Board OF Common Council weeks ago, and
published IN all the papers, and IT was strange
gentleman so prominent IN corporation
affairs as the gentleman from the Fourth Ward
(Mr. Moore) had not seen 1t.
| Mr.. Moore repeated that he had not seen the
| bill nor the act of Congress.
| Mr. Crocker said IT was very remarkable
that such an important measure had escaped
| the notice Of the gentleman.
| Mr.. Moore said he did not read all the laws.
but only kept them near him for reference In
case they came up here for consideration.
Mr.. Crocker proceeded with his review of
| the act OF Congress and tire bill under consider
alton, which SIMPLY provides for payment of
| such indebtedness as exists, whether IL amounts
to SsOO,O0O or less. The Mayor cannot issue
| bonds for one cent more than is due. II the
| debt should be less he issues bonds only to the
amount. II 1t should exceed ssOO.O0O he can
not issue beyond that. The gentleman (Mr.
| Moore) who wants the Mayor to inform this
! Beard OF the amount of the debt knows he can
not estimate the debt. The Mayor knows
| nothing more OF 1t than any member OF this
| Board.
| Mr.. Moore wanted to know where the MEM
| Der had the InfCrma lion.
. MT Croeker said in the acts of the Corpora
| tian for the last six years.
| Mr.. Moore said some of the acts had not been
executed Some appropriations had not been
Mr.. Crocker said that was a very good rea.
son why the Mayor could not furnish the data
Mr.. Mooie said he could furnish the data If
he was in the Mayors office half day.
Mr.. Crocker spoke of the looseness OF the
financial management or the Corporation for
six years past but said he did not charge cor
ruption or chicanery upon the officers of the
Corporation. This bill provided the only feas-
IDLE plan upon which the claims could be
called in and audited by the present Mayor,
whose integrity had never been questioned
HIS financial ability made him the right person
to audit The accounts, and he could do the
" Dirk, and do it properly, which this Board
Culd not do. He understood the gentleman
(Nr. MOore) 10 say the bill was Illegal.
Mr.. Moore said ne asserted that the oil was
extravagant
Mr.. Croker said he understood him to say
IL vas remarkable for its extra vagance, and
some OF Its provisions We're illegal and could
not be enforced He (Mr. Croker defied any
gentleman TO show that the bill reported by
him departed from the act Of Congress. He
continued to review the bill at considerable
length and defend its provisions. II the indebt.
edness should turn out 10 be S50O,00O, the inter-
est TO be paid would only be $}O,IO0 year, aud
not S9c,CJO, as stated by the gentleman. (Mr
Moore.) If the Indebtedness should be sSO0U0U
year, the interest would be S4S,OvOa year, and
not $4,000. The bonds would only be issued
at the discretion of the Mayor. and the proyi-
sion TO pay ten years from date was a proper
one The earnings Of the sinking fund may be
applied 10 take up the bonds. They not to
go begging in the market at 80 and 20 and ~
cents, a. the city scrip now does, TO the dis
grace of the Cooperation and the shame of those
who have managed the affairs of the city for
the last few years The Mayor cannot sell these
bonds, nor apply them to any other purpose
than the payment of the debt specified. The
provisions of the bill are carefully guarded
Such a de bt should never have been accumu-
lated The gentleman Mr.. Moore) says ha has
been told-he has found some gentleman who
has put q flea in his ear-he has heard wills
pered-that the present city government wishes
10 pay OF the old debt, so that they can pay no
their liabilities In cash.
MIR. Moore said he stated that he had heard
that they intended 10 pay the old deb in bonds,
and their creditors in cash.
Mr.. Crocker said he saw no difference. H.
then sroke Of the system of favoritism which
had prevailed, by which certain parties who
had influence in high quarters could get their
money, while others without such influence
could not get cent. He spoke of what the
present city government hoped TO do If this bill
was passed, in Plying promptly the teachers,
the police, the fremen, and the laborers, who
needed the means they earned from day to day.
In conclusion he made a strong appeal for the
passaye of the bill to night
Mr.. Moore said the gentleman had travelled
all around but not touched tha main point. II
we pass this bill we Ilust make an additional
he nrtnelnal int
These bonds should be issued tor one nth part
To 7fure every year, SO As to save the interest
on the whcle amount for the period of ten
years. The gentleman (Mr. Crocker) said the
bI was strictly In accordance with the Law OF
Congress Where did he find in the act OF Con-
gress any such provision as that IN the bill
before the Board, which makes the interest
payable out of the general fund, thus making
the wards which are clear of debt pay the
interest due on the liabilities ef the wards which
are In debt. The Mayor advertised for creditors
of the Corporation 10 present heir claims 1t
was 10 DC presumed they had done So If any
failed it was their own taali, aud they could De
provided for hereafter. Why cannot he send
In the list Of the claims presentedl The issue
Of this large amount of stock will necessarily
depfs eiae - yalue. and is it fair pey off the
old creditors. those who have waited the |
longest, with deprecated stock, and the new
ones with cash
Mr.. MeCathran SAID the gentleman from the
Seeord Ward (Mr. CrockeIj had been at pains
70 reiterate all the statements made at Repub.
who had lately ccme here. and who were
anxious TO take part in Corporation sfiirs- |
but he PRAYED God they never would BE- able
to-distorted the facts for party purposes Gen.
tlemen stood on the street corners, and by
their talk ON Corporation affairs We're depre.
ciating the city bonds. What would be the
fate of them II SStA,0O0 more should be issued
If gentlemen were not without sin themselves
they should quit throwing stones at others. He
spoke of the legislation Of Congress TO over
throw the will of the people, and asked, What
more do you Ohe favorites OF Congress) WANT"
He, one man at least, could rise above politics
here, and would act - serve the interests of
tine people. Every man, black and white, in
his ward was mis- constituent and be could
take his political opponedts as cordially by the
hand as his political friends. He reviewed al
length the messages of ex-Mayor WaIlach in
relation 10 the city debt, and said $50 much for
the charges Of winding
Mr.. CIocker said he had taken particular
pains TO disclaim charging any former officer
Of the Corporation with corruption, but he did
say that II they wished to encourage fraud
they could not have done il better than by
this loose management OF the finances. Mr..
McCathran, IN contin uation, enlarged upon the
fact that the Register-a pet OF the other side
bad 10 countersign all warrants for money
signed by the Mayor, during the last fiscal
year, ana bore down hard on spot- house poll
tIcIans." He then continued his review and
eulogy Of Mayor Wallach's last annual mes
sage, and contrasted IL with Mayor Bowen's
inaugural saying he was sorry that gentleman
had used the language he had. Congress to
whose will he bowed with loyal Submission
"A v0ice.-Uhm-m-m.] Nr. McCathran re-