Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-05-25

the pregnant hinges Of the knee that thrift may
Now, my fellow-citizens, permit me TO refer
for q moment TO that fostering nuisance, the
than when Mayor Bowen 50 jubiiantiy assumed
the robes of office. Why, we will not be able 10
use it even as a sort Of asalt river" upon which
we may launch to oblivion the present occu-
pants of the ssbuzzard's roost." There nav,
however, be some wisdom in this great neglect
The wondering mind may perhaps inquire how
this can possibly be; but to the close observer
the scheme seems as plain the stars which to-
night smile upon our cause You may take IL
for granted that such economical man as
Mayor Bowen is not outstanding, with miseriy
care, the filth Of this foul stream, unless he has
some great purpose in view. Well, his intention
is TO utilize ito apply il as fertilizer to the
vegetable gardens INTO which he is now convert
irfg our devoted streets. He doubtless expects
to astonish the world with prolific yield, and [
feel sure that the calculation OF the products of
each square will be as accurately close As that
OF the huge boulder which, with herculean eff
| fort, the enterprising 0Donovan removed from
the bed Of street, as an extra item In his con-
tract. Laughter and applause-l
The growth OF that rock, fellow-citizens was
| far greater than the growth OF Jacks bean
Stalk, which In single night shot into the very
clouds. Oh, that some such stalk may be the
result OF Mayor Bowen's gardening, and that
when, under the fertilizing power OF canal mud,
| it lifts its head far beyond our vision II NAV
carry with It the Mayor and his crew even to
purgatory, where with transforming eyes thew
may expiate their outrages upon this long-suf-
| fering people. We would hail their ascent with
acciaims, and wish them Heaven speed to their
destmanon. Applause.
Well, the contract system was to be abrogated
by the magic wand OF Mr.. Bowen. That sys-
tenn, however. still prevails, and the taxpayers
bleed that fayorites may be rewarded. nder
the law none but pr actical PAYERS can contract
| for paving. Did any Of you, fellow-c,tizens.
| ever witness the graceful manner in which
| Morse lays pavement? 1t lis true, some people
say, that he is as competent to lay an egg as to
| lay a pavement, but then they are envious Of
his good fortune in obtaining jobs. The fact is,
under the contract system that now prevails
| fraud Is committed, favorites are enriched, and
the ring fattens, while the laborer starves. The
laboring classes are kept idle ten months in the
| year, in order that just before election they
may be given employment Instead Of receiv-
| ing prompt payment in money, they are given
corporation orders, which, of all wildcat
| temptible. ICries of "That's SOL" "S7 cents on
the dollar J" "Grocers' orders!'l
The jail stands as another evidence of Mayor
Bowen's want of influence with Congress-. 1t
| still remains, to the detriment of the property
In that beautiful part of the city, although,
| from the Mayors pledges, our people thought
been erected in a locality more suitable for
| such q purpose. Mayor Bowen should have
shown more foresight for his friends, and pro-
the 9Th of June we will unearth the frauds pr c-
ticed for the past two years, and If justice can
be obtained, immune within prison walls their
perpetrators; The Mayor has loved these men
mot wisely, but too well, )" and it may perhaps
in short time, be said Of them-'sthey were
lovely in life, and in death were not divided"
tGreat laughter.l
None of you can fail to remember the exuber-
ant manner in which Mayor Bowen and his
friends presaged the defeat Of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad in the suit brought against
them by the city. The hearts of our citizens
beat high at the prospect of at last compelling
this vampire upon the life-blood Of the city to
release its hold. You all now know that by
atrociOus Encouragement the suit against that
gigantic corporation has been decided against
us, and that instead Of being victors, we are the
yanquished. We are now infinitely worse of
loss of prestige. Mayor Bowens Cook made a
sorry mess of it, and 1 wish that the nauseogs
dose had alone to be swallowed by those worthless
suggested-that IL one-haff the expense and ef-
fort made to defeat the nomination, as Mavor,
OF that able and fearless officer, Major Rich
| result would have been very different. lad
plause, and cries Of "That's so."l
Fellow-citiZens, We all hoped, when Mayor
BOW Bowen assumed the mayoralty, that for once at
influence with Congress. 1 presume that even
his friends will admit that under his admins
tration we have been less favored by Congress
than ever before. His influence at the Capitol
is so small that it has become by-word that If
you wish q measure to succeed, you must get
Mayor Bowen to oppose it. Members of Con-
character, and then, Of course, to have avoided
him as they would q plague spot. Prior to his
election, Pennsylvania avenue was lighted by
an appropriation from Congress. He had hard
ly taken possession OF his office when the ex.
pense was thrown upon the city.
Two years ago Congress appropriated $4,000
bursed by the Mayor. Last winter like sum
was appropriated for the same purpose but the
Mayor was not intrusted with its distributions
slight which any sensitive man would have con-
strued as direct censure upon his Trustworthy
ness. Only within few days past a resolution
passed the Senate OF the United States instruct
bia to report on the financial condition of the
| city and the value Of its bonds.
When the city government was antagonistic
| inquiry would have been considered humiIist.
| ing. In what light must it be viewed when il
rehects upon one who claims to be the repre-
can party, and who, two years ago, so won the
| sympathy of Congress as to secure legislation
for the protection in Office of his party friends,
whose election was, to say the least, somewhat
Shall 1 tell you, fellow-citizens, an incident
which occurred yesterday in the House Of Rep
sentatiyes? One Of the ablest men Of that able
body, who, during the rebellion, led our armies
to victory, and who stands in the van of the re-
publican party, was asked to address this meet
ing. His reply was: " II deemed it proper to
interfere in your municipal affairs should come
before your citizens and say to them, you can
not DO any worse; any change that you may
make will be for the better" This sentiment
was echoed by numerous ether members in
whose hearing it was uttered, who, sick and
tired Of the misrule of which they are daily
| witnesses, earnestly desire some change.
voice" They know him.
Any one having knowledge Of accounts can
not fail to feel bewildered when he reads the
financial exhibits Of the Mayor and his OBJ
sequious admirers. On the 18th day of July,
1863, for instance, the Mayor submitted to the
Councils his annual message, in which, after
indulging in his customary abuse Of his prede-
| cessor, and his alleged Encouragement Of our
city affairs, he gave an estimate Of the receipts
and expenditures for the current year-the for
mer at 81, 600, and the latter at 1,022 600,
leaving las he remarked) ga balance Of SOS 900,
which will be amply sufficient to pay all exist
! ing liabilities, and leave to the credit of the
corporation on the 3oth Of June, 1870, the sum
| of 800 COO"
These were the estimates, and now what are
| the facts? The total amount collected has been
| $4,000; there remains due on the general as
| sessment about 500 900, which will probably be
| realized, and therefore may be considered as
| assets. Mr.. Bowen acknowledges an indebted
| ness Of S2C3 800. In outstanding dishonored
| checks of the corporation we have an additional
| e100, 000 There Is due the First National Bank
| the sum Of $50 900. The reserved fund for the
redemption Of ten-year bonds amounts to
Sso,ooo. There is an indebtedness to corpora
ton laborers, employed for election purposes,
| Of probably $50 600, making q total in liabl-
tiles of sos 800. To meet this immense indebt-
ednefsOe have as available assets only $500 600;
| and instead of having 500 900 on hand as a
| handsome little surplus, we find the corpora