Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-31

these improvements would last for many wears.
and such AN expense would not be incurred for
some time to come. One OF the reasons why
the income had not been larger tor many years
that better market building would be erected
Such a structure as the city needed would doubt
less have been put up at the beginning Of the
enterprise. Again, in 1864, the corporation was
progressing with the foundation of the nevbuild-
ing when Congress interfered.
In reply to the remarks of Mr.. Cluss, he would
say that he did not see why he should come here
andvillify Incorporation as he had done tonight
in the paper read by Mr.. Stanton. He hardly
lghtest manner Of alluding to It would be to call
il scandalous. What right had he to scandalize
the city whose pet he had been and whose purse
was filed with Corporation pap. He had been
consulted on all occasions, he had been treated
in the kindest manner. and for him to speak of
the city and its officials as he has done was
truly scandalous. 1t was matter Of astonish-
ment lie had been paid large sums of money
for services rendered, and he must repeat that
for him to come before the committee AMI at
tempt to prejudice the Corporation that had
n0ur1shed him was simply scandalOus.
Mr.. Cluss, interrupting: As long as Mr.. Bowen
has been mayor have not received one cent for
work done under his administration, and the
corporation is now in my debt for work done
during the whole of his term.
Mr. Bowen continued with the statement that
the corporation funded debt to-day was 81 ,IG, :
tSo.3s, and that there were taxes now due more
penses OF the corporation. 1t was proposed that
the most valuable ground in the city should be
gwen to the company. The space in front of
the market, If used for stores, would bring large
rents, and that should be taken into considera-
ton, when the corporatOrs tell you what the cor
Poratlon VIII gain over what Is now received
from the rent OF stalls, &c.
Senator Morrill.-When the bill was first pro-
posed believe it was understood the corporation
ofnces were to be located in the new build
ing?
wonld here state that the citizens are opposed
To removing from the City Hall, and therefore,
that proposition was Abandoned. Ii the ground
was worth anything 1t was worth more than
$4,000 per year, and lit can be made profitable
to a private company it surely can be made
equally SO to the corporation of Washington,
and our citizens are tenacious Of their rights.
The corporation contends that this franchise is
exceedingly valuable, and it should derive the
benefit of 1t.
The corporation is ready and anxious to erect
market-house on the site that will be q credit
TO the city and the government as we'll as an or
name mt TO the avenue. Why not give the corpo-
ration that right? Being the property Of the
corporation it would never become a MONOPOLY
to Cypress our people, as 1t most certainly would
il owned and controlled by an Incorporated COM
pany. Our people are opposed to granting this
franchise to company-the Councils have
unanimously protested against it, and as they
through their representatives, propose to erect
building IN all respects equal to that proposed
by the company. 1 ask again why DENY to the
people here what you propose to give to a few
interested individuals
Our experience with incorporated companies
them when they approach us. For thirty years
we have been ground to the earth by the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad monopoly. Now that
we are about to subdue that naughty and over
have another, equally, If not more, obnoxious
liked upon us for period of ninety-nine years.
1t remains with the committee to say whether
we shall be SO saddled or not.
Councilman A. p. Pardon said he represented
the Common Council of the CITY of Washington
and was opposed to the disposal of the franchise
as contemplated in the bill which had recently
passed the House. The corporation bill pro-
vided that the work should commence sixty days
after its passage, and if the work was not com
menced then the private company could pro-
coed
The land alone which was to be given to this
company was worth million of dollars, and at
the rate OF compensation fxed-S16, 900 per an
num-the interest was not more than one and
four-tenths per cent. Was that just? Should
IT be less than six per cent? Even now, in the
dilapidated building, the licenses amounted to
more than could possibly be realized from the
company. What would the income be il the
corporation was permitted to build the market
house?
Admitting the necessity of a suitable market
house, he saw nothing to impede its cOnstruc-
ton by the corporation. Certainly our credit
was not gone, and there was no reason why the
city should not build its own mar ket-hOuse. At
least he asked the committee to give them an
opportunity of failing, if fail We must, as the
MIR. Cluss in reply to what had been said by
the Mayor in relation to him said: beg leave to
state that have been for q number OF
years the architect Of the city OF Washington;
that L have not been treated as a Corpora
ton pet, nor have been fed with corporation
pap" Whatever plans may have been accepted
by the city were not accepted because they were
my plans, but because, in competition with
others, they were judged the best. L will also
state that have not received a single cent for
any work done for the city since Mr.. Bowen has
been Mayor, and for work done for the previous
administrations, was compelled to accept from
Mayor Bowen Corporation bonds worth only
seventy-tye cents on the dollar.
Mr.. Bowen.-Iou were not Compelled to &C
cept them.
Mr.. Cluss.-Very true, but was bound to
have something for my services, and was com
PEELED to take them or sue the Corporation. So
Willingly made the sacrifice however, being in
the same boat with the honest mechanics of the
Mayor Bowen.-Congress authorized the Cor
poration to issue these bonds for the purpose
they were disposed for.
Senator Morrill.-These remarks, gentlemen,
are irrelevant and they had better be discon
tinued.
Mr.. CIuss.-very good; only wish the COM
don't prevent me from doing what is right aud
honorable in a mar.
THE BUTCHERS CASE PRESENTED.
Hon. A. Il. Riddle next appeared on behalf of
quite apparent that the city Of Washington
needed new market-house. Whether 1t should
be constructed by the corporation, by private
company, or by anybody else, was a matter for
Congressional legislation. He did not propose
either by elimination or recriminatiOn to ad-
vance his views. The Butchers Association
was not responsible for the present condition of
things, and he vas not prepared to admit that
private company could do better than the cor
pOration in providing for their wants any more
with an inclination Of the head towards the
cemmittee) than the affairs Of the nation could
be carried on better by q private company than
by the general government. Much had been
said in favCr Of the scheme proposed by the
corporat0rs In the bill recently passed by the
House. 1t was claimed that they represented
the public want, but he had yet to learn that
private company was the exponent OF public
taste. He would submit for the inspection Of
the committee petition numerously signed by
the citizens Of Washington demonstrating
against the passage of the bill granting the
right of franchise to a private company.
Mr.. Riddle here unrOlled petition yard or
two long.]
What particular spirit, what patriotic motives
governed the corporators he would not say, but
it was evident that q private company sought
only their own interests, and would do no more
than was actually required by the terms Of the
bill. II the franchise was as valuable as esti-
mated, the citizens Of Washington rightly esti-
mate that its benefits belong exclusively to the
city. An examination Of the plans under which
1t was proposed to build their structure, would
show that market facilities were only a secOn-