Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-07

before
hair stood nd also startled when the discon.
nected Improvements authorized during the last
wefs above fB e 1ant in
this BILL was he assisting to roll up that asgre
ens man With poWer to Increase the debt Of the ct
Of Washington 10 the amount Of ten millions, IL ne
i have been told sir, that attorneys, even of the
progressive kind, viii take fees as well from old
eSnseryatye tax payers as from ctheS citizens and
directors know that the good people of this District
~ eS 1 the RTee en- eaa
s s the amount e be r. S BY
fact. Mr. Brown closed by crticZing the letters of
THE LEGAL GENTLEMEN
ghSh S Fl Mr. we e ana ns S
not republicans, and that they had been paid for
MT. Peek replied that he felt it his duty, inssmuch
as he had invited the opinions of the legal gentle
aspersiors in that bod, and he wished to know
whether the gentleman Mr.. Brownel meant to in
stated that he had addressed notes to them before
any public discussion had been held on the subject,
fair representatives Of the legal profession ofthis
been paid to write cut their views 70 be read before
the Council, but il was merely natter Of opinion
the legal profsssion Al al events Z would not be
Of h are the g.
party in all works of improvement and enterprise.
district so jealous in the cause of the
OLD FOGT. ANrI-PRoG EssITE
PS9Sd al Which, hnS Kept s
Tar behind all other cities in enterprise He had no
ests OF the old democracy.
Mr.. Thompson" Sheer bosh Sheer boshl Sheer
MI. BrOwn.-,.'The gentleman can't intimidate me.
1 call him to order.,i
serve the rules Of decorum in debate.
Mr.. Peck denied that he was working in the in
apff II ohV tint
what he cOnscentousy believed to be right and just
REMARKS OF MR.. THOMPSON.
Mr. Th1mpsSn said Mr.: BrSwn had no right to
6eS he B them one Of the
most important bills ever introduced in this Dis
atoms Of the gentleman from the Eighth district,
(hlT: Brown:l He tthe speaker] claimed to be as
opposed this bili on republican principes He hoped
70 hear no more Of this nonsense. Mr.. Thompson
that may be incurred by the Legislature, and made
the same application as did Mr.; Peck. Hewas not
in accordance with the organic act. He cited the
taxes raised for improvements, &c, in past years.
our wReie s Il placed at he sed mai
y pr 5SS Ps 6S %
be seen that two pef cent on the assessed value Of
Expenses OF this government. Our people are not
able TO bear higher rate, even if they can bear this
before us, there is nothing binding upon the Board
CT Public Works.
M fSts1 ESs in ny0T Of If The substitute BIZ
the gentleman from the Fourth district that il
the same old bill, re produced under other Language;
that it was "a cunningly devised scheme he re-
garded il as a very different bill and more in har-
mony with the organic act. 1t limits the amount Of
money appropriat and specifies the time in which
itself seems 10 embrace all the safeguards neces-
tn the @ e debt 11 s e Sy see Of on
i've per cent Of the taxable property were, IN his
by these bonds must according to this bll b. used
az Il was needed and not be expended in mass at
one time, and to his mind a the necessary re5trlc-
tons bad been thrown around the issuing and sale
Of the bonds. As TO the checks and balances spoken
thought they should have confidence in the Board
Of Public Works and the Governor: The bonds are
out for the purpose. named in the bill. The great
the same principles Of disbursements and every body
there had been satisfied with the plan. The only
gineer-had directed the whole work, and expended
the whole sum sufficient to pay for il. 1t seemed
for such trivial reasons The day will come when
they would allook back with pride e the results of
n0 time g prepare such remarks in advocacy Of the
fully digest the substitute offered.
Mr.. Gulick said he was sorry that the gentleman
rst for he Ssd Cleared away ali little doBs he
secretly felt as to the legality and practcabilty Of
TINS SYSTEM OF GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS
was not new one TO hin he had ADVOCATED it years
fayorite plan Of Mayor wallach and himself, and
DIR. allac had talked the plan over year. ago. Mr..
M Peek said the bill partook too much Of a direc.
tory nature ard too little of the mandatory charac-
embodied in the bill; there practical RENE
dies To prevent peculstiOn such of business
no checks between the Boar, Of Public Works and
the Comptroler, the Auditor, or the Treasurer.
OF might not be called 10 account for their acts
There coDpulsiOn in the matter no statute to
Tdp lie had no doubt but Of efa
would be kept by the board, 40 were all high mind
opdn the door to corruption for ali future time, and
honest legislator they would be irninaiiy re-
miss in their duty did they not stand right. BY this
bill the Comptroller had discretion but to give ont
tie bonds Whenever they are called for by the Board
put into the hands Of the Treasurer who has no dis
erection but 70 pay i out. The board incurs all the
expenses, out the money and audit their own
Mr. Browne stated that he knew the entire loan
could hav been made in New York at per cent had
not been for reports sent away by the enemies of
vote on MR. sykIcks ELL ~ IN, sEsIIoxs
Yeas-Messrs Browne, Cross, Douglas. Eaton,
| Gray, Gulick, Hall and Smiths. Nays-Messrs
The Chair said that the hour was too late to make
any extended remarks whinh he had hoped to make
osSon he Il Sn s sss fn
which the tax payers would be burthened, which he
MT. Thompson offered an amendment to the second
work shall be given out by contract to the lowest
bidder. +" Lost-Yeas 8, Messrs. Peck, Stickney and
Thompson3 nayss.
| Mr. Peck moved TO amend the second section by
adding - And no member of the Council or House
Of Delegates, person holding any Office of trust OF
prOft under the District OF Columbia, shall be pc
cuniaFly interested either directly or indirectly, in
any such contract: and payment shall be made on
| account Of any contract in which such person
l shall be interested" Agreed TO. Yeas-Nfessrs
l Gross, Eaton, Gray, Peck, Thompson and the Pres
| ideut-6. Nays-Messrs. Browne, Douglass, Gu
| lick, Hall and Smith,.
| The seCsnd section az amended was adopted-yea.
| 9.nay. the President: MIR. Gulick not voting.
| The third section WAS ad0pted-yeas S, nays
\ Messrs Thompson, Peck and the Psesident-3.
| Mr.. Peek moved To- amend the fourth section by
adding, III accordance viii, the thirty seventh
Il tiOn OF The organic act Agreed to Yeag-Messrs
! Douglass, Eaton, Peek, Smith, Thompson, aud th'
| PTesideut-6. Says,5
1 The section was adopted: Yeas, 8. Nays-9Iessrs
| GBlck, Peck. and the Presidents.
4 Sections 9, and Z were agreed to ny same vote.
| Mr.. Peek moved to amend section by adding
PrCr1dd, That said bonds shall not De sold AZ les
| thsn their rsr value J." Lost: Yess-Aessrs. Peck
| Thompson n, ami the Presif-nt-3. Nays
| The Sih section was agreed to: Yeas, 9. Nays
Messrs. Peek and ThoInps ma
\ the 9Th section was agreed to: Yeas, 5, Nays, 3
! Peck. Thompson, and the President
The Council then proceeded 20 consider the Thomp
s0r substitute bin, aud it was rejected Yea-Mr
Thompson. Nays, 10.
| THE BILL PASSED.
The Quick substitute then read a third tim.
| and passed: Yeas-Messrs. Browne, Cross, Douglass