Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-08-01

cc;.; mich was particularly odious TO our
been created, all Of independent powers,
but all aiming to the same results
an excessive public debt and TAXATION.
is Illegal as it authorizes debt in excess Of the
two per cent. on the taxable property OF the Peo-
pie without submitting the question TO vote OF
the people. he had hoped that way might be
opened 70 a reconciliation of the differences be-
tween the people and the Government He was
astonshed at the assertion made in the Gov
ernor's reply that it was not the intention TO
issue over SEQ 900 Of the bonds authorized; also,
that the old debt of the Corporation should not
be taken in this account when calculating the
debt OF the city, conte mplated in the organic
act. Inls idea Is erroneous, as the aggregate
debt OF the District was undoubtedly meant by
the trainers OF the act in Congress.
lie read from the organic act, and said. il the
Construction the Governor and Board Of Public
WORKS gave TO this act is to prevail, then no
matter what the debt, however large they were
not TO take il into consideration i'm the debt 10 be
incurred by this loan. He argued that the debts
of the old corporations, collectively, should be
computed in this connection. as the said cornor-
atoms are liable for the payment of them. The
old corporations are now deprived of the power
to pay their debts, and the new government is
held for their extinguishment. All the proper
ty Of the old corporations is vested In the new
government, which is the successor To these debts
also; 1t must be perfectly plain that
defunet, and the property owned by them re-
spectVely, transferred to the new government
llaI tile CtDTS are q legltlmate inheritance. A
common law all claims and contracts would ex-
pire with The existence of the powers of an old
corporation; but this was provided against by
the organic act, by special enactment that the
new government is the successor OF the debts as
well as the property. The debt in this case is a
debt Of a party bound by law TO pay il. and Is To
be regarded in the light OF an aggregate debt,
although each of the old corporations are Sepa-
rateiy held for the payment of their own respec-
lively. What then would follow if these debts
are not to be taken in the aggregate in the con-
structton of the law? The loan of four millions
which is contemplated win far exceed the
amount allowed by the organic act. He cited
the case of the State of California, which was
limited TO debt not to exceed a certain amount.
and when the Legislature had attempted to
largely exceed that amount by the construction
of wagon road, they were restrained by an in
junction.
1t is contended that the loan to be made is for
the purpose Of meeting the ordinary and cur
rent expenses of the District; yet it is not con-
tended that il is to be raised by assessment and
collection for the current year, therefore it
offends against the act which provides for the
assessment and collection OF taxes 10 create a
fund for the current expenses of the District, as
the amount should be designated, which is to be
expended and for what specific purposes
lie commended that frequent and small appros
priations to meet the ordinary current expense
OF the city government was all that the organic
act contemplated, and that there is nothing
which tends more to fasten upon the Govern
ment swarm of corrupt parasites than to hold
cOntrOl OF large amount OF public money, and
this should be discouraged above all other evils
This can only be done by restraining the Board
OF Public Works and the Governor from making
He held that it is the duty of the Legislature
TO control appropriations of money, by designat-
ing what amounts shall be used, and for what
power is assumed by this Board of Public Works
entirely independent of any other power. The
bill passed by the Legislature, and which had
oeen drawn up by the board makes a sweeping
and aggregate computation, without specifying
1or what particular purpose the money is to be
used. 1t is the duty of the legislative
be expended for particular improvements,
ana they have no right to delegate
this power to the Board OF Public Works.
1hey were intended as a branch of the executive
authority. The Board OF Public Works are also
a branch OF the executive, and have no functions
as legislative officers, which they assume. The
great dfhculty seems to be that the Legislative
Assembly do not assume the power intended to
be given them by the organic act, but have at
R empted 70 illegally confer such powers on the
MT. Cox closed by saying that the whole
scheme was illegal, and should be prevented.
COndensed Locals.
Ground was broken on G. street, between 18th
ana 9Th, yesterday, preparatory to laying an as
Ih2ltum pavement.
A Newport CO respondent saws "AIr. Lowerv.
OF Washington, has bought 5000 feet of land
opposite Belmonts, for 81 ,000.n
The Washington City Hibernian Benevolent
Society give their third annual picnic at naios-
tan Island to-morrow. See advertisement.
NEW OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALrH.-
To-day, DIR. f. VI. Springfield, secretary of the
late Board of Health, turned over the furniture
and cfects of the board TO DIR. Verdi, the secre-
tary OF the new board. The property will be
removed from the old Office TO the new Office of
the new board, who are to-day removing from
the corner of 18th street and PENNSYLVANIA ave
nue. to No 1886 street y. w.
FROM the National News Company. 323
pennsylvania avenue, we have the latest issues
of the " Y. Ledger, ". y. Weekly, Ftyeside
Companion and Saturday Jorrnai.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
, ntNClL.-The Council met yesterday afternoon
the President, William Stiekney in the chair
Mr. Gulick introduced bill relating TO estates of
real and providing for the partition thereof
W hen held in common. Read and laid over
House bills TO authorize the District government
20 subscribe to the stock of the Piedmont and Poto-
mac Railroad 70 the extent of S60OceO; fixing the
powers OF the Water Board TO the Board of Public
orss in relation to the Baltimore and Ohio Aiex-
and National junction RAILWAYS: TO autborize the
governor 10 initiate proceedings for the straiRhten
ng and Improvement OF Aqueduct street, in George
Chain or Little Falls bridge were sayeraIiv read
hrst time and laid over
Council bill TO protect physicians and surgeons in
Mr. Browne introduced bill extending the proyi-
'ions OF the law prohibiting the opening of barber
% G on sunday to the county Read and laid over
and County Affairs, reported back the |
Di which adopts seal for the District Of Columbia
Mr.. Cross, from the Committee on Schools. re-
eofbed back the bill making appropriation of |
S4NU to pay the school teachers in the county /
. The bill 70 authorize the Attorney and Assistant
III morney OF the District to administer oaths aud |
mimatlons IN the discharge Of their official duties
was reported back from the judiciary COMMITTED
md passed. Adjourned.