Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-01

" A mass meeting of the taxpayers and labor
ing men Of the District OF Columbia was called
10 assemble at Odd Fellows Hall last evening
by notice in the newspapers, and during the
evening there were about two hundred persons
pIesent-a liberal misunderstanding friends
OF the 81 600 eco loan, who wanted TO hear what
the ants had 10 say about IL.
DR.. y. b. Blake was called to the chair and
the following vice presidents were elected: W.
Henry S. Davis, j. W. Greene. Fitzbugh CoVle'
w. B. Webb, A. Grant, Augustus Z. Perry,
John Purdy, W. G. Metzerott. John Grinder,
Ihomas E Lloyd, George H. Plant, John West,
tor, Esau Pickrell, j. A. Gushing, Michael
IIsty, and e. W. Riggs. But few OF these gen.
utmen were present however. Our reporter,
on comparing the list with those on the plat
form, could only check OFF as present Messrs
Ienney, Davis, Grant, DIR. Clayton, John Grin
der, j. A. Gushing, Michael Tally, and Pickrel.
Col. b. Il. Green and j. III. Crane were elected
secretaries c. p. Culver, j. A. Cushing and
George w Hatton were appointed a committee
on resolutions.
Col. Il. T.. Green offered a long report and
series of resolutions setting forth that the Board
OF Public Works, as now constituted, is illegal:
mat IL Is wrong TO import a civil engineer from
New YORK; that the Board of Public Works
have no authority to appoint officers, or bureaus
OF ofnceIs, or to nix salaries; that the Board of
Public Works have no power to make contracts:
mat, without authority of law, the Board of
Publc Works, in contempt and disregard of all
law, have paid out money; that those who have
taken contracts from the Board of Public Works
must look not to the Board as a body for pay
ment, but to the Board as individuals; that
the frauds and cOrrupti0ns of Tammanv are
nowhere in comparison with such things here;
mat the salary OF the members of the Board is
hxed at 2, 900 per annum, but when a reporter
OF the Citizen called on Mr.. Magruder for a
statement of all the offices created he was
snubbed, and Mr.. Msgruder said he did not
k Know what ms salary was to be; and that the
Board imported their civil engineer at a salary
of s., 200. Then follow three resolutions proyid-
ing LOT committee Of twenty-five who shall
lay the report before the President and before
congress, and shall have power to appoint a
committee of five, to employ suitable counsel to
take the necessary legal steps to protect this
District from liability for the payment of
any sums Of money on the contracts made by
the Board Of Public Works without authority of
law; and also to recover OF the parties any sums
OF money belonging to the District that may
have been paid out without due previous ap-
preparation by law; and also to recover for the
property holders, who may have been injured
10y so-cailed improvements, made without au-
thorlty OF law, compensation in damage for such
injury from the individuals concerned in causing
the same. The report and resolutions were
adopted. -
John f. Norris, Esq, was then introduced.
He thought every man, woman and child that
owned foot of land in the city was interested
in putting down the corruption that was driving
the city TO ruin and bankruptcy. He spoke OF
the Board of Public Works, and thought thew
had started out upon grand plan of improve
ments without counting the cost or considering
the terrible debt into which they were about TO
the pay of the labOring man. although thew had
been applied to. He thought it was the duty of
all 10 vote down the $1,000 600 bill, as the Dis
ulct Of Columbia had Outstripped Tammany
The committee ON resolutions reported a series
declaring that they would use every honorable
and just effort to establish economy and protect
the rights of capital and labor; fayoring improve
ments upon well.matured plans and sanctioned
by the will of the people; that such amounts of
money should be appropriated yearly as could
be Lsefully and economically expended; opposing
the $1,000 600 loan from motives of political
economy, and censuring the Board of Public
Works for reducing the pay of laborers from %
per day to S1.5O, and establishing so MANY new
of1ees; and finally declaring members of the
board enemies to the labOwing men.
MIR. VIM. III. Tenney, of Georgetown. was then
introduced. He said there was a crises in this
District, and he felt II to be his duty to lift a
awarning voice. He criticised the members OF
the Board of Public Works. As to Gov Cooke
he entertained feelings Of respect for him. but
thought he had bad surroundings. He then paid
his respects to the newspapers Of the District
which he thought had been bought up by the
Board of Public Works. General" A. Grant
then made his usual brilliant speech and was
followed by Geo. w. Hatton, the man who
pawned his watch and sold his mare A
letter was then read from Mr.. j. G. Hardness
expressing his sympathy with the meeting and
expressing his incompetency to rank with dis
tnguished speakers who had ALREADY been en-
gagged to address the meeting Messrs. w. s.
Cox, n. Sargent, j. j. Coombs, W. W. Moore
and W. II. Philip were advertised to address
the meeting, but those gentlemen did not put in
an appearance.