Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-21
LOCAL NE WIS. /
DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT
The Duty Of Voters Tomorrow.
an Able and Exhaustive Argument.

meeting held in the Fourteenth district last eve
ming 10 ratify the nomination of Peter Campbell
as candidate for the House Of Delegates which
presents in so clear a light the duty OF voter
throughout the District OF Columbia, to deposit
their ballots to- morrow for the improvements
loan and the candidates who are in favor of II
that We regret our limited space prevents Us
from giving anything more than brief abstract
OF IL. Commencing, he said that we have had
here IN The District OF Columbia many very ex-
citing political contests, and many that were of
great moment TO our people; aud while this il
not, and will not be, an exciting contest there
has, perhaps, never been one fraught With SUI a
momen Gus interest TO the present and future
welfare OF the District of Columbia
He then reviewed the practical workings of
our former municipal government at some
length, saying that ''if this territory ceded for
the purpose of a capital, had been improved a.
unit, and with reference;to the future: III the
expenditure OF public moneys within this Dis
uiet, both by the general and local government
had been with reference TO Q general plan com
pretending the Improvement Of the whole Dis
trict; II there had been such harmonious reia.
lions existing between our local government and
out ha.ohal government as would have secured
neafH cooperation in the execution of this
plan; if this unity Of design had been faithfully
carried out, both by the national and local gov
ernments, this national capital would to-day pre-
sent az once one ct the most beautiful and come
ly cities TO look upon, one Of the most delightful
as residence, and one Of the most prosperous
for oil of Its Inhabitants, which could be pointed
ont on the surface of this globe. From the very
beginning, however. this chosen spot was fatally
divided against itself, and fatally divorced from
Its parent and natural protector-the general
government. Washington city, as a corporation
was given a sort OF hybrid form Of government
with some shiBg Of control over It's internal af-
fairs, and yet with sufficient reserved 70 the
general government in the management of it's
details TO utterly emasculate il and destroy its
power.
Noticing the change OF government here, and
the benefits expected TO follow il, he said that
1o tfaf to- t.
the Endorsement by the people of the four mil
lion loan, sis the Gettysburg OF our struggle for
the permanent seat Of government and the
future greatness Of the capital. IL we lose this
battle see only chaos; If we win it, success upon
success"
He replied at length to the objection that the
lcan bin furnishes no guarantee for faithful
and honest disbursement of the money Quoting
from the act itself to show how unfounded the
assertion is, sometimes heard on the streets
" that we are to give this Board of Public
Works a. 600 900 TO use as they please" Motto
ing the impracticable talk about submitting the
plan of improvement TO the people. he said IL
would be almost impossible to prepare detailed
plan of improvements for the District of Column
bia, which should be carried out without yaria-
ton; and, In plan were submitted TO the people
and voted upon, the board would possess no power
to make any changes, however Important these
changes might afterward seem TO be. III that
course were practicable he asked, "can you
conceive it to be possible that the mass Of our
people, who vote upon this proposition, would
be able to inform themselves as 10 its merits
within any reasonable time? Passing 10 the
second branch OF the objection, he said:
without noticing further this branch of the
objection, let me say word a. to the second;
that is, that there Is no restraint upon the
Board Of Public Works in the disbursement OF
this fund. Some cay that the board should be
bonded, should give bond OF suffi csentsecurity
for the repayment to the District OF such funds
as they may improperly disburse. Let US look
members OF this board secure the people far-
ther than the act now secures them? Any one
familiar with the form of such bonds will tell
you that the condition is the faithful perform
ance of the trust undertaken by the pripci-
pal of the bond. In this case the bonds would
run with the condition, that A. B., a member
of the said Board of Public Works shall faith
fully discharge the duties pertaining to his
said office, and in default thereof snail paw
&c Don't you perceive that, in that case
the same discretion remains still with the
members of the Board of Public works 70 AZ
according TO their best judgment in the discharge
of their official functions? And do YOU not per-
ceive that an honest though mistaken exercise of
that discretion would not render them liable
upon their bond in damages, but that il Is only
where there Ia some criminal conduct on their
part, some embezzlement of funds, or such gross
negligence in the management OF their duties A.
would raise the presumption of fraud, that the
bond would be Of any value? Ii would seem 10
me that the directors upon this ground forget
entirely the course OF legislation, both in Con-
gress and the legislatures of the States Nothing
Is better known here in this Community tlaS
that the Secretary of War, for example, draws
Of
millions Of dollars; yet he gives no bonds
The whole disburse ments OF this government
are drawn out OF the Treasury upon warrants
signed by heads of Departments, not one Of
whom gives bond The custodian ofthe finds
of the government is a bonded officer; and So is
the custodian Of our funds, the Controller and
the Treasurer of the board; and he pays no
money except upon warrant countersigned by
the Auditor. But, admitting that the Board OF
Public Works may draw out money in bulk and
disburse il as they choose, still "A bond ,iyeu nv
heard WOulQ, Ire fltra
cover only such cases a. would amount practi,
csIly to Enforcement OF the public funds.
This brin gs us, then, to confront squarely the
question whether we believe the members of
that board are thieves; for L can conceive no
difference between the crime of lareenv apa
embezzlement in such case as this. A man who
would embezzle and appropriate 10 his own use
a trust fund Is worse even than a common thief
What are the probabilities In the first place
the gentlemen composing that board are citi-
Zcns whose whole pecuniaTy interest is in this
District Some OF them, by careful business
management, have amassed private Fortunes.
one OF them at least, has a character and credit
which is worth TO him more than ten TINS fanr
millions OF dollars. Ii is above price Moi ona
of them, believe, has the remotest anticipation
OF laying his bones elsewhere than In this Dis
trict of Columbia.
Your future is their future; aud, sir, can no.
conceive il possible that these men can willfuIly
write across their foreheads the word thief. ami
become the objects of scorn and contemnt or an
honest men. But there is great improbabil;tv az
this. for the further reason, that 70 be successrn
in any scheme for plumber, these five members
of the Board OF Public Works must not only con-
spire with each other, but they must also con-
spire with public contractors. And, sir, with the
watchful eyes Of this community upon them.
such conspiracy could not exist SIX months
without its being manifest to all intelligent men
In that case, you know that the President of the
United States. who appoints them 10 Office, would
remove them instantly. The fatal defect, which
cost New York city so fearful sum Of money in
its board ofpublc officers Jay in the fact that thew
had 70 possessed themselves Of power as to per-
petuste their own oficial existence and there was
absolutely no remedy whatsoever, but euch an up-
rising Of the people 0ve have recently witnessed
But We not only have the security which ues ;.
the power 70 Instantly removable Board ~ pnh,
he WORKS from sfhce through the Prrsidert IN,
the act itself provides the Eanishmert - ~.
ofncer % empioye OF the District Who shsIl ne
or consent TO the use Of any OF the monev ufhors
lied to be raised BY the act CONTRARY 10 It's nro-
vteaon- But, sir. feel need not say nom unc,,
this point There must be Responsibility sosas-
where and eeneraily speakine, smone men on
probtty OF character, which believe the Dc ntis.
men Of this Board TO pesses, pepai Sonds A. noe
half 90 good security Is the honor up0u vhich
such men sct. IL b . delicsxe thine For ne "a
mention, IN this connection, any one ne mher ~
your Board OF Public Works, or 90 mention ~ ~
one individual among those who are onn.osinyg
this loan; and yet feel that the gravity a. as
question, and the eeYiouxDe~s ~ -. -, a. s.-s