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


states when it Is known that in many instances the
debt OF the cities themselves exceed the whole State
Again, in the organic act the respective Corpora
lions which were legislated cut of existence are
h the ca paciy OF guardian and trustee for the set
Element Of their respective estates with power to
reference TO h assessed property of this District in
my opinion, corroborated by the returns of the cen
over one hundred millions; add to the amount of real
estate ySiGaticn the property 1ssessed e. nershan
paid in the form q licenses, and other property
closely ss il should have been, and have no doubt
that the footing viii DO found 10 justify my esti-
i am satisfied that a fun and thorough assessment
Of al descIipti3ns OF properly, Including vast
which has heretofore escaped taxation, and which,
IL my opinlon should bear the expenses Of this gov
eminent, we'll as the real estate, will astOnish
some Of those who so often express the conviction
that this Is poverty stricken community, and that
sbe on assessed vaiue Of ar Re District
lions mentioned in my bill Is only eighty millions
anH II is certain the property subject To assessment
now desire so call attention TO the several sec
tons Of the bin as reported by me If the gentemen
will turn to the first section they will that it
sppropriates 5000 for improvements in tfr Dis
tTic This is 3iS 10 less than the bill which passed
requires to Justify it only eighty millions OF assessed
property The sPpreprietion is limited until the
Ilent of the next regular session of the Legislative
Assembly IL, now, gentlemen viii turn 10 the four
teenth section of the organic act page u, they will
find that this is the exact language of the act SO
9sc, ,he ~, SI t a h an ~ he Dill Is
having declared that all appropriations shall end at
ment of the Legislature, it follows that no part of
any apprc priation can be used after that period If
be used for year and three months So tRst much
Of the talk about waste of money by the Board of
their hands for years, is the talk Of ignorance excited
by political or other passions;
Gulck read the first section, above, and cohtin-
usdI First, il is to be used required by the or
e me a SIN p ms Ress a. S @ dg
Gil at Its request, by the Board Of Public Works
Wise and iDdcioas O'isiO' Vi 'n'S se'''h arc not
The second section providessthat the Board shall
than the estimates furnished by the Council This
restriction is certainly safe, if not severe and it is
intIusted With particular powers BY Congress, the
fo~ one am not disposed 70 haInper them IN the exer
cise of that power, hy directing how, or when, or
suthcrized the Board TO contract after we make ap.
propriatoRs think they should be left free to con
tract as their judgments, experience, and honesty
may direct, un-1ibaTIassed by any rules or regula
The 81 section regulates the mode Of disbursement
Is il wise Ii is by warrants of the board, the
treasury Of the District. But, then, no warrant
least ten Per eGntum in excess Of the warrant. Is
Mr. Gulick then quoted the 9Th section and said
This is in accordance with section twenty Of the
organic act.
bill in reference 10 the bonds, and askedIf these
safeguards are not sufficient what would Der What
Coming 70 the ith section he read it, and said
C.r,ainly, these prov are right
have we that the money will be used provided fort
what safeguards have we against future wrong and
Here Is one sufficiently stringent, 1t is the Sth
sSe1Sn 1f hs act Th f red as aboye and con-
beTe the Board Of Public WorSs tasen a ,e
to the thirty st section Of the organic act recorded
ana Ned II is the same guarantee or Obligation We
are under-the binding power of an oath. II il is
oi the Precedent. And We have their character aud
do we want? If all the careful provisions Of the
till all its safeguards the oaths Of the members of
the board, are not sufficient, none could be.
=, Ard now to make the points emphatic az possible
let me y say here Mat a. hsys sad IN sutstaaee be-
the entire plan arises from the fact that the Board
a man II ea IS ssR
complete the whole the contract cannot embrace the
will be almost impossible for the Board u Public
Works 10 determine what parts shall go on, or in
their part, sections Of the District may be wholly
neglected All this can be corrected or avoided only
by making such appropriation as viii enable the
Board 20 commence and carry on general system %
improvements: The interest of every member lies
cannot pass deficiency bills or Increase the ar0unt
Of any contracts The 18th section of organic act
prohibits 1T. What We do, OF authorize 20 be done,
The bin of my colleague, If adopted will arrest and
BaaTd u PuSe WORKS and preve de IF the t chef 1
designs Of Congress in creating tine District.
Pass the bill have reported, and the march u iIn
pLq9xsInent vii begin and go on until The District
feat it, and progress viii be arrested, the awakened
h TN in sf the and ID ise p
which in nearly every section, distinguishes the
nation.
Mt Peck made speech in the course q which he
ferring to House bill No soJ is scheme to transfer
to the Board Of Public Works the most unlimi.ei
a 90 Ss fs 6
Public Works injustice when say that they avow
is not necessary for call your attention to the
fact that the members of this board are all human,
imperfeciicns shall not rest any argument up" pom
any alterations AGAINST those particular persons but
eminent Of laws and not Of pen and il Is our frst
to s. BAD p will be
not called upon TO choose between good laws and
We have BOTH hase the oRs and s az
Mr. President, this bill was drawn in violation Of
grave accusation, and ask the close attention OF
doing will consider the bill section by section Mr.
Peck then proceeded to analyze and criticize the
his subject he SAID The crownina ebieetiop Il Thai
il belongs 10 that class Of measures whose object is
and 10 place the whole administration OF thfs GOV
ernment in the hands Of the executive de partmeut
REMARKS OF Mr.. BROWNE.
Hr. Browne then spoke in advocacy Of the bill
saying:
Justice to the people with whose interests have
TO deal requires that we should give 10 bill that
imposes burdenscIne taxation a iRcst careful and
candid consideration. deem Il my duty not only "a
be prompted in my action this bill by re asOrt,
that to entirely satisfactory but to present
20 this Council those reasons calmly, clearly
as may. believing il the right Of each member Il
be possessed Of the reasons operating the mind of
each of his fellows 10 control his vote question
Of such grave importance.
Tie subject matter Of this bill, as now proposed
to be amended, involves two questions. Fret Have
We lawful authority 10 make this appropriation and
to raise the money by issuing bonds Second. Does
| the public good require that Il shculC BE- dOney
Mr.. Browne then quoted section IA IF the organic
act. and said The only restrictions the author
ity Of the Legislature to appropriate iaD the
u fUHe limiting preparations & fig end Of the
quarter next following the next session, and the
VI limiting the preparations 20 the amount
The rst q these restrictions does apply 20 this
bill There is proposition in the bin 70 make any
| appropriation Tor longer time than the law per
nlits, ard II s especially provided that fe apprOpri
alton shall be expended according t. the prov is0ue
Of the organic act. Nor does the second restriction
any more apply, for the TO meet this appro
pratcn j. authorized by the bill itself The author
ity 20 raise by loan IL clearly given 10 the
Legislative Assembly IN the lfth and sections al
the organic limited only b the restriction thai
the debt shall not exceed i've per cent Of the .
sessed properly Of the District The language of the
! 18th section j. - And 30 debt BY which the az