Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-04-08

The memOrlalsts, led by Crane aud ooun- |
seled by Messrs. Coombs and Green, having |
occupied between forty and fifty days, have |
closed their case, and the District govern |
ment, 1t Is expected, will occupy about Que
week with rebutting evidence. While we
trust they will answer all points that In their |
Judgment require notice, Cand 1t Is question |
with us whether any ls requlred,) we hope |
they will not unnecessarily put In evidence
which will longer protract proceeding Of
which we believe the committee, Congress |
and all our citizens have become heartily |
tired.
It seems perfectly clear from the lnvest'ga-
tion 90 far r..
First. That no fraudulent or corrupt con-
duct has existed on the part Of any member
Of the Board Of Public Works, or OF their
subordlnatcs. SO far as the investigation
was designed to show corruption or improper
participation by any member OF the govern
ment In the money OF the District, the lnyes-
tIgatiou has been complete failure. On
these points the peport will, we believe, be q
complete vindication Of the District officers
and the utter condemnation aud confusion Of
the accnsers.
Second. Il seems also certain that the ad-
mlnistrAtiou of the District has, on the whole,
been wise, well.plRuned and well.carrIed for
ward; that the DisUict improvements have
been demanded by the public interest, and
have been executed as judlclously and as eco
nomleally as the improvements Of any other
city In the country.
Third. That In the absence Of corruption
or maladmiuistratlou there Is no cause for
any essential changes in the form OF govern
ment, or any modification Of the organic act
under which the new District government
has now been In operation for less than one
year.
Notwithstanding the foregoing conclusions
appear clear from the evidence, II would be
claiming too much to say that the District
government has been absolutely faultless.
Mr.. Shepherd well stated In his testimony on
Friday that the Board OF Public Works had
made some mistakes, which they hope to
remedy and avoid In the future. Probably
no new city government was ever instituted
and operated with such results and In such
short time as have been accomplished by the
present District officers. Their faults and
mistakes II was quite proper, in a decent and
honorable way, to subject to criticism, and II
this had been done without the wild and reck-
less denuncIatiOns and foolish, wicked and
malicious charges which Crane & Co. have
made, some benefit instead Of injury To the
credit Of the District might have resulted.
After all, we are not sure that this inVesti-
CATION may not be tnrned to good account.
Il has famlllarized the House committee with
the good deeds OF the board II has shown
them what beneficial results are 10 follow
from a perfect system Of sewerage, from
smooth and level ravemeuts from proper
system Of grades, and, above all, iOm the
filling up Of that sink Of abomlnations-th
Washington canal.
The wisdom Of the general plans Of the
board, which, with proper economy and care
and assistance from the right quarter, could
he carried forward to completion WiihO1t
burdening the District with too great ttes.
having been demonstrat TO the COMMITTEES,
It will take It's members but little time, after
substantially vindicAting the District govern
meut from the charges preferred against IL,
to mature aud carry through Congress that
legislation which will furnish from the Ma
tlonal Treasury the necessary aid which the
Government ought to give toward improving,
beautifyinZ and perfectlng the National cap
itAl. The most important help which Con-
gress can give us IS
First The funding bill noW before the SEN
ate, which win provide for the debt Of the
old corporations without requiring too heavy
taxation within the next few years. Wetrust
Senator Patterson will not fail to secure the
passage OF this bill on Thursday next, which
has been set apart US a District day.
Second. The improvement of the water
front on the Potomac by a sea.wRll extend
Ing from the entrance to Rock creek around
TO the causeway Of the Long bridge, which will
give deep water front for large commerce,
and will be the means OF reclaiming several
hundred acres of swamp aud river bottom,
which now produces malaria and seriously
impairs the health OF the city. The i'm
portance Of this Improvement cannot be
overestimAted, and no time should he lost,
either by Congress or the citizens Of the
District, In the construction Of this harbOr I'M
proyement
Third. Congress should make appropria-
tions for the payment OF the proper amount
Of taxes upon the Government property
owned In the District. II there Is any doubt
AONhh Ai0 NAfShAthNy VI 'AiNAhh
the improvements which have been planRed
by the Board Of Public Works, II arises from
the fact that the city Is widely extended,
with very broad streets and avenues, and
much property unimproyei or owned by
poor people, while the Government
owns large amounts OF property which
has yet paid no tar. To enable the board In
20 forward with their plans, and TO make this
city what the naton's capital should be, Con
gress ought to at once provide for paying the
nations share Of the taxes. The District can
get along without special donations II the
United States will do Us much as an indi-
ylduAl would be compelled to do owning the
same amount of property.
This, then, Is what We hope to sec accom-.
pllshedi Close the investigation; vlndlcate,
while cTitiGislng and advising, the District
authorities; clean out the sorehcaded obstruc-
tiOnisls; push on the improvements with
proper economy and reasonable aid from the
United States; provide a oapacous karbOr;
furnish plenty OF railroad and depot facilities;
make Washington a capital Of which the na
tlon may be proud, and which II will take
pride In adornlng and beautlfying, "a doe
every nation Of the world except the United
States.
RN.GON. NEWELb, OF NEW JERSEY.