Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-05-10
The District Government iEvestig q
ton.

THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS.
The House committee on the District Of Col
umbia met this morning and determined on the
reports upon the recent investigation. There
will be two reports submitted to the House
that of the majority being signed by Messrs
Starkweather, Poland. Cotton, Harmer, Will
lams, Darrell, and Eldridge. and that OF the
minority by Messrs. Roosevelt and Crebs. The
reports will be submitted 10 the House this at
ternoon or to- morrow. The members OF the
committee are very reticent as TO the content
of the reports. and decline TO allow the pJvblica-
ton of them until after they shall have been
submitted 10 the House. 1t seems to be under
stood, however, that the committee was unani-
nous in the opinion that a majority OF the
charges were not sustained by the testimony
and especially the charged OF fraud and cOrrEp-
ton against the Board of Public Works, that
charge having been abandoned By the memo
Tialists themselves.
THE MAJORITY REPORT,
II is said approves of the course OF the Board Of
Public Works in improving the city, but find,
some fault with the printing, and expresses the
opinion that the amount expended therefor was
eHtravagant, though they do not believe the
advertisements were given for the purpose OF
substituting the press. The street improve
ment they agree was for the benefit of the city
and not Tor the benefit of any particular prop
erty thereon; they further find that the Board
OF Public Works has not exceeded its authority
in departing from the plans submitted by them
TO the legislature; and that the tn street i'm
proyement, although an expensive one, wa.
1ustlhabe. As TO filling up the canal the ma
jority approve of it as being beneficial 10 th,.
CITY; they further agree that the Board of Pub
nc Works has had all the work done in as faith
ful and economical manner as possible The
majority, 1t is thought, will recommend that
additional legislation be had 50 that i'm all cases
where property has been Injured by imnrove-
ments, the holders thereof shall be reimbursea
tor such injury; and secondly, that a. the United
States owns at least one-third of the property
mere, they should pay fair proportion toward,
maintaining the District government and i'm
proving the city.
THE MINORITY
will report that in their opinion the Board OF
fuonc works under the organic act is required
to make improvements under appropriations by
the legislature and the 81 900. 600 loan is being
expended without regard to the general plan
submitted to the legislature by the board; the f
u, l'th, 18th, and 10Th streets Improvements
which were estimated to cost $50 900 have cost
SZ3O,ON, and $50 600 more will be required 10
complete the work; the 9Th street Improvement
which was estimated at s25 900 has already cost
Sl65,cOo. The contingent expenses of the dis
tfict government for SIX months were 500, 900.
a larger sum than was expended by any state in
TIE union. They further report that the dis
trlct government employs six hundred Off GERS af
an annual salary of 5000, 900; that the original
plan submittedtO the legislature was incomplete,
ana that In many instances after work WAS COM
nenced under it, the grades were changed to the
inconvenience and expense of property holders
In reference to the canal, the minority will re-
port without expressing any opinion as to the
Propriety OF filling it up that the work was done
without authority OF law; that the act under
which il was done was for dredging and walling
up the canal, and that work was commenced;
that they were authorized to open the James
creek canal only upon condition that the old
canal should be dredged and opened: that the
giving up OF the old City Hall and renting the
morrison building, MetZerott hall, and the
building at 18th street and PENNSYLVANIA ave
nne was without authority of law as also the
action OF the Board of Public Works in appoint
ing one OF their number treasurer, who received
the proceeds OF the 81 900 600 loan. The minor
lty, IL Is thought, will recommend that the or
eanlc act be amended so as to provide that ali
the district officers, with the exception of the
governor, shall be elected, and that members OF
the Board OF Public Works, after being elected
s I give BOND; and that all moneys shall be
deposited with the district treasurer, and draw
upon proper warrant.