Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-24


District authorities in regard TO the canal, the
assertion is made that az least $50 900 has been
EXPENDED ON that portion OF IL which IL now
proposed 70 nil MP, and that the action OF the
Board of Public Works in the matter Is a high
HANGED usurpation and outrage.
In regard 10 the system of letting contracts
adopted by the board, he claimed that cOmpcti-
ton was cut of and a most pernicious system OF
favoritism inaugurated.
Mr.. COombs then goes on to deny the fa.rneS.
OF the vote on the four million loan bill; say
mat men were brought in just before the cleo
ton and put 20 work in order that their vote
might be obtained; contracts were given ont &.
influence the election; many persons opposed .
Ihe loan refused 10 register, aud those who do
could procure no tickets against the loan, n.
The result of the election shows that a. the op-
ponenis OF the loan had vigorously proSecufe1
the campaign the majority would have been TIE
other Eayi Tor the number Of votes cast for the
loan was less than half the number registered
at me preceding spring registration.
The argument then goes on at length in A.
attempt to show that the Board OF Public worI,s
haze exercised large legislative powers thu
rendering themselves guilty OF grave arurpa-
In the regard to the advertisements. he sail
the papers had received Sin9 600, which adlsi
to the amount for other printing, made a t9tal
of S14S 600, aud stated the advertisements were
given TO the newspapers to Influence them for
the 81 600 coo loan and nat the bill OF " n
Miller, OF SO 600 for advertising Ia the Aasisgsr
was fraudulent He denied the authority o.
the Board of Public Works 20 condemn private
property for public alley, as they had in the
rear Of Mr.. Brooks residence.
Mr.. Chandler, for the District government.
then submitted his argument.
MR.. CHAEDLER's ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Chandler commenced his argument bv
SAYING In reviewing the seven or eight IAN
dred pages OF the record OF this Investigation
extending over 80 days, OF which the memori-
alists occupied about IS, with los witnesses and
the District government about -, with 81 wit
nesses-fhe inquiry naturally presents itself
what - the issuC? What action do the memo-
rialists demand which the District authoritie,
oppose?
The principal memorialist, Mr.. John III. Crane.
distinctly answered this inquiry in the early
part OF the hearing by stating in substance that
he charged that the new District government
had been SO in sfhciently, extravagantiy. and
coTTupty managed that the public interests
required that the organic act should be repealed
the government entirely overturned anl de-
stroyed, and new ard different one established
an its place.
This statement of the question az issue Is eor
rect. The memorial and various other written
documents submitted by Mr.. Crane and hi.
counsel, and also the testimony of several of
their Witnesses, distinctly and plal nly charge
me District ofhcers with "incOmpetency," a
disregard OF law" "usurpatiOn,' s-extraya-
gance,n "Tecklessness," "blunders- ..unpar-
alleled profiigacy," the Inauguration OF "taxa-
ton amounting TO cOntscatlon," and the ID
sruction OF the values OF the real estate OF the
District;' the adoption OF measures certain 20
bring on ''inundation and pestilence." indeed
with being "a pack Of thieves" who, i'm allition
them, have reSOrted to .'false and fraudulent
written and sworn statements to the committee
This being the indictment foI which the me-
morialiSts have made themselves responsi bla
they have been allowed the unlimited use OF
the power and money Of the United States 4
procure the attendance OF witnesses to prc y
their charges; have caused a large eXpen iiture
Tor this purpose; have occupied three months
time of the committee; have obstructed the inn
proyement of the District, and injured is Gre
dit; aud for this long period have publicly as.
sailed the good name and fame OF the District
officers. who have been pOwerless TO prevent
this defamation, and cOuid only wait patiently
for that final vindicatiOn by he c0mmifte,-
which II Is now submitted they are entitled t
receive.
So completely have the harsh and sweep;pg
charges OF the memOrialSts broken down, Wbsi
patiently Investigated, that on the last day o,
the hearing their counsel caused 10 be preseut,,
TO the committee a bill embodying their vieS-
a 10 what action should be taken by Congress,
the most important features OF which are IN.
election by the taxpayers OF the Council. roy-
appointed by the President, and the reluire
meHt OF special instead of general appr0pria
tons fer District Improvements. But no promo
sition Is made TO reOrganZe the Board OF Pub,i,.
works, or in any essential degree to change tht.
form OF government or its present Officers
most feeble and ignOminious termination of a
higL-sounding and denunciatoTy onslaught upon
the whole District government, threateniB-
nothing less than its complete annhilatioui
In this view OF the issue the District authori-
ties might, without further comment, safely
70.
with no fear as to the decision.
Bat the committees on District affairs in bot,
houses OF Congress are the guardians of the
welfare OF the District As well as OF the inter-
ests OF the United States therein; and the Dis
trict officers avail themselves OF this opportu
nity OF briefly reviewing their action dur NJ
Ihe year, not merely to exculpate themselves
from all charges of serious faults, but in hopes
that the thorough knowledge of District affair
which has been acquired by the COMMITTEE
during this tedious trial may result in liberia
and beneficial legislation which shall add large
~ 10 the beauty and prosperity OF the capital
There Is no great evil without some small good:
and even from this investigation, which has
produced SO much injury, there may possibly
come, through the aid OF the committee ben.
ehts more than sufficient to compensate for the
evils which the memorialists have inflicted.
While the District officers contend that they
have acted with fidelity and reasonable econ
omy and ability, considering the difficulties
which have surrounded them, they by no means
claim to have been infallible. In the inaugu-
ration OF new government and the commence
ment OF system of extensive improvements
mistakes have undoubtedly been made. Upon
these mistakes they 10 not shrink from, but
rather invite the friendly criticism OF the com
them for the future.
In depreciation OF too harsh criticism, how
ever, they earnestly call attention to two i'm
Portant considerations:
First. The necessities of a new government
getting under way are much greater than will,
exist after the new system is fairly established
A
will not be repeated; fewer officers will be 81 III
cient, and all the incidental expenses will be
less. The special difficulties which have oc-
curred-the injunction, stopping the work OF
improvements, and tie annoying and expensive
litigation consequent thereon; the making OF A
second registration and the holding of a second
election in the same year. also Occasioned there
by-are too fresh in the minds OF the committee
TO need reiterstion. They fully account for
those expenditures of the District which have
occasioned the most unfavorable comment and
were the prolific source from which nearly all
trouble has arisen.
Second. The early, long, and unusual winter
has been most unfortunate. The Board Of Public
Works was naturally anxious to accomplish
results during the year 1871; the people OF the
District and Congress expected them 70 make
progress. They commenced earnestly aud Wig
orously, in season TO accomplish extensive inn
provements before the winter, but immediately,
On July %, 1871, came an injunction Then
new legislation was required, and the hale
million appropriation act or August IN was
passed In the meantime much confusion and
delay had arisen, but the board then pressed on
with their work until arrested by the winter
season. But the haste in which many of the
pavements were laid resulted In defects; streets
were torn up which it was impossible to COM
plete, and the winter proved longer and colder
than has been known for many years, 90 that
work could not be prosecuted. Colonel Berrett
testifies lp. s2D that he had never known . win