New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-11
war. II, 1900. 1T, a,ssartino vieva


THE WASHINGTON BOARD OF WORKS.
CHARGES OF THE MINORITY REPORT-GRoss MIS-
MANAGEMENT, ILLEGALITY AND EXTRA'A-
CANOE ALLEGED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUNRl
WASHINGTON, May 10.-Tbe House Commit
fee on the District of Columbia, which was instructed,
several months ago. 10 investigate certain accusations
regarding the alleged dishonest conduct OF the Board OF
Public Works appointed by President Grant, OF which
Gov Cooke is Chairman, having held 90 sessions ana
concluded its labors will report to the House. The
majority of the Committee WILL it is understood, make
white washing report setting forth that while the Board
is euty OF want OF Judgment discretion, and economy,
no corruption proven. The minority report
which Will be submitted by Mr. Roosevelt OF New
York, will 60 into the subject IN very thorough
and conscientious manner and set forth some startling
facts which the minority say have only been equaled
the worst phases Of Tammany rule. The report OF the
Committee will show that under the organic act OF
the District the President authorized to appoint
Governor and four additional persons together con-
stued the Board of Public Works, and had control OF
the funds for improving the streets, keeping thenHn
order and grading and regulating the city, one OF the
first acts of this Board which under the law creating 1t
was required make all its expenditures In pursuance
OF appropratons TO be granted by the Legislative AS
semby was to induce that body to raise OOOOOO and
place it absolutely in its hands, without any
restriction whatever. The Board appointed its own
treasurer and kept its accounts which we're care
fully concealed from the citizens and spent this great
amount of money in the most reckless manner Under
the law onehd of the expense Of improvements is TO
be assessed upon property supposed to be benefited
while twohrds falls upon the city at large. Taking
this into consideration the total Indebtedness OF the
city caused by the Board OF Public Works in the space
of six months will be from $1,000 900 to $sooOOO which,
together with the previous debt Of the District amount
ing 10 nearly $4OOO,0O0, will leave debt upon
the District of Columbia Of between s1O,OOOOOO
and s12OOOOO0 The assessed valuation of all
property the District at the time this Board was Gre
ated was 2OO00O so that this dept Is Iuy oneAn ol
the entire property in the District at its old vauatOu
but as the law required that debt should be incurred
exceeding per cent on the assessed ysuatqh; 9TCePS
by consent of the people the Board OF PuDc WORKS
raised the valuation to $9O000 IL became necessary
fS Sr sde o the bonds and this Was done
by making second loan but the first loan hav-
cured which could have used the Board of Public
Works if they had thought proper In order to induce the
neope OF the District sustain the law and TO prevent
the from voting against the oan every
newspaper in the District received great amount OF
ADVERTISING some of the sheets employed having no
circulation whatever and being unknown to the prin-
cpal editors of the city, The total amount spent IN this
The ordinary expenditures of the District Government
have amounted 10 100000 annuay-siX times as much
as is spent by New York three times as much spent by
Illinois and forty times as G ScR S Of Pnb Wop&
and the other departments OF the District Govern
| ment number GOO.
Among the improvements authorized by the Board
has been great amount of paving OF streets and al
most every kind patent pavement has been tried in
GLIDING NcOsOD, Scharf, Evans, Burnett and II or 10
others. Only two blocks of Belgian or other stamped
payement have been laid The most Of the pavement d
has been concrete, most OF which has already disln
tegrated, although it has only been laid few months
Public Works in its grading operations, has cut down
several of the Oldest most valuable, and best settled
streets in the city, leaving the houses either side ee-
waited from Is feet above the sidewalk, rendering
them almost inaccessible and greatly reducing their
value IL has, the other hand, filed up other parts
OF the city equally well settled high as the first
second story OF the houses, burying OF them
deep that would have to 80 upon his roof to see
i the street.
| The Board has greatly exceeded the expenditures
authorized by law when II has followed the authority
given it at all and II is only in few that the
Board has thought il worth while TO obey the law in
particular AS an evidence Of this the grading OF OF
The principal streets cited IL originally directed
10 be done at an expense Of 5000 whereas the amount
expended been $230000 Equally gross extravaganza
was shown in building Of the roads leading out OF
the CITY one OF which, five miles In length cost 100000
to grade and macadamze although the original appro
pnatOn for II authorized by tne Legislative Assembly
| was only $4,000. .
| The Board has determined to fill up the Washington
Canal without any authority OF law whatever, after hav-
ing first accepted and paid for building wall along the
edge of IT, which it is admitted not built according
to contract and which will be rendered entirely useless
when the canal is filed in In every expenditure they
shown reckessness as TO its management and as
to the amount expended, and total disregard OF law
The Board OF Public Works could have been removed at
any time by President Grant, under whose eyes the ex
travagance occurred and who could not have failed to
hear the universal complaint Of the property holders OF
Washington The above contains all OF the leading
OF