Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-17

e. hing like sssoee0 The object Of the bal
Mr. Herbert said that he thought the bill passed
last night (the special assessment billl would have
vote $4,000 He cautioned members not to act
wihot carefully considering the bill, and to give
all an Opportunity he moved that the committee do
Mr. McKnieht moved a proviso: Tnat the money
the inde b,edness 81 the Board Of Publis WORKS
which existed prior to its passage under existing
Mr. smoot said that if the contractors were to be
FIRST PAID portions of the city needing improvements
M. Mcknight said that there were streets an
Dished left so because the contractors not having
and he urged that such streets should be first
fnisaeo and the contr should be paid 80 that
Mr.. Urell opposed the amendment because in his
opini the work in his district wosld remain
unfinished, as also in other sections.
Mr. Dyer said the amendment would cut of the
completion Of work already begun.
The amendment was rejected, and the committee
re Sc and reported
to the House as follows:
80 a endcted &c That in order to provide the
fs sum of four mllisn dollars appropriated for the
the Legislative Assembly Of July 10, IsI, entitled
An act making appropriations for improvements
ing for the payment thereof, and to supply the de-
fciency Of said appropriation occasoned by the
msnent Improvement bonds authorized by said act
the Gov Of the District of Columbia is hereby
anthorized and empowered, in behalf Of the District
Of Columbia, to issue, cause to be issued, ad1-
tional bends Of the character described ia said act
appropriation, and to place, in connection with the
sums previously placed to the credit Oi the board,
disbursed upon warrants of the Board Of Public
Works in accordance with section three ST said
said ad iitJnal issue of bonds. however, net to eX
coed three hundred Thousand dollars"
IR. CLAGETT PROTESTED
against the passage If the bill. They had heard
great clamOr for reform, ncbment &c, aud yet
Y - said the District owes the Board of Public
Works S252 and the bill is not only to make good
them "a 81 S.iH
They had no report from the sinking fund cOmmiss
authorizing the 100000 loan had bsen submitted
To- the people AMI approved and they had authorized
had besn authorized by the people. This bill ap-
peared TO have been brought in by the back door.
Mr.. Shepherd denied that there had been any
and sail that the bill had been introduced on the
third day OF the session, and all had had time to
Mr. Clsgett replied that what he meant by the back
door was the introduction Of the bill without any
prevfou, report or notice that they would he asked
20 make i up the dehcepcy NJ coqd be shown that
give his check Cor the amount.
Mr.. Shepherd~-Then need not pass the bill, for
the gentleman viii not go lack his word and will
give his check for the amount as soon as il is eX
planned 20 him that VIII, the loan was negotiated
the Governor informed the public through the news
papers tina the bonds had beer taken at 81 aud any
one could have pheced out the amount netted
Mr.. CIsgett answered that be, of course, could
have as eItained the amount realized but when had
they heard that the District government WAS respOn-
slble Tor the deficiency. He quoted from General
Chpman's speech, showing that the deficiency was
: 252COO, but nothing IL said about collecting it,
troller deficiency; bat perhaps il was not re-
ported, because il would brighten the people He
{ laimed that the District government did not owe
this sum, and If they did it should have come in as
deficiency. III IL was due they could nav il: and
ming around With ther little due tIs He wss sure
thar the Board of Public Works, with the S2gOpOD1
e DC Iealzed under the special assessment bill and
the Sld0ytJthey expect 10 obtain from the govern
ns MT, would be able to proceed with the work Laid
M. Smoot asked if Mr.. Clagett was in favor Of
the Improvements stopping where they arey
slf. Clagett replied that he was not, but with the
money To be realized under the special assessment
bill, riding to the boards re port, they would
be enabled to finish up the work
Mr.. SHoOt said he was willing if necessary to vote
: a,eo,op for improvements. The four-m llion bin
,hould have provided for commissions, &C, but it
1!d not, and the consequence was that the bonds
yielded bat s3T4S,oo1 They now ask as a matter
If justice that the difference be made good Accord
ng 10 his calculations after the outstanding obiga
ions paid from the proceeds of the special as
'essmeLt bill, they would have
But SeSttO TO COMPLETE THE WORK
COMMENCED.
dc would ask If Mr. CIagett did not agree in the
Mr.. Clsgett replied that he had opposed the bill.
MI Smoot said he certainly understood that Mr
Mr.. Dyer said that his recollection WAS that Mr.
J. agreed to the bill being reported
MI Smoot lto MT Clagett.-Were you not secre-
Mr. Clagett.-Yes, sir; and here are the minutes.
ceilings Of the committee were PRIVILEGED a 'H' p'O
The Speaker sustained the point,
COOP FAITH SHOULD Pc OBSERVED.
The Legislature had Appropriated four million
ollrIs in words but not in fact, and they were
nan from the 18th district Mr.; Cagett should not
beet TO the passage Of the bill for he he is in
ayor of imprOy and has been benefited there
y. He makes mistake too when he says the special
ss' s.ment bill Is to benefit the Beard of Public
here J. IN the matter is We owe the amount and
Mr. ciaegett said he could not see that they
WED the amount Admitting that they did, they
'ould not pay IT. he was ia favor of the four mil
mostly opposed it; aud if could afford ne would
rave gilt edged curbstones set all over the D!rct
arryiDg on improvements, but while they were cry
Dg economy and reform, they sh uld not pass such
heir due bills. He hoped that there were enough
members t. kill the bill.
Mr. Can,S6ell (Mr. Mex night in the chair said
ne dislike ttake part in debate outside Of commit
ee of the whole, but the Importance of the
t Ma Gg for him @ dha
avOred or that he favored the making
%od Congress bas been II,
o sense OF its duty towards the District, and we
he people And under the soismnities Of our ostRt
We are TO decide whether this bill will be to the ad
n p
point where 1t s necessary TO stop and consider II
pect further aid from Congress they should show cow
nat they are carving athe goyernment ndicionsly
Of on and haa maS
large appropriations, not because they were liberal,
but Just. The assessments had been run up TO the
highest point, and we about imposing a tax of
per cent which is about equal to per in other
cities. He would not say that were hopelessly in
debt, for We have rich uncle but would ask when,
according to the statement of the Board, they have
7O0 if il is not prudent to postpone action on
he bilk il might be that this bill might becOmethe
straw to
BREAK THE cAMEL's BACK.
Mr.. Shepherd-I think il will break the Camp
BELLS back. Laughter
Mr. &. said there were several kinds Of straws and
be had carried some without breaking, add he
thought that he could carry this one. He did not
Mr.. SmoOt said the gentleman Mr.. Campbell)
may be an extra session. He (the speakeT) favored
the bill and would vote against any post ponement.
de glad the Board had s. 100 900, and wished il
Yas more. He asked Mr.. g. if he did not vote for
four million dollars.
Mr.. Complexities, sir, and if you will look at the
figures you will find they have had more than that
sum.
Mr.. Smoot-Yes, you voted for the bill when You
knew that three million would be raised by tax alton
Mr.. Hulse said the matter seemed 50 entirely Just
that he was surprised that there was on? stiou
to it, A. seine of the members were Obliged leave
in short time, he would move that the further
Of districts and that II be made the special order
Mr.. Campbell moved to amend by striking out
81 and that it be made the special order" Lost;
Berry, Brown, Clagett, Herbert, Long
and the Speaker, 8; nays, is.
The original motion was agreed to.
Council bill imposing taxes was read a first time,
ordered 10 be printed and referred TO the committee