New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19

New-York City during The last days OF his admnlsira
ION. Can you tell me whether or 10 tnr htng up OF
Comtnissoner Of ~ bile Buildings aud Groands, not
wtstauding the Board OF Works seem to get credit for
Mr.. CoIcoran-I am not advised az TO whether they
althoush / heard that those on tho site OF the old
Northern Liberty Mrket were jointly done by Babcock
Repgrter-ln looking over The list ot appropriations
made by the District Legislature sec that the siO0)OO
loan necessarily involves special assessments AGAINST
private property Of s20Oo0oo more, making sC0OJD0.
and that more than si00o00 additional has been appro-
pated under various acts Tor which the bonds 81 70
city probably now outstanding IN some form. In
since tins government organized. Congress has
appropriated money which has gone into the hands Of
making OOO0OO0 sl 10000, beside the regular
nues OF tho District, which tney have handled during
less than the twOyears they nave been m office.
Mr. C0rcoran-The appropriations to when yOu refer
Rcporter-T sec that Committee Of Conference IN tho
closing hOufs OF The last session or Congress puI
amendments into tho Suudry civil ApprOpTia Ions bill
appropuatug something over s2,00O0o0 20 be- paid
TO the Board OF Works. Yet learn that Tho contractors
and creditors of tie District Government nave not been
paid and that nearly riot occurred few days at
the headquarters OF the Board How do you account FOR
the nonpnynent OF these liabilities aer these vast ap-
Dropriaons by the Legislature OF the District and by
NE Corcoran-I cannot say what has become Of tho
money It looks strange that these contractors
are not paid and that such state Of Affairs you haYo
Rcporier-hs it Is admitted that large amount still
due the contractors although many o. the streets ~ hs
central portion OF the city are not over ha improved or
paved, aud official pa catOn was made ~ The star,
few days since, that certificates Of indebtedness would
be issued to the contractors Tor unpaid balances due
them do you not consider the issuing Of these cert-
Gates direct violation OF the act 81 CONGRESS which
limits the Indebtedness Of tho District 10 slOOlOO
Mr.. CorcoranTherc seems 10 have been paid Dut little
attention to law. / presume these certfcates wero
Issued TO quiet contractos Something had 10 DC done
by this Board law or no law topreyen these Contractors
Reporer-Was not me SoSIVJOOJ AT when ihe ta1abe
property IN this ciiy assessed when THIS new gov
SgafS came abs1 tbe hc9Ty o0 90 to which tho
new under the supervision OF the Board OF
Works have swollen the VALUATION IN OIaer 10 a'O'd or
cyade the act Of Congress Which provides lhey shsh
levy general taxes OF moro than TWO per cent IN any
one yearl" ,., -
very fair one. The Improvements which nave been
made have doubtless somewhat increased the Yanauos
OF property the taxes under the present assess
lnents are enormous, ana ia many cases exceed the
actual value OF the properly Whae tle Special asess
meus moro than Offset the dement's arising rom tAeSe
Improvements -, - . -,
OF Columbia, some OF which ! understand you have
placed the support OF the COrcoran Art Cal
ery, Louise Home aud various Olhet INSTITUTIONS o.
special benefit city, Does not the burden VI gen
cral and special taxation upon the taxpayers OF the
District BY tins local government D'4t HateI % prove
more DurdensOme to the poorer classes hdh upon 5Olr
sell ana others having large amount OF Ied cstate
however oppressive u may seem 10 your
Mr.. C0rcOIan-The general ana special taxes are nc
DOUBT heavy burden TO property owners, anu must
necessarily bear very nara upon tIy5c O"H.E 'lAal
homes, and in many cases practically amount 70 con.
nscation. The large property owners no aouDt !ed
eaty aggreyed. although il may not take their houei
as IN tie case OF the poorer classes.
Works the newspapers this District constantly
asserlg that the Old residents or wealthy portion o.
the taxpayers Of Washington are opposed 10 improve
mens. nave held Oack ana attempted u fetafd al
improvements.
tiOu TO these statements, and i DO not think tldt u
0ciOus ana economical improvements would nc opposed
by any Know OF no class OF persons VINO are OP
p0scd to tmproynz and identifying the capital II On,
work Is well done ana in an ecOn0mlcai manner have
share OF taxation, and only object 20 an improper
and njudciOus Oi the revenues extracted RON tAs
REPORTER see, in looking the testimony taker
i'm the investigation before committee Ot COnIieSs
mat 10 newspapers were paid nearly $4,000 ~ t1t
District government tor adS cruising ana printing during
a space 81 about seven months.
MI. COrcCran-I think such enormous expenditures OF
money silence the voice OF the people was outrageous
WHAT need here at the capitals one or more aoc and
independent lOUrha.s aud unless something Is done ID
that non, the good name aud lar fane ~ lhe Desl
citizens OF the District Will continue 10 De assallel II ey
dare 70 speak their mind IN regard 10 matters IN Wch
they are deeply Interested. When l returned frOn
Europe luw months since, the Washington press "es
unanimous In their KIND expressions toward ne, ana
some went 20 the extent OF audatOn 1tt because
prcfrrled 10 dispose OF what was my own as 10 me
seemed best, instead of having 10 taken IRON me- nave
bppp assaed by tbs subsidized press IN the most IN
sn terms and il az my time OF life were tOeneI
the contest aud advocate openly what believed TO D.
LSI coa Ii ,ino NV c nom the way would be as e
10 is not the $4,000 OF tie $4,000 year that y
taken from the people and given TO these newspapers
that works the greatest injury. IL IS tae iagV tn tSS,
atVcrsiuy etc. enable the managers 20 manipulate an1
"nntri p1bic oplnon, and 10 crush out every news.
aiuy i'm regard TO the WRONGS which have been heaped
pon he recUle of tnis District II should stau
OF his own, would have 20 watch rs en-
ployes closely or else tncy would be tampered WIN.
kTporter-I sec by "a telegram 10 TIE NEN-1oLh
TRIBUNE that It VIII take nOm Sl,OOOOOO u SL0O1fN
more "a pay outstanding debts due the CONTRACTOR.
and Others for WORK already DONE Now, II the Board oi
Public Works have already made away wth S9,0GOO ~
SlOOQ0 600 eayius than one-hif Of the improve
iruts yet Dc made ought they not 10 retire from
Office, and have prudent and economical uien put IN
thcIr steadi ..,,,,
Mr. CuIcoran-TLese men are 0ppontees OF the lfesf
dent, aud cannot lee reached ny the people. mere
fore / slider o.. people reslOis!D,e lof INC
present state Of aLIirs here IA the capital. lnlnk
Incy could have n chance To express tnelf unbiased
Judgment regard to these matters different state Oh
things would be brought about.
RepOrteI-iIave you ever known any municlpal on
local government which oppressive ana eXayh
CANT rs the present Dis ret Government embracing as
IL does only about six mics square or territory
Mr.. CorcOrdn-I DO not remember 10 nave ever Known
such sate OF affairs 10 exist IN any other community
Is have seen here within the past few years.
As Mr. CorcOran views matters in the District, so 90
mally VI tue best ana most wealthy cluZeus. No"
the question: MAo Is pOAs4Llc lOi TINS NOuuOl
affairs