National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-27
s3,sss,sls IS
7,sso,@1 q
80
To which add assessments on
private property, Is shown
by statement Of auditor of
Board of Public Works, page
484, Governors answer
5,e17,561 40
Showing the total appropria-

Showing the total appropria-
tions and assessments $16, S61 ,42S 79
As demonstrated In the of8cial communities
tons Of the board and Governor, the amount
due by ths United States Government, for wori,
already completed, VIII more than pay all out
standing liabilities Of the board, and finish AL
It is true that the board has departed from
the original plan referred to- in the substitution
Of frst-class smooth pavements, composed of
concrete and wood, instead Of rough stone and
macadam pavements, % originally comtem-
plated. This change has been made ct the
instance Of citizens and Taxpayers.
In many instances the old cobble and blue
stone pavements have been removed at the
have been replaced by the smooth pavements.
In the opinion Of the board the needs Of the
capital city demand such . class Of improve
ments % have been made.
The narrowing Of the roadway of streets and
avenues has enabled the board to lay . much
better class Of pavement than contemplated In
the original plan submitted.
FOURTH CHAReE.-N IL untrue that the
Board Of Public Works has transcended the
United States and by the Legislative Assem-
bly,, and has treated the;citizens Of the District
in an unjust, offensive, and arbitrary manner.
First Specif cafioN.-It d difficult to tell what
10 meant by the accusation that the board has
taken the property of the citizens Of the Dis
trict. II It is meant that the board or any of
its members applied property Of the citizens 10
their own use, or that any member thereof has
appropriated property Of citizens for bis indi-
vidual benefit, thu accusation is utterly false,
whether - respects bricks, curbing, or any
other material whatever. II II b meant that
the board has taken property OF citisene, and
used Il, or allowed It TO be used In any improper
manner In the execution Of work, Il h also
false. In the execution of public improve
ments any Losses that may be allowed ordins-
rliy must be borne by the citizens without COM
pensation.
Such il the well established rule snd doctrine
Of the law as enunciated by the courts general
~ and by the Supreme Court Of the United
States especially, In the case Of Smith W. City
Of Washington, Goth Howard.) But the Legis-
lative Assembly by an act entitled Gan oct pro-
viding for the payment Of damages sustained
BY reason Of public Improvement or REPAIRS"
providing for the assessment and payment Of
special damages which might result from the
reference to the act approved June 20, 1871, first
session second Legislative Assembly, page 10.
This act authorizes the Board Of Public Works,
on written application, to assess special dam
ages, and to make . report to the Legislative
Assembly, and this act has been fully and faith
ruilv carried out.
Second Speeifeation.-The Board Of Public
Works have not refused to credit any property
to the citizsns used In the execution
Of improvements. On the contrary, they have
directed that parties be credited with any prop
erty that might b. 20 used not belonging to the
public. In the form Of bills or assessments
made BY the board VIII be found an item q
ine) for the credit of such material, and for lie
from the bulls or assessments. Ger.