National Republican., 1874-05-09
DISTRICT INVESTIGATION
Continued from Ffrst Poge.)


cent upon each square foot Of ground where
the Waterman was laid. II is on that primer
pie that the sewer tax was levied-ap area TAX
of so much upon square foot.
By Mr.. .Merrick. Q. That is along the streete
where 1t was actually iaidl A. Yes, sir.
By the Chairman: Q. State to the commt-
tee the amount claimed for damages snI sne
amount awarded by the Board OF Puonc WORKS
together with the law under which sucn
awards were madei A. The Legislative As
aemkly on the Goth of June lS12, passed an
ant entitled, Gan act providing for the pay
ment of damages sustained by reasons OF pub
Lie improvements or repairs" 1t Is as fol-
lows:
CAct of Second Lsss'latiys Asssnsiy' ses'' en'
Be q enacted, &C. That on the application, In
E,ng. Of ths ,2U1 Of q OF Of
son bsyInK other than rental interest therein,
TO the Board Of Public Works, setting forth that
tRem. in conseouence Of any improvements or re-
pairs made by said board, and particularly oe.
ecribing the nature Of said damages, tne sag
board shall consider the statements Of said appi-
cation, and II deemed by them suficisnt for said
purpose, the said board, or majority tnereot
shall personally inspect the properly aneseo 70
Examination connected with said improvements or
repairs which they may deem necessary or proper.
Sec 2 And be q further enacted, That II, after
fnsnectiou and examination as aforesaid the board
or majority thereof shall be Of the opinion that
special damages have been sustained BY any per-
son or persons, as aforesaid, they shall estimate
same taking into consideration the benefits to
said property from said improvements or repairs,
and file among the records Of their Office, and in
the Office Of the secretary Of the District written
statements Of their action and estimate Of dam
ages and shall make q full report, in writing to
the next ensuing session Of the Legislative As
sembiy Of all applications made to them under
the provisions Of this Rct and Of their action there
on, and OF the amounts awarded as damages, and
action Of the Legislative Assembly thereon; and
no sum shall be paid on account Of damages until
after the same shall have been approved by the
Legislative Assembly, and an appropriation made
for the payment Of the same.
Approved June 20 ls2
O. When was that passedl A. June 20, 1872.
Witness. The Board of Public Works In
carrying out that law appointed commission,
consisting of five persons, one of whom you
have had before you, who have been busily en-
gagged for months in making up statement Of
awards. The Board Of Public Works have not
as yet acted upon that; but the amount as
turned in by the commissioa Is as follow:
Amount claimed and awdrdsd for damages TO real
estate By reason of chGnge Of grade.
Georgetown, amount claimed, &2T, oil S3
Georgetown, amount awarded, 1os,5 ,54 90
Washington, amount claimed, Loss, ,os9 q
Washington, amount awarded, SIS, 5,o07 OF
Total amount claimed, -1,2S5, 5,l0l 10
Total amount awarded, 90, S,5n OF
That, of course, is not complete, because the
law provides that the Board of Public Works
shall personally inspect.
By the Chairman: Q. How many claims have
you had put in7 A. lido not think that states;
there are quite large number.
Q. Has this commission completed its work.
A. Yes, sir; 1t needs now the final action Of the
board, because they must go over 1t personally
before the report can be sent in to the Legisla-
ture.
Q. What is the character of these claimsi
A. A great many Of them are imaginary, as
third of what was claimed was awarded.
Q. Are they for damages to property or ac-
count of change of gradel A. Yes, sir; and for
various reasons which ore assigned in the sp-
plications. Many of them are without any
foundation in reality.
Q. How are those awards to be paidi A.
That is a matter that the Legislature have to
provide for.
Q. did not notice the law when you were
reading it. Is this action Of the board final!
A. Only final as far as the making of the re-
port to the Legislative Assembly is concerned.
Q. The board recognizes the right of the
Legislative Assembly to supervise its action
and pass laws controlling ii A. 1t is merely
carrying out law passed by them.
Q. l understand. 1t is making a report to
them. The act creating the Board of Public
Works gives authority TO the Legislative As
sembly of the District to control the Board of
Public Works, does it! A. No, sir; not to con-
troll the board.
Q. They have undertaken to do so7 A. No,
sir; it merely authorizes them to do it. The
organic act is specific in regard to the duties of
the Board of Public Works, with which the
Legislature canuOt meddle, except so far as the
appropriations are concerned.
Q. Suppose you had not chosen to do this
at ala A. Then we would not have done it.
Q. You did not regard it as obligatory A.
Not at all.
The Chairman. That is the point wanted to
ascertain. This act in regard to the water tax
says it may be levied on lots in proportion to
their frontage or area, as the ssid corporation
may determine. The corporation did determine
to lay an area tax.
Mr. Stanton. That is dated March 3, 1868,
and is to be found in 18th Statutes at Large,
page S04.
Q. State the amount of old material received
by The Board of Public Works from the organi-
Zatiou of the board to date, and its value. A.
Here is a report, made up by the superintendent
of property.
Statement of old material received by the Super
iRfeRdent of Property, from the organization
offhe Board TO date, and ITS raIuc.
ss. .l76 s-l2 feet curbing, 20 cents -&SS 800 80
o. OS5 Il-I2 feet gutter-stone, 70 cents 1851 10
I2 25S b-12 feet 6ridge-stone, 80 cents $3.50 81
1o,I0e square feet neutrality-suspicious.. 90