National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-07
DHTRICT AFFAIRS.
REPLY OF THE TAx-PAYERs-GENERAI

REPLY OF THE TAX-PAY ERS-i ENER AL
NOTES-TAX RECEIPTS.
On Saturday the comptroller paid the ll5o.e-s
on Emmart's, Ba!Iochs and ThOmpsOL's rolls,
which completed the District laborers. Il will he
about two weeks before the labOrcrs "a the coz
TRACTORS rolls are paid.
The Commissioners will to-day draw abOu.
$4,000 from the United States Treasury being
the uuexpended balance of the appropriation Of
Sl,3OOOOO.
The Commission cancelled the contract with
Aug BurgdOrf for supplying collins for the poor,
and have assigned the duty Of their preparation
to the intendant Of the asylum. Tn price paid
for these plain pine boxes was AS. and it is
thought they can be furnished for half the amount.
The owner OF premises No. 729 Twelfth street
northwest has been notified TO have stovcpipe,
protrudlng through the rear premises, rem1Tcd,
the same being contrary to the building laws and
regulations; also. similar order was .ssucI IN
similar case against the owner OF premises No 81
Twelfth street.
The agent Of building on K street, where Ti5.r
creek crosses. has been notified that portion Of
the brick wall belonging to the same is in an
safe condition. and ordered 70 have it taken dOT7.
Upon the report Of Inspector PIowman the eI-
gineer has notified the owner Of premises No. e2i
Eighth street southeast TO repair or remove his
chimney.
A committee Of the Contractors Association
waited upon Gen. Ketcham, to ask tina: the P-7-
posas for the construction Of brick and pipe sew
ers be readvertised, on the ground that the for
mer advertisement was so unintellIgible that
their bids were not properly made.
In reply, Gen. Ketcham stated that be thought
the whole case was covered by the advertisement,
and the bids we're before the Commissioners for
consideration.
The Taxpayers Association have sent q
lengthy reply TO the Commissioners on the sub
ject Of contracts They cOpiOusly quote the sew
eral laws bearing on the subject, and refer to the
testimony taken before the Joint special commit
tee Their reasons for protesting against the con-
tinuanee Of existing contracts are summed up as
follows:
l. That it avoids a system Of letting work that
you yourselves condemn as vicious.
?. Because you can require legal and sufficient
g. Because you can thus prevent any more
worthless wood pavemeUts from beng laid in this
city, paTements that have been proven 10 be uni
4. Because you can require proper specifications
to be attached 10 all contracts, and thereby secure
S Because you can prevent the further putting
down Of concrete paYements under Wors HESS pa
ents
most extraordinary and unbusiness-ik character.
Z Because the proofs before the committee
showed that notwithstanding tne !arSe nu I9ef o.
general and special superintendents,W whose wages,
by a refinement Of oppression, were taxed rs
part Of the cost Of special Improvements, the WORK
done generally throughout the District was pad
caTriageWays and fOOtWays, parking and sOddtng,
grading and curbing, and every other species OIL
improvements made by the late District govern
ment including the Board Of Public WORKS. II
the question OF renewing the contracts OF Gantz
& Appleman for street sewer shOuld come be-
fore you you will find much testimony rel Iting 10
it not complimentary to either Of the contracting
parties.
s. It will allow you to prevent the squanderiug
OF the moneys Entrusted to You in paying ATTY
PEI cent per square yard for treated wood pave
ments.
9. Because you can thereby entirely extrieate
yourselves from perniciOus system VI making
improvements.
10 Because 1t will punish contractors who have
dealt unfairly with this people
II. Because you will allow our own mechanics
to do the work that has hitherto gone to foreign
rings.
T. You can thereby secure better work and
cheaper work. For Ms q notorious fact that cUu-
tractors agreed to make these improvements, and
receive securities Of the District in pay meat
therefor, admittedly selling at discount Of nifty
per cent.
Collector John F. Cook has submitted state
ment Of the receipt Of the tax collectors once for
the month Of August, as follows: From general
taxes-Washingt0n, Georgetown aud eounty-fOT
the year ending June 30, 1875 S.2l.+J9 %; from
same for the year ending June 60, 1874. sS739j 81!
from redemption tax-lien certificates. lS71-72-'T3
s7l4679; from licenses for the year cnGiaE Jguc
80. 1875, Ss,IO9.sz: from advertising Ditrict Of
Columbia real estate, s53.25; from arrears gcT-
eraI taxes corporation Of Washington, sTl3. u;
from specIaI taxes, s4,3s1.72; from water taxes,
Cad7ertised) s25lIG; from permit fees, Sis: from
deposits to credit Of Eastern, Mort bern. Western
and Georgetown market funds, :5i4s9: from de-
posits for redeTptOns Of Northern market, .S3.3l
Total, $3.50, l7s.5l.