National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-11

Legislature upon the legal opinion e copy of
which Is transmitted herewith Of MessrS.
Caleb Gushing, William E. 0hsndler and
Walter 8. Cox. ~ rs
The Legislative Assembly, in the exercise
Of auth ,rky confArrsd upoa It By the ofgnnic
pc, by lawsapproved June 26, 1879, levied .
esne,al sewertax upon III property n the cities
amounts TO @, 120D 300, about one mn of witch
has been collected ssinhe tie assssssnents were
issued, some three months since. An opinion
as to the legality Of these certificates having
been obtained from Messrs. Gushing and Black,
q negotiation for their sale had been effected,
when the financial derangement occurred In
September last, and prevented any realization.
A large proportion Of them have been paid. to
contractors and other creditors of the Board of
Public Works. For the Information Of your
honorable committee, copy of the opinion re-
ferred to Is annexed, showing that these certf
6cates, being in the nature of assessment certi-
ficates, form no part of the Indebtedness of the
District government. "A ANE ~ tS-,--,5
Those aloye who are thoroughly familiar with
the history of the District government can justly
appreciate the difficulties under which 1t has
necessarily labored since its Inauguration on
the LIST day Of June, 1871. To prevent waste
full expenditure Of money, and to lay the founda-
tions for the comprehensive system Of improve
ments, since carried into effect, II was COM
PEELED, even in anticipation Of its functions, to
appeal to the courts in q suit which happily
accomplished the object sought. The first ap-
preparation, in the interests of improvement,
WAS followed by injunetions, and, as . result,
work was delayed, and in many instances its
cost greatly enhanced. The question was then
submitted to the people, who ut the polls in
dorsed, by an Overwhelming majority, the plans
of the board. -. ..--- .-
Oyerruled in the courts and defeated at the
polls, the malcontents memorialized Congress;
and, pursuant to resolution of the House of
Representatives, an investigation was COM
menccd on the ed January, 1872, by the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia, which was
not brought to close until the LIST day of May
succeeding. Reference to the printed docli-
Incnt, which embraces 74S pages, will show
the thorOughncss of the investigation, which
resulted in the entire vindication Of the District
government. Still determined to embarrass
the local government, these enemies of i'm
provement resorted to side injunctions, and,
with the cooperation of portion of the public
press, have discredited our securities at home
and abroad. With Increased malignity they
have again assailed us, and it is our earnest
wish that thorough investigation be made of
our acts, in order that, without further imped-
iment, we may press to completion the work
intrusted to our hands.
Permit me to suggest that an inspection of
the Improvements carried into effect by the
Board of Public Works, and personal ex-
animation of the various Offices of the District,
would.materially assist the members of your
honorable committee in their conclusions as to
the magnitude of the work executed, its neces-
sity and durability, and as to the proper admin
istration of the duties devolved by law upon
the government of the District of Columbia.
Respectfully submitted.
ALEX. R. SHEPHERD,
Governor of the District of Columbia.
FEBRUARY IS, 1871.