National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-15
ENeIEEER's oTFIcE,

ENGIEEER's OFFICE,
DISTRICT OF CoLUMgIA,
,,,.,.-, w, MAsTTIEGToS, kugu5t ID li+. =,
GENTLEMEN: The Commandments md II I'm
practicable TO fully reduce to writing their deci-
sion on the subject Of the contracts Of the Board
Of Public Works. and therefore Will oonhne them
T 20 ~ ns IN ~ paSsT 1o
First. We hold that by the act Of June %, 1874,
tracts Of the Board Of Public Works, WhGtevef
their defects in their origin the manner Of their
execution subject to the exception common TO AL
codes Of law, viz: That contracts frRudulently
made are void and that all contractors who shan
elect to accept the provisions Of the law Is to the
mode Of payment prescribed therein secure TO
Secondly. That the defects, If they existed, Of
excessive price, want Of antecedent appropriation
District to exceed 60, OOO, 900 we're ali known to
the investigating committee and to Congress, and
were covered BY the act Of june 20 ls74, under
which the Commission was organized.
Thirdly. The Commissioners therefore hold that
the prosecution Of any or all the contracts Of the
Board Of 05Sr e tS Ss t1S
pended all the contracts, amounting, as repre-
sented by the engineer, 10 III, apd upon tnYesti-
ing the legal status Of each and all the contracts
the same Rs when originally made. .
You will remember that In rendering their de-
ciSiOn the Commissioners sdVerted 70 the fact
thst unless the act Of Congress had provided for
the baym mt for all future work under existing
contracts In What aEs known as SEQ bonds, 4
the sewer system, or any considerable portion OF
the contracts for ether Improvements, as the
making Of new contracts would haTe eompelleq
the paying Of money for which the resources Qt
the district at their disposal are ipadequRtei %
that without the relief Of said bones the result
would have been the suspension, substentiSlly,
nIssionefs cannot do less than congratulate you
and all other good citizens Of the District that
Congress has g fully pr9viIed for the connie
that no work under existing Or other contracts
viii be prosecuted Until after careful investiga-
tSR gPf IA part St thS T % rs Is
valid laws enacted for the Government Of said
District to the execution Of eSstinK legal obliga-
tions and contracts and to che protection or pre-;
| servation Of existing or commenced
and not completed at tde time Of the passage Of
the act Of June 20, IS4. We beg 10 say In oobolu-
s Sn that HoTT g the 10Th IT, :; TSi4 W
hereafter g1eh out shall be awarded TO the lowest
responsible bidder after due notice by advertise;
bids. will be, as It has been, strictly Observed
o. J. II. KETcHAH,
| ... .....-- COMMISSIONER d. o..
Hessrs Jesse B. Wilson, Thomas EpdaS, Rrfeh'
RiSeS, Tar Payers AssOefati0Ii.
It Is proper TO say that our ceneague, Hon
Henry 7. blow, who Is absent from the city, con
ours In the conclusions herein stated.
! PRISON LABOR.
The following important order refers 10 prison
labor mention Of which was made yesterday:
/ OFFICE
DISTINCT or COLUMBIA, \
ii WAsHIFGTON, Aug. lT4- -
Ordered: That the lntendant Of tie W Ashtngtol
asylum Is hereby directed TO embrPes in bis week
, IL reports 70 be made hereafter, ststenent .
D tie manner In which he shall have enforced tn
9 law 70 cause ell persons committed for offence
] against the laws 10 be employed In some useiu
7 work,
7 4 That said intends ant is hereby directed 70 en-
ploy part or the whole Of the working force unde
his control IN work on the avenues, streets, alley
I parks and squares Of the CITIES Of qeoIgetoEh
q and Washington and on the roads and p9t9ie
8 works in Washington county, and on the ptpllc
property Of the District Of Columbia, for - I'M
!, proYement, repair and preservation, the fnmpeI
. Of workmen, and the nature and plactoi the
work, to be designated under the directid OF the
!. engineer Of the District, and the labor p be per
}, formed under the supervision Of membr1 Of the
S Metropolitan police appointed at the ctarge and
eIpenie, and on hssQplcation, Of thSDistriet Of
Columbia.
| authorised to make, frim time to time, as may oe
) required the applcstisl TO the Board Of Police
n re6uired BY the eleventh section Of the act Of
!, Congress Of August e,lso1, for the appointment
Of such police pAGOlWsieS may be psps.leTy f0I