New-York tribune., 1874-08-15


THE TAXPAYERS AssoCIAuoN-THE CONTRACTS
TO BE CONTINUED IN FORCE AND THE WohA of
IMPROVEMENT PROSECUTED
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-THE District CommiS-
sioners to-day made a reply TO the Comhl''ec VI
Tax PAYERS of this District, in reference 10 cohthu
ing in force the contracts made by the late Board Oh
Public Works. The conclusions of the COMMISSION
il vonld seem. establish the legality of these con-
tracts and the Commission will undoubtedly push
all work left undOne by the late Board OF Pubic
Works TO completion, and provide payment therefor
with the S65 bonds authorized by Congress. The
Commissioners set forth their reasons for these con-
clusiOns as follows:
First We hold that, by the act OF June'2O' lof'
Congress has recognized the validity OF all the COLI
tracts of the Board of Public Works, whatever 'he
defccs in their origin OF the manner of their execu
ton subject to the exception common to all codes Oh
law. viz that contracts fraudulently made are VOID
and that all contractors who shall elect TO accept 'e
provisions of the law as to the mode OF pay ment
prescribed therein secure to themselves its benefits
Secondly: That the defects if they exstedof excess
i've price. want of antecedent appropriation, or
those involving the making Of the debt of the DIS
trct TO exceed SlO0OOOOO, all known to the lu
yesticating Committee and to Congress, ana were
cured by the act of June 90 1874 under which TINS
Commission was organized.
TbjrdIv. The Commissioners therefore hold that
the prosecution of any or all the contracts OF the
Board of Public Works TO completion Is 1or theh
alone to decide. Under their authority they sus-
pended all the contracts amounting as represented
by the engineer, to H. and upon Investigations re-
yOked the suspension of 67 of them. leaving the
legal status of each and all the contracts the same
as when originally made.
You will remember that in rendering their de-
cison the Commissioners adverted to the fact that
unless the act of Congress provided for the payment
for all future work under existing contracts III WDat
are known as 3.Gj bonds, il would have been lmpos-
sible 10 have completed the sewer system OF any
considerable portion of the contracts Tor other li
provements as the making of new contracts Woulu
have compelled the paying of money for which me
resources of the District at their disposal are IN
ADEQUATE so that without the relief or snd
bonds. the result would have been the sus-
pension, substantially, of all improvements
Of the District: and the Commissioners cannot
do less than congratulate YOU and all other
good citizens of the District that Congress has so
fully provided for the completion of all necessary
work, in bonds. We will adj that no work under
existing or other cntracts will be prosecuted unti
after careful Investigation, and satisfaction on our
part that the work is necessary to the faithlu au
minisration of the valid laws enacted for the gov
ernment of said District to the execution OF exls'-
ing legal obligations and contracts, and to the pro-
lection or preservation of Improvements existing,
or commenced and not completed, at the time OF
the massage of the act of June 201S4 We beg tosay
m conclusion that our order Of the 10th ultmo, TO
which we call your attention. viz that all contracts
hereafter given out shall be awarded to the lowest
responsible bidder after due notice by advertise
ment and the right reserved to reject all bids ,wlll
be. as it has been, strictly observed Very respect
fully, W. DLNNlsoN'
j. II. KETCHAM,
Commissioners District of Columbia.
To Messrs. jesse Il. Wilson, Thomas Evans ana
Wright Riyes, Tax Payers Association
1t is proper to say that Mr.. Blow. who is absent
from the city, concurs in the conclusions herein
stated