National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-28
COLUMBIA BUILDINGS.
WHAT WAS DONE ON FoUR-3HD-A-
BALF STREET YESTERDAY.


BALF STREET YESTERDAY.
THE FIREMEN PARTIALLY PAlD-ADNEhSh
DECISION TO THE NORTHERN MARKET
CoNnussIoN-THE WORK ON STREET CON-
TRACTS TO BE RECoAINEHCED-ITEMs OF
GENERAL INTEREST.
Columbia baIlding looked q little lively yes
terday from the fact that the payment Of the
Aremea was begun by Comptroller Baker.
The pay rolls aggregated over sixty thousand
dollars, and as the period covered thirteen
months she work wSs necessarily slow, In re-
Spouse 70 request from the Comptroller, Mr.
Stanton, attorney FOR the Commissaoa, notined
him tAat the same rules which governed the
dfsbzrsing officers of the United States Gov
erment were applicable TO him In other
words, that the retention Of orders and certih-
Gates was purely discretionary matter with
him. Acting On this Edyice, Mr.. BAKER con-
eluded 10 ana did deduct all the orders OF
which he had cognizence, including the forged
orders. In ne latter case the men PeremP-
torily refused TO accept the amount rendered,
and the ma.ter was postponed until to-day,
when Il will be talked over. M Bakers po-
sition is this he has paid the sums due once,
and that until the matter ls ssttled before q
court of law he Will not duplicate them. In
the meantime it is expected TIE men viii &C
cept the balance, and await the judicial de-
cision.
There will be no payments made to-day.
Work in the office of the tax collector was
rather brisk, owing TO the fact that, as mat
ter of accommodation, he cashed the checks OF
the iremen, instead Of requiring them to go to
the Treasury. The receipts for taxes amount
ed to SIS, 1921 90.
In the rooms of the Commission Mr.. Blow
and Dr. Tindall were alone in their glory. They
had plenty of routine work to attend to, but in
the absence of Messrs. Ketchum and Dennison
declined TO transact any business Of special i'm
portance. The comptroller has been author
lied to issue warrants In redemption OF tax-lien
certificates, and will begin to do so at once.
Among the many peculiar questions as to au-
thority which are constantly arising was one
yesterday about as follows business man Of
the city, who had by suit obtained judgment
and attachment against the funds due certain
contractors by the Board Of Public Works, was
looking up his cases. On inquiry he found
that an attachment had not been entered up,
and proceeded at once to inquire with whom
he should file duplicate paper.
He soon ascertained that the auditor or
comptroller had nothing whatever TO do with
Board Of Public Works matters; that the board
of audit could not touch It, because they did
not make payment; that the Commission could
not protect him, because all the payments they
would make to contractors were to be predi-
Gated upon the report of the board Of audit.
Somewhat disguised, the gentleman finally
concluded that he would have the paper off,
cialIy served upon the Commission, and they
could make such disposition of 1t as they chose.
Mr.. Plowman, inspector Of buildings, reports
that he has examined the buildings No. 2440 X
street, belonging to Mr.. Peter O'Day, and finds
two or three old-style Rme-houses, with mas
sive chimneys attached, extending far above
the roof, and leaning over out Of plumb, and
only supported by the buildings, which are
very dilapidated, and liable to be crushed with
the inmates at any moment by the falling OF
the chimneys. He recommends that the owner
be notified to remove them, and have the
buildings torn down. The recommendation
has been concurred in by the engineer, and the
inspector directed to carry out his recommends
ton. q .
In response to a communication from Health
Officer Keene, calling attention to the danger
Gus condition of frame building on K street,
between Sixth and Seventh, occupied BY Messrs.
Jordan & Co. as q carpenter shop, the engi-
neer has ordered the owner to have 1t torn
down.
The permit for the erection of the Savage
square market has been Issued and the work
will be pushed as rapidly as possible. j. MocS-
bee & Co. were awarded the contract for GER
tain repairs to the Eastern market, the price
being S495.
MI. s. Gleason was directed to repair the
bridge over Tub spring branch in the county.
In the engineers office Lieut.. Boxte is labor
ing day and night 10 get things into good shape
so that the necessary work can be at once pro
ceeded with. Anxious, however, as he Is to get
under way, be is determined that before doing
any thing he shall BY actual personal inyestigs-
ton know all Gboutlt. This bas been the very
potent reason why the contracts for street work
were all suspended and have pot yet been re-
sumed. Now, however, that he has satisfied
himself OF the necessity Of such o course, on
the assembling Of the Commission to-day he
will submit q list of nineteen contracts TO the
board, and they VIII, doubtless, be approved at
once and the contractors ordered to 60 ahead.
What the work is and who the lucky men are,
is q conundrum which can only be solved BY
the receipt Of Communication tomorrow. In
the course Of few days others WIN be issued.
The sewer contracts will be continued without
further papers or Interruptions.
Gen. o. Z. Babcock called during The fore
noon, and had an interview with Lieut.. Hoxie,
but whether of q personal or official nature
could not be ascertained.
And now the Corcoran square market comes
in for temporary quietus. As is known the
commission, charged by the Legislative Assem-
bly, with the construction Of that building,
claim that under the law they were continued
with full powers, which they propose to eXer-
else. To this end they appointed q sub-eomTit-
tee 10 confer with the District Commissioners,
and lay the whole matter before them. This
committee performed the duty assigned them,
and the subject was referred TO Mr.. Stanton
for an opinion, which has been completed. The
opinion has not yet been presented to the Com
mission, but II is said that It takes the ground
that the Northern market commission does not
legally exist, and that as . matter Of public
policy the Commissioners Of the District
should not issue 10 them the remaining market
house bonds. .
"a, On their side the market committee say that
by law bonds to tho amount Of s200, 900, sub
jet to their order, have been printed. or this
sum, 1927 900 have been expended, aud the
remainder are in the hands Of the Comptroller,
and unless they are turned over 10 them on
demand they will take legal steps to obtain
them.
Some persons suggest that the square can
be held by the District for other purposes or
sold, but this the market commission deny,
claiming that under the terms Of the contract
with Mr.. Corcorsn Il was 10 be used for mar
ket purposes only. II that be the case and the
commission refuse TO build, the ground may be
returned and the 500, 900 in bonds demanded
from the trustees Of the art gallery. II this is
done the SCI 900 expended for grading and
temporary work win be dead loss.
The affair Is rather muddled as II is, and VIII
take several opinions TO unrayel Il,