National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-22

Are We to conclude that the Board of Public
Works exhausted their entire control over the
ns6 IF ths S BY seyDg
expense, and that when they appointed BARRIERS
as superlntendents and inspectors of sewer
masonry, and tailors to direct the execution of
contracts for sodding and grading, they were
themselves no longer responsible for the manner
in which the public work was exeeuted2 Mr..
Charm an and gentlemen, is 1t possible to con-
ceiyc that with all the notoriety OF contracts
being bought and sold upon the streets, with all
the clamors OF citizens on account OF the indi-
distractions Of materials which were there own;
with all the complaints Of the imperiecton OF
work done by contractors; with the positive
knowledge that contractors were bribing, or
attempting to bride, subordinatcs In office; with
all these things, the subjects OF daily comment at
the street-eorners, is It possible to escape from
q conclusion either Of guilty knowledge or gross
negligence, ignorance and incompetency on the
part OF all the ruling powers? say all; for IL
IN he dsessras of Ss aS,y he eould
rested the evils which prevailed, and exposed the
criminal agencies that were at work. or, at least,
like Lot, he could have fed from the abomina-
lions which surrounded him and from the wrath
to come. CT --- r-'--
Now, as understand 1t, the sole defence in
answer 70 these and many more serious charges
would be sufficient, nay, constraining, cause Of
conviction upon direct Impeachment OF any one
Of the public officers. from the Governor down
through the long list, is that their genius has
beautihed and their energy has created . mar
velous growth and prosperity Of the city. deny
that there was any genius or originality In the
plans Of Improvement for which the Board OF
Public Works can claim credit. They had long
been projected. and in some measure initiated Ia
execution, before the present authorities came
into powaf. Similar things we're being done In
othef cities throughout the land, and the efforts
Of the people, always generous Of means and
proud OF the natisna1 capital, had Kept pace with
then ability. Washington had felt the full I'm
pulse Of national prosperity which the reunion Of
hrty millions Of freemen had Infused into the
whole nation. The city had mnde rapid strides
In .improSsnsnt. Wealth and population we're
pouring into 1t from every quarter Of this glorious
land, and taste, refinement and Intelligence were
gathering fast around tho altar OF America. The
value OF property had received an impetus here
as it had, o. every city Of the Union, and was
growing with . steady and rapid growth. Beau
tiful edincep had sprung up in many parts OF the
city, and while will, not deny that the nantes
tatlons Of q spirit OF public Improvement tended
to accelerate that growth, Il cannot DO admitted
that the paving Of . few streets with wood and
asphalt and the parking of the sidewalks has
been tho cause Of this prosperity.
One thing is very certain, that the burden OF
the enormous taxation which has been accumu-
lated in the last two years has seriously impaired
the value Of property all over the city, viii It
bring in open market now the price at which 1t