National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-08

ISis estimated that the annual receipts which
will be obtained for the treasury Of the District
from Police Court fines will be $1,000.
In consequence Of the radical change in the
government Of the District Of Columbia made by
the act Of Congress approved June 70, 1874, many
complicated legal questions have arisen in the
administration Of Municipal affairs and nuner-
Gus claims and demands have been presented for
the consideration OF the Commissioners Of the
District Legal opinions required in such mat
tiers have been rendered in writing and q record
Of the same carefully kept. The number Of sep
arate written opinions thus given during the past
I'VE months Is two hundred and thirteen, (2l39
This does not inclzde the briefs and less elabo-
rate reports made in the form OF Endorsements.
Since the Commissioners assumed the admins
tratisn OF affairs, only single effort has been
made to enjoin them in the performance Of official
duties. Messrs. Wholly and Brainard, who had
for the construction Of the James creek seaHalls,
filed a Dill in equity to enjoin the Commissioners
Of the District from plScing other persons in
section or the contract which AUTHORIZED the
Board of Public Works to exercise that power Of
diseontinuance and substitution in the event Of
unnecessary delay, Willful violation of the con-
tract its execution in bad faith by the original
contractors, and to charge any additional expense
to the original contractors The theory Of the bill
OF complaint was that the Commissioners did not
succeed to the aforementioned power given by
the terms Of the contract to the Board Of Public
Works, and, moreover. that the exercise Of such
power would be in violation Of the act Of June 20
1874 The case was an important one, as the sec
ton of the contract under which the Commits
sioneTs had proceeded IS also contained IN otner
contracts made by the late Board OF Public
Works; and 1t provides an efficient mode Of en-
forcing the faithful performance of work. IL the
exercise Of the power had been enjoined, the Com
missIoners would have been disarmed as respects
the enforcement Of contracts made By the Board
Of Public Works. But after argument, and the
intimatiou given by the Court At the hearing, the
compliments Voluntarily dismissed their bill.
Thus ended the only effort which has been made
during the past five months to enjoin the Com
missiOners in their Official duties. Nor in that
period has any Judgment been recovered against
the District.
Before the change made in the government Of
the District by the last Congress there had been
obtained in the Supreme Court Of the District
four judgments, aggregating go, 1851, which
manned unsatished. In these cases II WBs at
tempted to seize under execution property Il the
District and Of the late Board Of Public Works
required for public use. The Writs Of execution,
however, were in every case quaShed and the
operations Of the Commissioners relieYed from
embarrassment. From the receipts Of taxes re-
plenishing the proper fund these Judgments were
afterwards paid.
There are pending in the courts Of the District
number Of actions for damages for personal In
juries, begun before the Commissioners assumed
office. The trial Of these causes will doubtless be
postponed until certain other cases involving the
question Of the liability OF the District for the
condition Of streets and excavations while the
Board Of Public Works had BY Law exclusive con-
troll OF streets and avenues shall have been de-
cided by the Supreme Court Of the United States
in which tribunal they sre now pending.
the District Of Columbia is in meaG
ure involved In . case tried 10 tho
Circuit Court during the present term, in which