New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-26
DISTRICT IRREGULARITIES.

| MEMORIAL OF PROPERTY owNERs TIE DISTRICT
| OF COLUMBIA IN REGARD TO THE MANAGEMENT
oF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS CHARGES MADE
| AGAINST THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
WORKS AND OTHER oFTICERS-AN INVESI1GAT-
ING COMMITTEE ASKED FOR.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TRBUyEI
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2j.-The following is the me-
mortal in regard TO the agement of the affairs of
the District of Columbia, which has been presented
| in the Senate by Senator Thurman, and to the
| printing OF which objection was made by Messrs.
! Conkling, Hamlin, and Sherman, Mr.. Sherman OBJ
| jecting even to having it read:
TO The Congress Of The United States: Your petitioners
respectfully represent that they citizens OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia owning property subject taxation
thereon; that they naturally and greatly interested
in the prosperity aud welfare OF said Districts that they
desire earnestly that the City Of Washington in which
they reside and which their interests intimately
and inseparably connected, may be made the most
beautiful aud attractive residence city In the world,
a splendid capital worthy a free and patriotic
| people and your petitioners assure your
honorable body that they will cheerfuly bear their
full proportion Of the taxation needed to accomplish
this noble work provided such taxation is fairly and
equally assessed and honestly, economically and pru
IDENTIFY expended, and the improvements made not tenn
porary merely and magnificent to the eye, but also
suDs tantia and duabe in short when dollar OF our
means is used, dollars worth to be secured TO
the manner which the affairs Of the present
ment Of tho District OF Columbia have been admins
tered and especially with reference to tho improve
ments SO called. In the said District OF Columbia and
your petitioners further respectfully represent that
they honestly believe that evidence readily be OBJ
tanned by appropriate Joint Select Committee having
proper authority in the premises to establish to the
entire satisfaction OF your honorable body the truth OF
the following propositions, to witt
That the officers OF the said Government Of the Dis
trct Of Columbia have mprovidently expended large
the public moneys in aking said im
wholly and In making other improvements
in such careless and negligent manner that they have
already become worthless and useless.
That said officers have persistenty disregarded the
OF experience taught the experiments of other
Cities as well their own. in making improvements,
and have thereby involved said District in expensive
and ruinous mistakes
That said officers have denantly disregarded public
sentiment the the United States and the usage
of prudent business in making contracts for I'm
movements without advertisements, other public
notice. at their own votou. with their famiars
thereby deprvng said District Of the advantage OF Free
open OF fair competition among bidders, greatly to its
loss and injury.
That said officers In making improvements have uu-
lawfully disregarded the grades Of streets long csab
hshed and have arbitrarily changed them In some cases
as much as twice. and some streets have been up
and kept that condition for months. all the great
injury the business and property OF citizens OF said
District
That said officers now unable to pay the damages
To which such citizens legally entitled therefore,
tina, said officers or their subordnates have In many
taken property Of citizens making
Just compensation.
That said officers have IN many instances levied tax
unequally and illegally
That said officers have permitted Improvements TO be
made and thereafter to be falsely measured. and
thereby wrongfuy and greatly Increased the expenses
Of the government of said District and the OF c
That said officers caused roads to be constructed
NJ GREAT cost at the expense Of said District the
residences OF certain Of said officers, and for
| their Advantage and convenience. -.
That sad officers have negligentlY permitted large
sums OF money beongingt said District to be depos
tied in fsyorite but banking institutions to the
lose and injury Of said District
Tint said officers have unlawfuly suffered the ndebt
edness OF said District greatly exceed the aggregate
indebtedness allowed by the laws OF the United states
That said officers denied access 10 the records OF
said district contracts made by the Board OF Puphe