Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-26
THE DISTRICT s.s5 BONDS.
The Letter OF the District Com mis-.
sfOners.

THE DISTRICT 3.s5 BONDS.
The Letter OF the Distrfcs Commits.
stOners.
In yesterdays STAR was first publisher
the opinion OF the Attorney General that the
United States is bound for payment of the
interest and principal of the District 3-s5
bonds. The following is the letter of the Dis
trict Commissioners TO the President, now
for the first time published, in which they
asked the reference of the subject to the At
torney General:
SEPTEMBER IL. 1875.
10 the President: The accounts of most of
the work in progress on the streets and ave
nues and sewers of the District OF Columbia
are, under the act of Congress of June % 1874
audited by The Board of Audit created by
that statute, and composed of the First aud
Treasury, and are settled by certificaIes OF
that board, convertible into what are known
as s. bonds of the District.
Any undue depreciation of these bonds pro-
duces dissatisfaction on the part OF the con-
tractors, and causes some embarrassment in
the completion of the work. In one import
ant instance il was at one time Appreciated
that Inc contractors might abandon the
work, and, in general, IL the bonds become
unduly deprecated it is likely that
The contractors may be less inclined 10
tmclent performance of their contracts.
In order, therefore, without litigation
to secure proper accomplishment OF such
Work, 1t is TO the interest of the District that
value. The debt represented by the bonds
remains the same whether they are depre-
ciated or not. The market value of the Sc
curitles in which the District is In this way
interested depends to great extent upon
the existence or absence OF a pledge on the
part of the United States to provide payment
OF the interest and create a sinking fund for
the payment OF the principal, AID upon tue
deeree OF public confidence in the existence
OF such pledge.
The relation of the United States towards
bonds Snhipcf n an inn hr
the late Attorney General, whose exa.nina-
ton of the subject led him to the conclusion
that by Congressional enactment the faith
of the United States is pledged to provide
the revenue necessary to meet the interest as
the same became due, and to create a sink
ing fund for the payment of the principal
Similar views have also been expressed by
the First and Second Controllers of the
Treasury. More recently the subject has
neen examined by the attorney for the Dis
trlct with the same result.
The opinion of the late Attorney General
under date of 18th of March last. is of record
In the Depal tment of Justice, and copies of
the communication of the First and Second
Controllers of the Treasury upon the subject
and the recent opinion of the attorney for the
Dlstrlct are herewith enclosed. Lately, the
deputy attorney general OF New York has
rehde red an opinion that the faith OF the
United States was not, by the act of Con-
gress OF June 20, 1874 pledged to provide for
the interest and principal OF the bonds A
copy OF bis opinion is herewith enclosed
In view of the interest of the authorities
of the District, and indeed of the United
States, (since the District is the perma-
bent seat OF its government, and the
streets and avenues in which the work
IS IN progress belong to the United States)
In this question by reason OF the cir
cumstances above stated. il is deemed inn
portant that discrimination of the question
shall, If practicable, be had by the present
Attorney General. We, therefore, respect
It's enclosures may be referred by you 10
him for his viewsu upon the subject
Neiy respectfully, lSigncd wv. Denuison,
j.; II. ketcham, s. l.. Phelps, Conmis-
stoners ID. G.
COMMISSIONER SMITH, OF the Indian
bureau, says, with reference TO the published
statement that he rendered his resignation
to Secretary Chandler before the latter left
for Michigan. that he did no more than sew
eial other bureau officers-that is, he gave
The Secretary to understand that his resigna-
ZION would De forthcoming on the slightest
intimation that 1t was desired.
WEIGHING THE MAILS PosTPoNEp-The
execution Of the order providing for taking
the weight of the mails on the Hudson River
and New York Central, and Lake Shore into
Chicago, New York and Erie to Dunkirk and
Buffalo, Pennsylvania Central from New
York TO Pittsburg, and Baltimore via Wash
irgton to Wheeling, on the LIST OF November
has been postponed until December LIST next
when the mails will be weighed for sixty con-
secutive working days.
GENERAL JOHN EATON, Commissioner of
Education, has just returned from Philaiel-
phia, where he went to consult with the pro-
per authorities and representati yes of edu-
catlonal Interests from different sections of
tne country In regard to the educational ex-
hibit at the Centennial next year. He re-
ports the exhibit as making very gratifying
progress. He also speaks In favorable terms
work in the United States during this cen.
tury, and says 1t may now be considered an
assured success. Work has been commenced
on their exhibition building.
ANOTHER DELINQUENT POSTMASTER
COMES TO GRIEF The Postmaster General
to-day decapitated Postmaster Silas Con-
dict, and discontinued his office, (Avondale,
new jersey Tor selling postage stamps In
large quantities outside Of the delivery OF his
Office. His salary was only about $50 per
annrm, but during the last quarter he sold
stamps, TO be used mainly in New York,
amounting to 81 200, which would increase
his compensation about $500 per quarter
These facts were ascertained after al inves-
ugation, when the Postmaster General de-
termined to check him in his mad career by
closing the office. y
Failure and No Failure.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26.-It was repo-tei
to- day on the street, and the report Occa-
stoned buzz In business circles. that the
Oiu-establ1shed house OF Morris, Tasker &
Co had suspended and closed the doors OF
their manufacturing works at 5th and Morris
streets. The report was uDfounded.
Accident to a TroDexist.
CINCiNNATI, Oct. pa trapeZe performer
named Orzalo, in making a flying leap at
the National Theater last night, missed the
bar and fell TO the stage, a distance OF about
twenty feet, iDjuring himself severely il not
fatally.
The GLENDENNING CAsE-The judicial,
commission of the synod OF New Jersey yes
terday reported against the appeal of the
Prospect avenue church from the Judgment
OF The Presbytery removing Mr. 8Ienden-
nlng from the pastorate. Taking as correct
the nnding OF the Presbytery that Mr.. Glen
denntng. bad been guilty OF unministeriaI
ana unchristian conduct, (Which the appeal
does not disputed the dissolution OF the pas
torate was warranted-N y jour Ooa,., sd.
NEW YORK GETTING BACK SOME OF THE
KING STEALINGs--In addition to the ar
engagements making by the heirs of County
Auditor watson to return q quantity of the
money alleged to have been stolen by him
rom New York city. It is asserted that
william NJ. Tweed contemplates compou nd
Ing the civil suits against him by the same
course.
MORE TROOPS FOR CUBA.-In addition TO
the nfteen thousand troops seat to Cuba dur
Ing Valmaseda's ADMINISTERS ton q further
El2 AVA