National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-18
The DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.

A delegation Of citizens Of Washington waited
on Hon. A. q. Harmer, chairman Of the House
District Committee, urging such Legislation Is
will provide for the District stay law to stay
executions On property seized for taxes for one
year after Judgment shall have been renaereu:
Mr.. Uarmer will present the Subject % the com
mittee 1T the meeting te-sh6frow, aud Il IS pEooa
bic that IL will result "a aprOvisiOn Of this nature
offered as an amendment to the tax bill, when
cymes up special order tomorrow
SENATE COMMITTEE.
At special meeting of the senate Dlstrict
Committee, yesterday morning, Messrs. LsNls,
Spencer, Hitchcock, Jones, Dorsey and hS9ltoh
were present. The committee authorized MI
Dorsey to report the proposition that the interest,"
on the District bonds be made payable In gold,
and ask that IL be referred to the COMMITTEE on
Appropriations. ,,
thoriEing the board Of audit TO receive audit and
adjust certain claims for damages caused by the
change Of grade of Pennsylvania avenue.
The committee referred to Mr.. Hitchcock the
bill to amend an act entitled An act relative 70
the Alexandria cana" and to Mr.; ones the pill
for the preservation Of game In the District OF
After consideration Of the memorial Of the nre-
men Of the District, asking for increase OF pay
Ct was agreed that Mr.. Jones should ask that the
committee be discharged from its further consid-
GRAFTON and request its reference to the Committee
No delegations were admitted to yesterdays
session.
port layora6ly on the nomination Of Joshua L.
Entwisle to be assistant gas inspector for W ash
ington.
THE WASHINGTON MARKET COMPANY.
Yesterday, in the Senate, Mr.. Frelinghuysen
tee, 10 which vas referred Senate bill g37 intro
ducCd last session by Mr.. MOrrlil, OF vermont.
The bill provides that 50 much Of the act entitled
IAN act making appropriations " supply Dc
hcioncies," approved March o 1873, which
provides that the sum 70 bo paid ior
BY taid District only for the erection
OF suitable building for the nlstrict oihoesi ana
apth1riIing ihs HOTetiEr bir o at ~
TO make Arrangements 70 s5curu sufficient land
fronting on rgnusylyanla aal Louisiana avenues,
That the Government Of The United states shall
not he liable for any expenditures for said land,
or Tor the puFChHFg money therefor or for the
buIIdIDps 20 h. erected thereOni and no land, or
the Use thereof, u granted for the purpose Of
erecting any building thereon for such balldlns,"
II hereby repealed and that ~ much Of the act
Of the Legislative Assembly Of The District or
Columbia, dated August N, 1871, reducing, or
proposing 10 reduce, tie rental 70 DO paid BY the
the poor Of the city ot Washington and District VI
Cglgmbla IL hhnulled ana dlsappFoVed'
The report recommends the passage Of the bill
anu the adoption ~ Congress- Of the following
Joint resolutions The laIAt resolution authorizes
the tumnIssi6paFs u tie District 10 e0lteF with
the Market company aud ascertain whether they
wish 10 retain the possession and use OF the lands
fronting on Pennsylvania and Louisiana avenues,
tion OF May 20, 1906 and II they do not 30 wish,
to make, il practicable, 4 Just and equitable ar
Tangement with the company for the lss OF such
portion Of the lands as they may desire, and as
they may be permitted, without injury 10 the
lands fronting on Pennsylvania and Louisiana
avenues, 10 retain and oecupy-this arrangement
to be approved by the Secretary OF the Treasury,
but not TO be effected until the company have eX-
ecuted full release to the United States Of all
right and title to the lands fronting on the ave-
nues mentioned. Should not this arrangement be
made within sixty days from the passage of the
joint resolution the Attorney General instructed
TO take proper proceedings TO eftectuate the for
fixture to the United States OF the lands and
premises granted by the act OF May 20, 1870. The
District Commissioners are directed to report
their action on the first day Of next session.
The committee, in their report accompanying
the bill and the resolution, review the acts OF Con
gTeSs relative TO the market company, " hch, they
claim has forfeited its contract by failure to erect
the S7OO, 900 building on Pennsylvania and Louis
lana avenues, and also by failure TO pay the rental
of SOS OO0fOr the poor Of Washington. The company
gives as a reason for their failure that Congress
required them to furnish temporary accommoia-
lions when the old market building was destroyed
by fire. The company did as they were required,
and were obliged TO erect their permanent build
ings on the other part of the land, and hence are
excUsable for not erecting the main building.
Secondly, they claim that the United States
relieved them from the performance OF their con-
tract by an act making appropriation to supply
deficiencies, approved March 8, 1874 authorizing
the sale Of the City Hall to the United States,
the money to be applied in erecting building for
city Offices on Pennsylvania and Louisiana ave-
nueE, between Seventh and Ninth streets. In
regard to their failure to pay the rental the
pany claim that, having conveyed to the city O
part OF their lands $500 is as much as they are
bound TO pay.
The committee, after reviewing the whole mat
ter, concludes that the company have violated
their contract and that the United States may by
proper measures infOrce its forfeiture, although
not bound to do so, especially since II Is admitted
that the present buildings are suitable for
market.