National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-10
DISTRICT MATTERS.
The corcor.v, s,r.-.M.rNet


On Monday the District Commissioners issued
orders that t4Oe be given for distribution among
the poor Of Washington and Georgetown by the
relief commission.
Orders have been issued to lay a l2-inch pipe
sewer in alley in square No. -, with traps, &c;
same in alley in square No. SSS, with the neces-
No E9s. with a drop in I aiiey: same, with two
manholes, on the south side of D street. between
Second and Third streets southeast. An lS;inch
Ninth street, between II and streets northeast.
Also, a cross walk on Third street. between ID
street and Virginia avenue southeast.
THE COMMENSURATE MARKET COMPANY.
The District Commissioners have addressed
letter to Hon. A. R. Cotton, chairman Of the
bia in reference TO House bill to incorporate the
COrcoran Square Market Company. In relation
diency OF passing it the Commissioners state: The
District Of Columbia purchased this square Tor
tlO0, COO for which bond Of that sum was Issued
by the District. Other expenditures have also
been made by the District upon tho property,
which, with the purchase of the ground, amount
to "a In addition to this, the contr Ictors
for the construction Of the buildings ana the
architect also have claims against the District.
Procurement by the company within 50 days
from the passage Of the act) OF a release to the
DistIics from all such claims should be q condi-
ton precedent to the grant of the proposed IRAN
chfse No act OF enjoyment OF the franchise, or
pos session of the property, should be lawful be-
sore procurement Of such release. Any corpora
ton 10 which the use Of this property msy be
given ought to pay rental equivalent at least
to interest at the rate Of seven per centum per
snnum on the expenditure made by the District
on account Of the ground and improvements
This expenditure is reported BY the comptroller
payable quarterly; for instance, upon the LIST days
Of January, April July and October. Upon de-
fault in pay ment Of any instalment Of rent or Of
taxes, the franchise Of the corporation should he
forfeited without authority on the part OF the Dis
trct government to waive such forfeiture, and the
right should at once accrue TO the District gov
eminent to take possession OF the property, ana
the officials Of the District she1ld not be cOmpe-
tent TO waive such right te possession.
At the close Of the hTst section OF the proposed
bill there is power given 70 the corporation 20
borrow money end execute deeds Of trust upon its
property and franchise. There ought TO be en-
exnrpss erceptiOn rs to Co-coran square and Tx
improvements thereon. The corporation ought
not TO be allowed to execute an incumbrRuos In
respect o! said real estate, and the prohibition
ought to be clearly expressed at the place in the
bill Just indicated. A-prOper plan and spectrca
tiOn Tor the proposed improvement should be
made part Of any eBHctmenLs on the sE6Iect.
The eleventh section OF the bill before the CON-
mtttee requires that the work shall be begun
within sixty days after the company shall have
taken Seaeeable pOSseEsOn OF the real estate, AMI
that the buildings shall be prosecuted &C to be
completed within two years frUm the Commence
ment. In addition 70 this requirement the COM
pan5 should be obliged, upon penalty OF the loss
OF its franchise, to eXpend a certain ameunt, as,
for instance, one iOerth of the entire estimated
cost Of the construction within six months from
the date Of the passage of the act.
In the draft OF the bill there is in section thir-
teen, as printed, provision that the real and
personal property Of the corporal shall be sub
ject to assessment and taxation for all District
and municipal purposes, in the same manner and
70 Ihe came extent as IKE property owned Oy IN
dTiduals. This provision has, however, been
stricken out in the bill. 1t should be retained in
any enactment upon this subject. All the re-
SIrietiOns Upsn the company in the bill should be
retained. No restrictions or Limitations of the
powers of the corporation, and no dGty imposed
upon it in the bill, as printed, should be omitted
tIUm any law granting such franchise.
he amount Of rent to be charged for stalls or
stands for market purposes should be fixed by
the authorities Of the District and not by the di-
'TectioD Of the corporation.
There is in section twelve provision for a val
uatiUn OF the building at the end OF fifty years, IL
the District should then elect to take the premi-
SEES. From this valuation the sum already eX-
pended upon the building by the District should
be deducted. The corporation shOald not be paid
for what the District has built and paid.