National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-16
Truth Coming Out,

lErom the Troy Times, Oecembe B, 1871
The report recently made by the Commission
ers Of the District Of Columbia presents . reas-
surfing view of the affairs of that greatly abused
municipality, and shows that the trust eonfided
to them by Congress has been honestly admins
tered. They affirm the debt to be, less certain
assets on hand, in round numbers, 81, 900, OOo
This is liable TO be increased during the ensuing
year by the unaudited claims pending to about
s16 COO 900, which is S1o 900 900 less than was
hdently asserted by those who sought to cry
down the District because they did not control It.
From this sum must be deducted q large amount,
from g. 600 900 to OF, 900 900, which the General
Government is in equity bound to assume or pay,
and the debt Of the District will then be what 1t
can easily afford to pay the interest on. A crafty
ing feature OF the report is that It shows that
the revenues placed In the hands OF the Commits
sOners have been faithfully applied to the gSr :
temporary loans which hampered the late gov
eminent so heavily have ali been paid of; the
wages due officers, teachers and laborers have
been paid to date, and they Will get their De-
cember pay for their Christmas money.
The interest falling due January l on the
bonded debt is likewise provided for, and will be
promptly paid. This reminds US that nOtWith-
standing all the eontnmely and reproaeh heaped
interest, and the money advanced by Congress to
pay the interest last July has since been repaid
by the Commissioners from out Of the revenues
this fact, and as result District securities,
which last spring were selling at e5 TO 70 cents,
now selling at IS, 90 and 95 cents With pros
pect that they will soon go to par.
The Troy Times during the past summer took
occasion to show that there had been an enor-
nous amount OF lying in the newspapers and by
the politicians regarding the affairs Of the Dis
trict of Columbia and It asserted that the result
would yet prove that the allegations of monstrous
fraud and Corruption had little or no foundation
in fact. That result has already been reached.
Congress appointed q board of audit in such
manner that they were entirely free from execu-
tive or any other dictation whatsoever. Every un-
satisfied evidence Of debt issued by the old Board
Of Public Works or the former District govern
nent was required to be submitted to this board
for re-examinstion and audit. Some 100000
have been SO submitted.
The great bulk CT these, some 5000, 900, were
certificates Of the auditor Of the Board Of Public
Works, wherein 1t was alleged the great frauds
existed. Now the board of audit has gone to the
POTION Oh =, hat t
of nearly every dollar is clearly established, and
the auditors books themselves balance to cent.
board Of audit, charged with this responsibility
in the most solemn manner, and free from any
local, personal or partisan approach, have issued
their certificates attesting the amounts found due
on these various accounts, and they utterly fail
to report any fraud or corrupti0nl That's the
fact, and We cease to wonder that certain news
District affairs as their political stock in trade.
But Congress must take care Of the chickens It
IuDs last. Which Changed the form Of SoTeTnSs me-
was q section providing for the funding Of the
reRudited claims in guaranteed bond bearing
the low rate Of interest Of 3e5 per cent. per an
mum.
This bond, for this reason and the alleged i'm
perfect language Of the guarantee clause, now
brings In the market less than seventy cents, and
already the doors Of Congress are besieged by the
creditors Of the District, who fling back their GER
tifcates of the board of audit and Indignantly
ask IT, having the integrity OF their claims clearly
established by q board who derived their author
ity from Congress, they are now to be forced to
take deprecated bond in full payment therefor?
The inquiry is o very forcible one, and We in
the argument. 1.-THE board appointed by Congress
certify, after due examination, that the District
of Columbia cues Lhis man or that so many dol
lars, Congress itself cannot escape the shame Of
being party to DfTfu0l Reputation II tt e0mpels
that creditor 10 take less. lfit can avoid the dis
grace by authorizing better bond, 1t will be .
cheap way out of it-much cheaper than by-and-
by to appropriate money to pay judgments and
interest which are sure to follow.