Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-27
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, January q.

OF the Red River of the North. Committee
| on Commerce.
Mr.. Hamilton presented memorial OF dele
gations OF the Creeks, Choctaws and other
Indians, asking repeal of acts granting lands
In the Indian territory TO railroad companies.
Committee on Territories.
Mr.. Boutwell, presented memorial OF citi-
asns OF Boston asking repeal of two-cent
cneck stamp tax. Committee on Finance
Mr.. Paddock presented memorial OF 600
citizens of Utah territory in favor of the
centennial appropriation. Committee on
Mr.. Boutwell, sent to the desk a letter from
Inc chief clerk OF the Treasury department
IN IN leaZ, coverlngsan analytical statement of
Inc system OF accounts at the Treasury. and
also bill on the subject, which, on his mo-
tlon, was ordered TO be printed in the official
record.
Mr.. Davis presented various Joint resolu-
lions of the West Virginia legislature I'm ia
Vor OF the Improvement Of the Ohio, the
Monongahela and the Elk rivers. Also res
olutiOns on other subjects. which were an
propriately referred
Mr.. Sargent submitted a resolution which
recited that the third section OF the act of
July l, 1892, for the construction of railroad
from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean,
PROVIDES that all lands included In the grant
We are not sold within three years after
me completion OF the road shall be open TO
settlement at the rate of S1.25 per acre,
therefore the Committee on Public Lands be
instructed TO inquire at what date said road
was completed, and If any action has been
taken To carry out the provisions of the Law
and whether any further legislation is ueces-
sary, and TO report by bill or otherwise.
THE INTEREST ON THE DISTRICT 3-G5
BONDS.
MI Morrill,, OF Maine, called up House bill
in reference TO the payment or tue interest
on the District 8 s. bonds. He alluded 10 the
act OF 1874, under which the S-65 bonds were
authorized, and which provided that the
United States should see that the Interest
ana principal were paid. Last session a di-
raF7s- lot f-,V.E
sTess for the payment of the six months In
terest on these bonds. Another six months
interest was now due. The question was
asked why the Commissioners did not nav
the Interest cut of the funds i'm their hands
but the COmmiSs toner's needed tue funds To
pay Tor current expenses and improvements
me question was whether a direct appT0
prlatlon should be made, or some OF tue
money yet in the United States Treasury
heretofore appropriated Tor the District
should be used for this purpose. He referred
10 the prOviSO OF the bll, prohibiting
any further issue OF the bonds, and
said that n IL was adopted. il would
prevent the issue OF bonds by the Com
mlssloners 10 tue amount OF SJl4,J4O,
which had been passed upon by the board OF
audit, but not yet acted upon by the Com
nissionerS. The second part Of the proviso
was that the United States should not be
responsible for any OF these bonds issued ia
violation of law. The committee had no
evidence Of any illegal issue of the bonds,
and did not see that there was any fitness IN
IL, and therefore recomm ended that il be left
out.
Mr.. Dawes asked what the Senator under
stood 10 be the limit OF the power of the Com
missiobers as 20 the issue of these bonds.
Mr.. Morrill, said their power was in one
respect not limited.
Mr.. Dawes said these bonds were, TO all in
tents and purposes, an obligation of the
United States, and he desired TO know
whether the Senator said that the Commits
sioners had the power to go on increasing
the obligations OF the United States al their
own pleasure.
Mr.. Morrill, did not mean to say that their
power was unlimited except as To its appli
cation to the subject. They have the author
ity TO audit all claims arising under the con
tracts made by the Board OF Public WORKS,
but they are limited to that.
Mr.. DaweS.-Can the Senator then say
what the amount of these bonds viii be
{ zen?
Mr.. Morrill, said the probable amount as
set forth in the report would be S14 .94S, 1913.
On motion TO strike out, the proviso was
cOncuTred in.
Mr. Sargent suggested that the amount of
the bonds TO be issued be definitely liked al
$4,000 COO, otherwise, he said we would wake
up some morning and find the amount p or
% millions.
as IL came from the House in this respect
Mr.. Allison said in his opinion the Com
missioners Of the District OF Columbia had
totally mfsapprehended the law under which
they were created, and have increased the
debt of this District far beyond the authority
OF law. They have legaliZed all the con-
L L
never the intention OF the committee who
reported the bill creating these Commission
ers that this should be done. On the other
band this was expressly excluded. But
there were certain improvements which had
already been begun that the committee
thought proper to proceed with, and these
the Commissioners were authorized to 20 on
with. These Commissioners in their last
report stated the amount of the 65 bonds
then issued were 50 100000 and there were
-, 100000 OF outstanding certificates. Now
Commissioners haVn al
then S4,H5,0O0 on the streets and public
works in this city, and have construct the
act OF 1874 TO authorize them to do this thing.
BE believed they had exceeded their author
1ty, and contracted obligations when they
had no power TO do so. Under the old organi-
zaiion OF this District, there were two dis
tiEct corporations, the Board OF Public
works and the District government proper.
The committee, in the bill which they had
reported, and which was the act Of June,
lsIi; had intended that all valid contracts OF
the District government should be execu ed
but they mad excluded any Such ides as car
rying out all the contracts made by this dis
WORKS.
Mr.. ConkIing asked what hat his money
been expended in.
Nh. Allison said il would be found set forth
on page 24 Of the Commissioners report:
cUrDing, paving, parking, Belgian Pave
ments, wooden pavementS, concrete pave
ments, asphalt paYementS, and 50 On, and
SO on.
Mr.. Dawes asked would the Senator state
in what particular this Board OF CommIs-
sioners have modified or curtailed the meg
nihcent system carried on in SUCH alarming
detail by the Board OF Pablo Works. Can
the Senator point 10 any particular, IN plan
or in expenditure, By which these Com MIS-
sioners have diminished the system OF oper-
ations of their predecessors.
Mr.. Allison said the only modification was
in changing the grade in some instances, by
which the cost of the work had beea made
less. What they have done is TO eXpend over
five millions in the streets and alleys OF this
city, where no such thing was contemplated.
He wanted TO enter his protest against this
action. AT the same time he did not wish to
throw any doubt on the 3.65 bonds. The Com
missiorers have undou btedly mistaken their
authority, bet they Lave increased these OBJ
legations, and they are our officers. II we
disclaim the bonds which have been paid to
the contractors at par, when they sell at 20
cents on dollar, we would have to pay the
contractors dollar for dollar. But we must
at once fix limit to these bonds or the
Commissioners will go on issuing them.
Mr.. Sherman said III the facts y IRE as the
Senator from Iowa stated; If these Commits
sioners had so grossly exceeded their auth
GRITTY, then there was no language too strong
10 condemn their action. But he asked that
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