The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-24
BOSS sBEPHERD,s SUCCESSORS
The Rule of the District Commissioner
Worse than that OF the Old Ring.


WASHINGTON, May 23.-The report of the
Committee on the District OF Columbia, CHARGED
with an investigation into the affairs OF the DIS
trict has been prepared so far us portion Of the
committee is concerned, by Chairman Buckner.
II specifically charges the Com missioners with
violations OF law In the expenditures OF money,
aud says In relation to the Board OF Audit, the
evidence will fully sustain the committee In the
statement that favored parties had no difficulty
IN having claims audited In some cases In which
there were no merit and In others for much
more than was due, while other claim
ants with equal merit or domerit were
ler-on In communication with tho accounting
Officers turns up To purchase at heavy discount
the claims thus unnecessarily hindered and de-
layed In their adJ istment. The report qiv,s the
names OF thirty-two persons who mad IMPROPER
OF erroneous allowances made to them, ranging
co.. oS 'f0" '@O'' 10 ''iO0' and asSreE'''0s sh"-
Of the act Of June, 1874, has not been greatly
misconceived, there can he no DOUBT the Com
missIoners have added t3,O9i 0i6.l3 to the debt
OF the District, not only without warrant OF law,
but az lust their own construction Of thelr pow
ers as shown by their report Of December. 1874
IL will be observed that the whole increase of
<4,VOS C3o - has been made during the year 1873
an amount OF expenditure. aud Of debt nearly
The I,ckless and illegal arrangement OF
the Board Of Public Works, and law
that according to the opinion Of its trainers
was Intended to limit the powers Of the Distri I
Government. md to prevent any further in
cresse OF the debt Of the District, has oesn con
rued to auth orize an enormous expenditure
and an unbearabie addition to the burdens Of
n already ovefburdencd people.
The old funded debt amounted to $50, ,l13 q
aud the $50 bonded dent amounts to sl3,s+o.2JO
m iking a total OF 81 lSl ,J6j %. ON when the
annual interest Is 81 .l2S,62s, while the assessed
sscoo.So. ''' '''' '''A'' ''' D''N''' 10 '''
Ifto the sum Of the bonded debt we add the
unconverted certificates Of the Board of Audit
aud the me .suremenls not certified, and those
sui in tue Engiueer's onice. equal to SLIT.
o. bt OF the District sx3,a8i .sTss5 exclusive "
the claims Tor damages to real pi oper y.
Tas report ssys, Ia ne nvsstIfs'ion OF tn.
tnat witn the Oderless Excayatng Apparatus
Company OF Baltimore was made under crcum-
stances that leads To the suspicion. II not nf the
conviction, that Improper motives controlled
two Of the members Of the board In awarding
Tue contract was given TO the above n med
COMPANY as the highest and not the lowest Did
der, by which the citizens of the District are
under The rejected bid 1t runs for three years.
and the loss to the people of the Distri I Tor
these three years 1t Is estimated viii % equal "
| Ine two memuers OF the board (Drs. Cox and
| Bllss) above referred TO. subsequently 10 tue
| award received from the Odoiless COMPANY GER
| tncaies OF preferred stock Ia the company
| gu rnteeing seven per cent. per annum interest
| o. $1,000, which they seem 10 have dis osed
| U AfterwhTu To the President of the comp ny
| Not only ought the con.rict TO be cancelled
ana set aside, but your committee wouli call
|
| to the propriety OF bringing tneir conduct IN
| this matter before the Grand jury, aud having
| these officers inIict under section oil Of "a .
| revised Laws OF the United states.
| Ihe report, IN conclusion, recommends the
| passage Of tie accompany log JOINT resolution:
Re>oIred &c, the Senate concurring thcr In. Thai
Aoraey the uni.ed Sta,ts be. anu he he It-
by DIR Cted 10 cAuhe proce, dss AT law 10 10 insl
| tltpd against Wlam Dv4DisOn, JOhn II he cham anu
| Sem l.. Phelps. on tner several bonds y.
III lteazauce and unt lthiu In the discharge Vf
IIeir du.les sail COmissI aud for ths pur.
pose he author d appOiAt such speclai counsel a'
| he may uc,m aGyis be, who hhail lake cha ge
| OF tie con.uct and management OF eau
| snits and also of sll actions, whet ior
wi or or minal against The parties mentioned or re
f,rrcd g. In report Of The COiImittee OF se ID
trlt OF CoIumbil =, niaur In the House OF Represent
tiyes on the day OF May. 1876. as na'ihg oo -ined
| OF co uulOil, or OF having Ocen guilty VI
| v OlatIon Of the criminal laws OF The
| United st les, md that t'e clerk OF tins
| House c.ruV TO tie A tJrIeyU neral and TO the
Grand ,ury uf the District OF 60 unuia ~ ~ Tue
stdTtD and aCcOuip evdeuce Tor euch sctioh
Ia h ems. IN may uten pro pJr N Al toe 4 IN
| an te ua the ID st lc- Of co un IA OF ths n Us
snail continue tie luNestignti OF the dcniaius al.
aims against the Boaru ~ Public Norks, auued az
certin "a % Buaru of Aunt AGAINST DIS rict o.
| Colum Ia win Of asCr tuuins whether ANY tar
| IA m ~. al hRyt b 'eu m de- tr Illegal o
| IMPROPER movements made, aud TO tn end such eA
rts sha nave Tree ace 80 10 any papersducuments
r.rOrds m any department OF the bstrirt GuNtrnm mt
M ,lee report thereof W tno uexs sessIo