The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-25

CHLeE IESueu DY HHlu DONIu Vi AuulJs
shall not exceed the sum Of $4,000, 900,
not take the school fund also
Mr.. Buckner said II did not
Mr.. kasson said that MS the resolution
read, 1t took any fund raised by
taxation.
Mr.. Buckner said the whole object Of
the joint resolution was to remove any
doubt that might exist In the minds of
the commissioners as to their power to
use this money. They have an abun-
dance of money TO pay the interest. and
the only question with the House Is
whether they. shall pmy IT,. OF whether
Congress shall appropriate for II direct.
ly The school funds are not affected
Mt oil. The limitation is fixed ut
have nearly reached that amount now.
Mr.. Randall said he understood that
the board Of audit had already Issued
bonds to tho amount of st4, 4,2g0, 900 and
he wanted to stop the issue vt that
amount. He had no idea Of letting tho
district issue ABOO.U0 more.
Mr.. Buckner said Congress must now
make good the credit of tho United
States by providing for this interest.
Tho question whether the board Of
audit have exceeded their authority In
goihg over ten millions is one for future
Investigation.
Mr.. kasson asked consent to offer an
amendment positively exetnpting school
funds.
Mr.. Buekner accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Wood IN. " cnquired whether
tho Committec on the District I'm offer
ing this proposition had considered the
fact that II tho board OF audit had no
authority TO issue bonds ib excess of te;l
millions. and II we authorize the pay
ment 1T interest above that amount
whether Congress does not absolutely
commit itself to tho appropriation Of
money to pay this debt.
Mr. Buckner said he had not Como
carefully into tho question how much
the Government was really responsible.
as that was n subject for aftcr con
sideration. The interest must be pro-
yided for In someDform. and as the reso,
luton requires the District to pay II out
or it's own funds, l,e did not think Con
gress committed itself by this act.
Mr.. Holman moved to amend Wy
striking out the figures mentioned as
the amount necessary. and to Insert the
words "amount necessary to pay the
same"
The amendment was adopted.
| Mr.. Randall said he wanted 10 redno,
the limit below fifteen millions. and tt
stop right now. In eighteen months the
Commissioners OF this District had in
volved tho people In n debt Of over FIVE
| million dollars. and tho Committee Oh
| Appropriations had come to tho con
clusion that the District must pny this
interest out Of money that the unitet
States had given them. He never saw
such reckless extravaganza us there hat
been In this District. The debt of thu
District to-day Is not n cent less thar
twenty-three millions. and now they hr'
asking u largo amount to complete I
work on the canal. which they say Is fo
a sanitary purpose. He did not believe
that the sanitary condition Of the cit,
required IL. but II IL Ia done. the none,
10 do IL must come out Of tho taxes to b'
collected here. The Commissioner
came to the Committee on Appropria
tiohs. and wanted mn appropriation
snyjng that they had but $40, will
which 70 pay. their. interest, but upot
an investigation It WIS shown tha
they had $4OO,OD on hand. which
they were holding back In order thu
they might go on with certain work II
the spring. In view Of these facts IN
wanted TO offer nm amendment limiting
the amount Of bonds TO he issued to &14.
100000 He did not propose to give then
an additional 900. .ONO to sqt,antler MS wa
proposed in Mr.. Buekner's proposition
Mr.. Wood. Of New York. said ther'
was more in this bill than appeared OF
the surface. The district commission
crs were appointed to take tho place o
n government which was not altogethe
efficient and which was not considered
TO bo altogether honest. and under th'
net appointing them they were autho
..s..1 thnun honda IT.
then understood that the issu
should not exceed YtO.000.OO
and If IL had been supposed that tin
amount would exceed that. no ono ol
tho Democratic side would have vote
for tho bill The pending proposition !
To evade an appropriation from tn
Treasury and to take II from tho take
of the people. The whole proposition
was IN Indirect authorization Of the pay
mept Of interest In excess Of tho amour
authorized by law, aud by this cours
the House was committing itself to tn
payment Of interest in future. He feare
the House was about to establish u pre-
cedent which would result In tho dt
inand for an appropriation for tho pay
ment of interest in tho future.
Mr.. Holman moved to amend by
proviso that no further bonds should b
, issued except upon express authority o
law. Adopted.
Mr.. Tucker Of Virginia moved (
amend. by a proviso that nothing herei
contained should render tho Govern
mont Of the United States liable to pa
the principal or interest on any bond
, not Issued In pursuance Of law.
, The Joint resolution was then passe
, as amended.
On motion of Mr. Buckner Of Missouri
special committee OF five member
was ordered to inquire into the natur
and history Of what WINS known as Tn
real estate pool Of the District OF Colun
bin, and the manner In which jay Cook
IL 90. were Interested.
On motion of Mr.. Banning, OF Ohit
, tho Secretary Of War WIS directed. :
, give the House n statement OF all claim
! and allowances of all kinds made to IN
officer Of the army on duty IN washing
: ton since March 4th. 1869. the length {
time each. reason, duty and the dut
, for which allowance was nude.
/ On motion Of Mr.. Whitehouse, Of Ne
York, the Committee on Reform In th
civil service was directed to enquire IN
/ report in relation to any fraud In an
! civil service department. of the govort
ment and to report such Legislation q
, will promote Integrity, economy IN
, efficiency therein and tho enquiry ma
cover such period as In the Judgment {
the committee may be necessary to %
exposure OF fraud and illegalty.
~. a., otto,, ~ Mr. 1(ntnev OF SDlIt