Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-11

were sale bonds taken by the coatractof
:, aHyrs- Snder section nine 90 OF
tam contracts az the board % public W
(fur full text % this section See table
ensineer's report which authorised
hosrd 20 repair detective contracts
within the time limited by the contrac
nature az toe contractor 20 make the IA,
slter que notification. the work % reps
detectiNe contract work was undertake
the engineer under direction OF the COM
sioners The work Was reported 10 m
mat officer a. one of absolute necessity
thai longer delay would cause rand ,fetu
ration OF the vorkiand immense loss q
DiEtfict. IL was necessary also In ORA
preserve our recourse for indemutnc,
against the contractors and their sur
that the contractors should be mott ned
I'm the time prescribed In the CONTRACT
repairs by them To do the work. or
character. 10 wit the chipping out
PATCHING mp damaged spots In the con
pavement could not. aS determined by
engineer, be accurately measured and
Iot except In the following manner,
Ihe actual cash cost OF the material
YVES ascertained by measurement and
iabor employed WAS aScertaiDe.f nv A.
statements of the contractor, by his n
book, and by the certificate OF the owe
oI me Nork emplayed by the engineer
this amount twenty per cent for proot
allowed. The amount was paid inS IS i,
the work being done In pursuance a.
tracts made by the board uT public ~
which were existing legai obligations
bonds were rated at their msrKet Walt
the New York stock exchange AZ The IA
settlement For fun explanation we
you 10 the testimony OF Jhe engineer
before Your committee, and 10 MS m
transmitted with our annual report OF
tSee page -, Sc In the latter 81 whic
presents al the considerations affecting
subject. While the total cost of al "a
pairs icfein referred 10 l. eignf hun drei
nine tbousasd eight hundred aud siNt,
laIs amt nine cents, $50. Si0 NJ = The pr
ton OF ~ which wss paid In bonds Al
market value Is but sixty. ght thou
nve cents lScS, ao2 - In the opinion a
engineer, 40 WAS Tot Tracticah 10 ge
work done except by each or It's eonivs
Detailed Information IA ans pger TO this
ton il given in table four lil accompal
the engineers report.
"9. Rave WORKS reported ~ Congre
De csmher, 1874, as % he done with ca>h
ments. since been paid In = 81 bonds?
what were they, what was the cash est
In the aggre gate. and whatare the actui
peDditunes IN IS bonds"
2. dHHucr, ftrN SeT1Cl.-fn our reps
Deem Der I. 1874. see page & OF that re,
There occur the following items OF estiu
expenditures for the last seven months
pristng four working months. of the
year ending June 80, ISIS, namely: 70
under new contracts, eight thousand
hundred and tuy dollars, (Ss.151.D 90
peuSeS OF construction Of graVel-pit, e
sion OF sewerage, rebuilding of sewers
erecting street lamps. eighty Thousand
hundred and fifty- nine dol lars aud i've
$50, l19A5,) for expenses of repairs OF
menis, To be charged IN contractors, req,
cash advance by the District OF COtut
fOrty-seven Thousand eight hundred
eighteen dollars and seventeen
80 .eis.hD total, one hundred
thirty-EiX thousand seven hur
ard twenty-sevsn collars aud ia
Two cents lSl36 syI.-3 OF the last a
item nothing has been expended; the
missioners considering, after snbse,
examination OF the matter, that the
Of repairing defective contract work
under the ninth section OF the contract
included within the contracts OF the DO
public works for the original work. T
fully explained In answer To question
IN the hrst two items are included wor
der contracts 1--WE and ten new serieSD,
cash contracts or the COmmissi toner's.
amount OF WORK Contemplate
these contracts, namely. under cou
i've, WIS fOrty-One Thousand SIX hu
and siXty-siX dollars, (SlI 1901 and
der contract ten six thousand a
l~t ,0nO) There has been expended
these contracts, namely. under contra
eleven thousand four hundred and a
nVe collars and ui-cty-thrae cents -
aa,) under contract 10, two thOusand one
died and Seveuty-e eht dollars aud tg
three cents, t>2.bS2i.l After these exI
lures these contracts were terminated
3 - bonds were issued under them. y.
CHIC Work was required on either of
contracts. but Orders for work were
out rom time 10 time on recon mendai
The engineer under the discretion o. the
miSsioners, the contracts having termi
Ia the exercise OF this discretion att
expenditure of the sums above stated In
case respectively. Tnere remains nc
further OF the work represented In the
mates above referred 10. as has been al
slated. Whatever further work was de
upon OF this nature was limited 10 su
bad been placed under ext 3ns ions of Tn
board cOntrscts.
"9. State what number OF contracts
board OF public works which you recox
a. existing obligations OF said bosrd
passage OF the act OF June 20, 1S-a
made or purp0rted 20 be made betweS
frst day OF February and the 10Th OF
1914. and how many of said contracts
ported 10 he made between the LIST and
OF June. lss4? Did said Commissioned
elther OF them, make an examination O
contracts with the view OF determ
whether the law governing the exec
OF said contracts by the board of
works had been complied with? II ID,
OF said Commissioners made said exaI
ton, 10 whom are referred the busin,
valid obligations or not? Did you tai
opinion of the attorney OF the District
each OF the contracts recognized by VI
did he give his opinion as 10 their va
or fnvalidlty In the lump, and was
opinion In writing III yea, furnis
ommittee with a copy. Did you refu
recogf lie any contract purporting
made by the board of public works, as
binding and valid? II yea, state mum
.aid contract, date, name OF contractor
the subject OF said contract"
.. AnSsCT.-Seventy (7O) contracts. A
ding three extensions, of the board Of %
works, which have been recoguiz ed by
existing legal obligations at the date of
%, 1874, were made, or purport TO have
made, between the LIST day OF February
the 10th June, lSi. These are extsnsic
Nos. -, rs, and s35, and contracts fror
l,os3 TO No. 1909, inclusive. or thes
nrst Three appear In the printed repo
the board OF public works, including q
port dated February 2S. lisa. The repor
nsmed eXtelds 20 contract No. IOS2.
OF The remaining sixty seven, 90 . the
OF each OF which Is shown i'm engtueer's
No 5, transmitted herewith were rep
within our knowledge, to Congress pr
the engineers report OF lSs4. Wedid ma
examination of said contracts, with
10 determine whether they were valid
ing legal obligations; but, for reasons b.
lore stated, not with any view TO deter
whether the board OF public works
compiled with all the direct Dry REQ
ments OF the law. Before passing fayoi
upon any contract, we had satisfied
selves OF It's validity. In each case we
ferred with the engineer. and received
him either written report or verbal
nation. Soon after entering upon the a X
OF our Office we suspended work upon "A
contracts, in order TO have time % exa
each, and give time 10 the engineer 10
tain the condition OF the work. lSse
neer's annual report for iSsi, y. 100 OF
missioners Report Tue general conclu
In respect 10 the contracts Of the boa
public works have been Sc. forth in th
ginning OF this answer where. at dit
times communicated 10 as oy the alto.
for the District; and our action was In