Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-22

nC HVwOseu FluuoeH OOmh0IS8lOm.
1t is quite time that our tax payers
should wake up to the necessity OF
making some active opposition to the
movement in progress to get through
The Senate the "Claims Commission
BILL" which has already been smuggled
LASTLY ard almost surreptitiously through
tie House. This bill Is In all its points a
g. aud upon the people Of this District, and is
intended TO cover an increase OF several
rGillions in the District debt. II creates a
commission of three, one appointed by the
PRESIDENT OF the Senate, and the other two
" the Speaker of the House (these are I'M
Gerstood TO be Columbus Alexander and
Brooke Mackall, jr.,), who are to have
power to pass upon all claims against the
old corporations and the District. They are
not to be a court, and proceed In the regular
way to try the causes, with opportunity to
the District to defend itself and to have the
verdict OF jury; but they are to be Star
Chamber Commission, sitting In secret, de-
Gliding on ex-parte affidavits at home, In the
street or elsewhere, and the District Is to be
excluded from all standing In the commits
sion and practically from the opportunity of
being heard. 1t Is to be q Board OF Audit,
with the respectability left out: an irrespon-
siole political body with the power to say
what the District shall, and what it shall
not pay, to reward friends and punish enc
mics.
Why sLould this unfortunate District be
subjected TO such experiments? Why can't
1t be allowed the benefit of courts of law as
other psrsoas, Individual and corporate?
What have We done that Congress should
hand us over, bound hand and foot, to IRE
sponsib!s political boards? The District has
not askei this new creation. 1t was sick of
The board OF audit and does not want its
cousin-seI man. Besides, IL has confidence |
In the Integrity Of the Commissioners, the |
auditor AID the attorneys for the District.
The claims commission is wholly unneces- |
sary. All tie honest claims against the Dis |
trict have either been audited, or can be in /
two or tree weeks, by the officers whose |
business IL is TO audit, and who are RESPONSE |
bic on their bonds for the faithful perform
ance o. their duties. None but fraudulent or |
doubtful claims are TO be brought before this |
new commission. Let Us examine them |
class by class:
1. The claims against the old Corporations of |
Wastf'J'oo,, Georgetown and the Ley Court |
These antedate June I, 1871, are mostly out |
iawed, have been before two auditing CON-
missions OF the late assembly, the board of |
audit and the regular auditor, have been |
rejected by all OF them, and are now to be |
allowed By q special commission for the |
purpose!
:. 1he JOhn Pope HOtiIleft Claims. That mag
niheenf re former does not pretend that any |
OF the claimants were not paid by the con- |
tractors, the Board of Public Works and the |
District the wages fxed by contract; nor |
does ne deny that most OF them were In the /
employ OF private contractors. But he mas |
found an old resolution of one OF the old cor
porafions allowing fifty cents q day more
wages for men and for carts. On the strength
OF this he claims that the District shall De
compelled to pay the extra dfty cents In
each case; and he has trumped up a heavy
bill In the aggregate, by making out bill
Tor this extra In the name Of every laborer !
who ever lifted q spade or pick or drove a
cart for either private contractor, or the B.
+. W., or the District. These claims would
be laughed out of any court in Christendom.
3. Claims for damages consequent upon GRADING
streets. These amount to millions, and can
be increased od libtt,ma. They make the milk
In this cocoanut III political partisans can
get this patronage into their hands they can
make large campaign fund. But these
claims should be left to the courts. 1t Is per.
fectly understood that the Commissioners
ard their attorneys consider them illegal.
II the claimants think differently let them
so into court with them.
We earnestly ask the Senate to examine |
wei before they erect this anomalous and |
q necessary tribunal; before they undo and
3 nnul their action OF March 14th, forbidding
tie increase OF the District Indebtedness;
before they take under the especial charge
{ Z the United States, classes Of claims which
the holders do not dare TO bring before the
ordinary courts Of law.