National Republican., 1877-09-14
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.

Mr.. COLUMBUS ALEXANDER PROTESTING
STOCK SECURED FOR THE SCHOOL FUND
CAN IT BE CANCELLED :-DTRrY CUTTERS
MUST DE CLEANED-h DRINKING FoUNT.
AIN FOR FOURTEENTH STREET AT BOUND
AIRY.
Affairs at Columbia Building yesterday ap-
pearcd rather dull, although the regular rou-
tine work progressed with the usual steadi-
ness The District Commissioners were on
hand, received all visitors, gave patient hear
ing, and disposed Of matters as their judg-
ment and circumstances required.
They have directed the erection of drink
ing fountain to he placed on the corner Of
Fourteenth and Boundary streets northwest
Assistant District Attorney A. A. Birney
has collected from judgments In District cases
before the Supreme Court, from July 81 to
September 12, S9s, and paid over $51.25 to the
District treasurer, that sum being the amount
belonging to the District after paying $iO.75,
| the cost of collection.
A water main has been ordered to be laid on
Connecticut avenue between NJ and N streets,
and sewer in the same locality. The latter
will be constructed at the cost Of the appli-
cants, In accordance with the general sewer
| plans, tho District furnishing the Pipe.
uScLEAN CUTTERS.
The District Commissioners, In reference to
| o letter from the Board of Health calling the
| attention of the former to the condition Of
certain CUTTERS on Twenty fourth street north
west, cite the opinion Of the District Attorney
in regard to that subject, and add that they
| would be gratihcd TO have the Board of Health
| cooperate in enforcing the provisions Of the
act. Tho law referred to is an ordinance of the
corporation of Washington, approved january
| IL 1856 which provides that the occupants
of the buildings, or owners OF the vacant lot
| in front of which any weeds or distractions
may be found, may be compelled, under pen
| atty of not less than one dollar, nor more than
| five dollars, to remove the obstruction; and
| that the engineer as successor to the old COM
| missioner of improvements, should give the
notice to offenders. Noncompliance of his or
| ders can be followed by arrest and prosecution
| in the Police Court.
| The District Commissioners have revised
bids for the following work and will, in all
probability award the contracts to-day. 1t
embraces the expenditure Of about Sl3S.
For substituting q twelvo-inch sewer for
six-nch connecting trap in Express alley
with sewer on Second street; for Strengthening
the return curb and rcsotting iron fence in
front of No. engine house; for laying ll3
| sauarc yards of brick footwalks on north side
of street between North Capitol and First
streets cast, and for laying cobble stone
gutter on south side of Grant avenue, between
Boundary and Ninth street extended.
THOSE TROUBLESOME cERTIFIcATEs.
The Commissioners yesterday reconsidered
their decision in regard to according to Mr..
Columbus Alexander an interview and re-
ferring him to the Solicitor of the Treasury,
and decided to hear what that gentleman had
to say by way of objccting to the issue of GER
tihcates of indebtedness for assessments
against property abutting along Pennsylvania
avenue when the recent street improvements
were made
Mr.. Alexander objected to the issuing Of
| e. al thnt . t1,a.,
were illegal; that the act of Congress authoriz.
ing the paving of that thoroughiare did not
give the authority assumed in issuing Certih.
Gates, and that there was no statute to sustain
the Commissioners in putting them out. He
believed that they should put them in the Gus
tOdy of the proper officers, and there let them
| remain until subsequent action was taken by
Congress in regard to the subject, and directions
given as to how the Commissioners should
proceed to collect this assessment. He PRO
tested against their being issued. The Com
missioncrs promised to take the matter int
consideration, but gave no expression of thci
views to indicate what their decision nigh
be. At the same time they told Mr. Alexan
. der that 1t was their endeavor TO have all as
scssments overhauled, revised and settled Il
accordance with equity and justice.
;, THE SCHOOL FUND.
Under the date of April 0, 1875, the sinkn
fund commission addressed letter to tn
n District Commissioners of the following pul
port: I'VE find registered on the stock looks
the late corporation of Washington s64,3s!
Y and interest standing to tho cred
:, of the school fund.- We bag +
y state that under the act of tho Legislature W
N here find for the public schools of this cit
Q. various amounts to an aggregate of at lea
C S230, 900, which has been added to the funde
u debt OF the District as shown by reports her
u tofore published; We now therefor
present for your consideration the questid
N whether the amount of stock aud interest i
81 standing to the credit of tho school fun
N cannot be Cancelled as public Offset to deb
paid by US In other bonds" The commune
tion was referred to the attorney Mr.. L.
A Stanton, who reported that In his opinion Il
n request of the commissioners Of the sinkiI
u fund could not legally be complied with.
J. The letter then went to Mr.. FitZhugh COyl
80 comptroller, who returned 1t with the answ
e. that the act Of This corporation council a
proved July u, 1870, expressly required tn
that the fund shail be kept vested cOntin
lyani forever after bysaid mayor for the su
o., port of said schools; shall constitute scho
- fund and bo set Spart forever for the endo'
be rent and support Of the public schools Of Il
city of Washing ton Unless there has be,
subsequent legislation annuling the above,
n which the CON Ghrciler vas not awarel, Il
al comm!ssiQEsrS Of the l,LESIsg fund cannot