Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-02
The District in Congress-.

GEN. WILLIAMS LIQUOR LICENSE BILL.
hoDt ChrlSty, esq, made an argument be-
fore the House committee on the District of
Columbia today, in relation to Gen Williams
blll with reference to liquor licenses in the
District. His argument in behalf of certain
memOrlalistS was that when any citizen had
complied with the law in all and every respect,
ana had made his application for license to the
board OF police, it should be the duty of the
board OF police to issue such license and with
out unjust discrimination between citizens
MeSslS. DennlSOn Savage and others appeared
in opposition to the proposed bill.
THE BILL IN RELATION TO LEGALIZATION OF
ASSESSMENTS FOR SPECIAL IMPROVEMENTS.
MI Dorsey, chairman of the Senate COM
mittee OF the District of Columbia. has re-
ceived the following communication from
District Commissioner Bryan:
Sr.-Being informed that Senate bill 800 in
relation to certificates of assessment, is to be
discussed before your honorable committee on
Monday next, comply. with the request of
cltlZenS In answering briefly your letter asking
the opinion OF the Commissioners and request
ing us to I" furnish such information or sug-
gestl0ns as may guide the committee in the
consideration of the BILL" 1st. The present
experimental revision of the assessments of
the late Board of Public Works disclOSeS an
astounding amount OF reckeSSneSS and fraud,
such as double payments to contractors false
measurements, estimates and allowances, as
well rs egregiOuS miscalculatOnS so that we
find in a single assessment over a hundred
thousand dollars of excessive charges. Like
enormltles are found as the revision pro-
Il
allowance for digging (grading), an additional
payment was made TO the contractor of
ABOUT three times the cost Of the grazing for the
mere hauling array Of the earth, thus '.Qrad-
5ng $l4, $3.50, and hauling $44 795.70.'' This is
put type OF the system observed. But fraud
IN connection with those assessments assumed
other forms more difficult of detection and of
eSt1mate, the original contracts themselves
having been tainted. Many of those contracts
1t seems, were obtained by the liberal use of
a corruption fund, and by favOritiSm to con-
tractors. Payements discarded elsewhere
were adopted mere, and proved, as everywhere
eise, 70 be perlshable and worthless. Millions
OF OF aGliapS 1in A were Sguandered upon pavements
VI VI pine ana hem0ck and tar, and upon other
llladvised work, to be soon replaced by more
SUBSTANTIAL and durable improvements, in
VOlvlng another vast outlay and oppressive
taxes. These taxes added to special improve
mentS resulted in the virtual cOnfiscatiOn of a
great deal OF property. and in reducing MANY
1amllleS almost to deStitutOn.
"a. II such assessments, or any other are
tegm, 1t would seem needless to obtain for
them subsequent special legislative legaliza-
ton; and If illegal they should have none,
Should the action of the courts be anticipated
or ought not the questions at issue to abide
proper judicial determination?
3D. Admitting that such retroactive legisla-
ton cannot impair the rights of parties. Would
not The passage of such law induce payment
where possible, by the poor and the least we'll
informed, whilst the more aStute and those
possessed OF means wOnld resort to litigation,
and escape?
Very respectfully,
THOS B. BRYAN Com'r n q