The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-22
Let the Ducllist be Punished.

By the Virginia law. any person who en-
cages in duel is excluded from holding
Office in the State brand is put ON his
brow which timc cannot ciTace Yet the
latest example Of an attempt to force II
duel comes from Virginia member Of Con-
gress who helps TO make laws for the
Union. and especially for the District of
Columbia. where duelling is penal offence.
The facts are worthy Of notice.
During the rule of the Washington Ring,
one Of the great frauds practscd upon the
subject community was through so-called
special improvements; for laying pay v
mcnts, sidewalks, making excavations, al
the like The property owner was taxed Iii
rcctly onc-third OF the cost Of these fraudu-
lent improvements. and his proportion OF the
remaining two-thrds in the general levy,
both Of which were entirely independent Of
his regular taxes The Ring issued certifi-
Gates of indebtedness to the contractors
Tor this work, and they became objects OF
speculation among brokers, bankers. job
bcrs, and the crowd Of Adventures who
Hooked to Washington at that time.
1t was established 10y the joint investiga-
ton Of 1874, and more recently by special
examinations, that enormous frauds had
been perpctratod in these special assess
mcnts 10y false measurements, double pay
ments, overcharges, and other forms of
| rascaity. Some of the property owners re-
| fused TO pay them, and went to law to pro-
| tect their rights. Meantime. the certificates
of Indebtedness were gradually conccn-
| trated In the hands OF q few specializing
bankers and capitalists, who organized q
ia t.... o 90
| TO have II law passed by which their pay
mcnt could be enforced, frauds and all, with
ten per cent. interest superadded against
the property alleged to have been i'm
proved.
Various devices were contrived at the late
| session looking TO this main object and the
| committees on the District, OF both Houses,
with a very few honorable exceptions, were
| subordinated to the job. A bill was pending
| in the Senate "to provide for the revision
| and correction OF assessments for special
| improvements in the District Of Columbia"
| which authorized commission 10 careful
| ly revise and examine all statements hereto
| fore made Of the cost OF any and all i'm
provements for any part Of which ASSESS
ments have been levied, or in the absence Of
|
the fair and just cost of any and all i'm
provements heretofore made upon the
streets, avenues, and alleys OF tho District
Of Columbia which have been or are liable to
be assessed, and make new statement of
the cost thereof 1t also provided THAT
the enforcement OF the collection Of the said
assessments remaining unpaid, or the issue
~ tax-lien certificates therefor, be. and the
same are, hereby suspended until the said
assessments shall have been revised and cor
rccted'
40 fair proposition like this suited the
| Ring, and they concocted another which
| preserved the title but enforced the fraudu-
lent assessments. To do this, it was neces-
sary to get the signatures Of members OF
the House Committee separately-for there
was no meeting-who were known to be op.
posed to any legislation legalizing these
frauds. Mr. BLACKBURN was thus grossly
deceived by Il false representation. Whcr
this point was secured, the substitute was
put in the hands Of EFFIGY SARGENT in the
Senate, who got ii passed when less than q
quorum was present. The bill in this form
went to the House, and. strange TO say, was
not printed. On the eve of the adjournment
when little more than fifth OF the Hous,
was present, Mr.. HENDEE called this bill up
and succeeded In carrying IT through.
Later in the day, when the trick was dis
covered, Mr.. SPRINGER made an effort TO gc
the bill reconsldered, but 1t was too late. II
the hurry and confusion Of the last hour
there was no chance for hearing and thu
Ring triumphcd, with the prospect Of I
couple II millions in their pocket. Mr.. EPPl
llUNToN Of Virginia Is a member Of the Dis
trict Committee, and Is said to have givel
this scheme efficient support all through
but especially when Mr.. SPRINGER tried T.
get il undone. He has exercised large in
llueuce with the Ring Government Of tn
District in appointments and patronage
derived mainly from his advocacy OF thei
measures IN the committee and in tn
House.
Mr.. HUTTON Is n candidate for reelection
and is opposed chiefly by Mr.. NEAL Of Alex
andria, who carried his county recently b.
Il decided vote In discussion last wcc,
when referring to District affairs, Mr. Hun
TON was reported as saying that the bill Il
question was brought to him with the ap
prevail 81 CoLUMBUs ALEXANDER, the lat
Commissioner BRYAN, and others, who ha
publicly opposed all such legislation. Nj
ALEXANDER denounced this statement n
false, and charged HUTTON with sympath
for the Ring. HUTTON sent one Of his M
poiutccs named SHEPPARD, with deman
for an unconditional retraction of thi
charge, which ALEXANDER refused to give
That was followed by a second letter In
wiling ALEXANDER outside tho District !
order to receive a challenge to fight due
ALEXASDER printed this letter and Co.
mcnted upon it in decided language. The
To complete the business HUNToN postc
ALEXANDER as n coward liar, and black
4 guard. This is a summary of n disgracefl
t correspondence, and the conclusion of Sc,
oral acts which claim the attention OF tn
IA United States District Attorney at Wasl
d Ington, il tho law there Is entitled TO al
. respect OF obedience.
Here ls the cnse Of n citizen who soes h
!, name publicly used to falsify his well-know
q views, in order 10 serve the personal an
: btion Of a member Of Congress who seel
a to he reelected. He exposes tho falsehoo
1t and crlticises the public acts OF the man wi