National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-08
CRY Hall, WASHINGTON, D. G..
E.l,r,,nrts IN To-,

courts, under authority Of tse Supreme Court Of
The city Hall furnishes three chambers capable
OF accOmmo dating the courts, to wit: the Circuit
Courtroom, the Criminal Courtroom, and Chan
Gerry Courtroom. These three rooms are occupied
by the several courts including the Supreme Court
III General Term, substantially throughout the
year The remaining hnritablc rooms OF the City
Hall are occupied BY the Marshal, the Clerk, re.
corder of Deeds, Register Of Wills Surveyor Of the
District, and the law associations. with their IL
brsry.
Before the organization of the present govern
mcnt OF the District the Circuit Court room was oo-
cupied IN common with the City C2nneii-the
Probate Courtroom by tho Board 81 Aldermen.
This Joint occupancy was incompatible with the
comfort or convenience Of either Proper regard
for the public service required more ROOM and, as
the matter now stands we have no more chamber
accommodation than Is indispensable to properly
Indeed, we have no rooms Mt ali for the accom-
mediation Of the justices holding United States
D. X. CARTIER, Chief.Justicc,
a. y. 0LIN,
A. WYLIE,
u. c. HUMPHREYS,
ARTHUR MACARTHUR
tFrom AN act making appropriations to supply
deficiencies" &c, approved March 3. 1871
For the purchase by the United States of the in.
tcrcst OF the District Of Columbia in the present
City Hall building In Washington, now used solely
for Government purposes, such sum as may be de.
tcrmincd by three impartial nprraiscrs, TO he Sc
euted by the Secretary Of the Interior, not exceed.
ing $4,000, the same 10 be applied by said District
only for the erection OF suitable building for tho
District Offices; and the Governor and Board Of
Public Works are authorized. " they deem 1t advis
able Tor that purpose, 70 make arrangements 70
secure sufficient land fronting on Pennsylvania
and Louisiana avenues, between Seventh and Ninth
streets: Prorifcd That the Government OF tho
United States shall not he liable for any cxpendi-
ture for said land or for the purchase money there
for for the buildings to be erected thercon and
no land or the use thereof is hereby granted for the
building.
y. To the eighth inquiry, "By what author
ity the said market company has assumed
control Of what Is known as the wholesale
market grounds ut tho intersection of Ohio
and Louisiana avenues with Tenth and
Twelfth streets" the company says that under
the sixteenth section Of the charter of the
Washington Market Company 1t appears that
the said corporation may prescribe rules and
regulations governing this wholesale market;
and inasmuch as the grounds referred to were
granted by Congress for wholesale market,
| in order to clear the streets and sidewalks on
| Pennsylvania and Louisiana avenues from
this kind of traffic, without making tho whole
sale market any especial source of expense or
revenue to the city, 1t was therefore agreed
| that the market company should go on and
grade and At these grounds, which were
covered with water in many places,
and wholly unfit for use; erect stables, stock
yards and sheds, and other buildings, to ena-
BILE dealers In the coarse and bulky articles
named to comfortably transact their business,
the market company to charge q small fee, to
be determined by the Governor and Board of
| Public Works-all Of which, however, to re-
vert to the benefit OF the city and District, af.
| ter deducting the pay of employees and ten per
cent. per annum upon the expenditures made
| in fitting up the grounds for q wholesale mar
kct. (See contract with the District authori-
| ties and schedule of charges, approved by the
Board of Public Works.
| 0. To the ninth inquiry, rs to whether the
market company has failed to comply with any
or all the conditions of its charter, and If so,
whether the same should not be repealed, the
| company answers that 1t has complied in good
filth with all the requirements OF its charter
| and of the subsequent acts OF Congress relative
thereto, and that its charter ought not to be
repealed; nor should any action hostile to its
interests be taken which would inure to the
private interests Of complaining Dealers who
have, from tho commencement OF the enter
prise, without cause, sought to embarrass the
company by useless litigation and numerous
and expensive investigations before commit
tees of the District Legislature and Congress,
for the sole purpose Of fishing up evidence to
be used in private suits, which have been and
now are pending in the courts, and to embar-
rass aud break down company which has re-
placed the old and unsightly market sheds so
long disgrace to the capital of the nation,
with the most magnificent, spacious, conven-
lent, and expensive retail market buildings in
the country.
10. To the last inquiry and suggestions con-
, tanned in the resolution the company answers
, that it surrendered the front part Of the land
included In its charter to the District govern
ment, in pursuance of the contract made I'M
der the provisions incorporated in the def
cheney appropriation act of March 3, 1873, I'M
der the terms Of agreement with and transfer
to the District government, heretofore cited
, and made part Of this answer.
I The company being advised by its attorneys,
and fully believing at the time, that the fol-
lowing language in the abovc.named amend
ment to the deficiency appropriation bill, TO-
b. wit: "And the Governor and Board of Public
=. Works are authorized, If they deem it advisa-
7 BILE for that purpose, TO make arrangements to
i secure sufficient land fronting on Pennsylvania
4 and Louisiana avenues, between Seventh and
!. Ninth Streets" is description of the front
+ land to be transferred TO the District suiii.
i GENTLY accurate to authorize such a convey
@ ance of the same was made by the market
c company, especially as there was no other land
c fronting on Pennsylvania and Louisiana ave
!, nues between Seventh and Ninth streets, while
the debate in the House Of Representatives
h during the time that this provision was under
:. consideration clearly demonstrates that it was
Q well understood that the act authorized the
q transfer of the land on the front of the market
+ lot, originally designed in tho charter us the
# site of a large building, suitable for n hotel
e and stores for ordinary business purposes. Tho
e company also respectfully refer to the answer
!. previously submitted showing the previou,
investigations made of the company and thu
II various litigatiOns in which 1t Is now involved
: and which II believes covers every substantial
d d point raised in this resolution.
7, In regard to asking the House for authority
q to send for persons and papers, it can hardl.
Q DO deemed necessary to invoke the power o
the House of Representatives, or TO incur cx
&c pense to inquire into the affairs of the mark