National Republican., 1880-04-20
The meeting thon adjourned,
4 REPLY TO JVPN1N.
Tho Commissioners Write "A Sharp Letter.
The District Commissioners have sent the
following to Assistant Treasurer Wyman

following to Assistant Treasurer Wyman
OFFICE or THE COMMISSIONERS or THR
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
WASHINGTON, April IL 1850.
Hon. 4. u Uymdn, Assistam Treasurer u s.:
SIR The Commissioners acknowledge the ro-
ccipt of your letter of 7h April, transmitting copy
of your letter of instructions TO Mr.. George W.
Beol aud also your letter of lith April on the
same subject.
In answer thereto they deny tho authority of the
Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer OF tho United
States to instruct direct Mr.. George W Beall or
any other clerk or subordinate in the Office of the
Commissioners, in relation to the sinking fund or
any other subject.
The Commissioners are advised that tho duties
and powers which, by the seventh section ofthe act
OF llth juno 1873 We're transferred the Treasurer
OF the United States constitute personal and on
cial trust which is doubtful whether he can del
egate and that the Assistant Treasurer, as such,
has therefore no authority whatever in connection
with tho District sinking fuud. His relations
thereto, If any, are purely clerical.
They are further advised that the fifth section of
the net of the Legislative Assembly of the 18th OF
May 1873 was virtually repealed by tho second
section Of the act Of June 20, 1874, which gnvo to
| the then Commissioners of the District power to
Hpplythe taxes ana other revenues OF said Dis
trCt among other objects. to tho payment of
the debts of said District secured by Il pledge OF
the securities of sNd District or board Of public
works as collateral" ETC., and directed them Tor
that purpose to lake possession and supervision
of all the offices, books, papers records moneys,
credits, securities assets and accounts belonging
or npperRning to the business Interests of the
government of the District Of Columbia and Board
Fund Commissioners which was continued BY
the seventh section OF this act was not excepted
from this general control and supervision by
tho Commissioners Of the District. BY the
third section of the act of 18th of June, 1873
the present Board Of Commissioners succeeded
to all the powers aud duties Of their predeccs.
sors and trustees under the law for the holders
of tax-licn certificates 1t is their duty to collect the
special assessments levied for Improvements of
streets and alleys, and apply them TO the payment
of tGx-licn certificates in the mode prescribed by
law. The TrGa urer Of the United States, holder
of certain taN-licn certificates, Is entitled 10 de-
mand aud receive from the Commissioners all col
lec,iOus made on account of such certificates,
well MS oil lien certificates which, by law they are
required TO issue and deposit with them. Beyond
THIS he has no authority in tho premises.
But even II this tilh section, on which tho Treas.
urer relies for the authority now claimed be still
In force. IL was never intended TO Interfere with
the control of the District authorities the col
lection OF special taxes but only 10 secure the ap-
poatiOn of the funds so collected TO tho payment
Of the eight per cont certificates, Nor can II over
ride or nullify tho plain requirements OF law of
BY the acts of 10th June 1878 and 27th June,
1879, the Commissioners are directed, in certain
cases to issue drawback certificates, and to receive
such certificates In payment OF az special assess.
ments. IN accordance with these acts large mum
ber of such drawbacks have been issued, and the
Commissioners are advised that they have been
properly and legally issued, and that II is their
duty under the law to receive them In payment of
al special assessments including those for which
the Treasurer, "a Sinking Fund Commissioner holds
certificates. And they deny the authority of the
Treasurer tO instruct the clerk, charged by the
Commissioners with tine collection Of these assess.
ments, to disOhey these laws, or 10 pass upon the
legality Of their acts, or to intermGddlo In any
other way with the business aud duties Of the Com
missoners.
They have therefore instructed Mr. Beall to rec
Oguize no communication from tho Treasurer or
Assistant Treasurer unless sent through the Com
missoucrs. and to receive IN payment Of all special
assessments as required by law, drawback certin-
Gates issued by tho Commissioners. lie has also
been instructed in future not 70 transmit TO the
Treasurer the certificates thus received but to trans.
nit only schedules Of such certificates certified by
the Commissioners
IT, heretofore the Commissioners have forborne
70 complain OF these iucrlurcnCes by the Treasurer,
Il Is only because they desired Onv1id controversy
But the issue has now been forced upon them.
liy order of the board; Very respectfully,
tsgnedl ]. DEST, President