Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-16
The District in Congress.


commissioners to appoint, upon the reconmen-
dation OF the superintendent OF the Metro
politan police OF the District, 800 additional
prtvates on the Metropolitan police force, for
the period OF twenty days from the Goth Ut Feb
ruary. 1881, VINO shall be paid So for each days
service rendered by them in that capacity; AMI
sum sufflcieut for their payment ana equip
ment is hereby appropriated out OF any money
In the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
PROTECTION OF FISH AND GAME.
Senator Harris today offered an amendment
TO the District appropriation bill to appropriate
s3,eoe for the purchase and fitting up of a steam
launch to be used In facilitating the enforce
Dent of the laws for the protection OF fish and
game and for other river duty.
THE FREE BRIDGE BILL.
The committee OF conference OF tue two
houses on the free bridge bill have reached an
agreement. In substance it is that brld e
shall be erected at cost OF ST. 900 On the piers
OF the present A9ueduct bridge; that for the
purpose OF establishing free bridge and in
lieu OF erecting the bridge provided for in the
preceding section, the Secretary of War may In
his discretion purchase the Aqueduct bridge
now crossing the Potomac river at George
town; provided said bridge, with all the appUr-
tenances. rights and franchises, tncluting piers
and real estate for abuuments ana apprOacneS
can be purchased for sum not exceeding
Ss5 600, which sum or so much thereon as NAV
be necessary may be paid out OF tue money ao-
proDriated by this act; provided further that
good and sufficient title thereto can be
secured to the United States, to be approved
by the Attorney General of the United States:
Ii is further provided that the Alexandria Canal
Company or its present lesseeS shall have the
right TO maintain, at their own cost and eX-
peDse, canal aqueducJ of the same width and
depth as the one now In use, and TO attach 1t to
or suspend 1t from said briGge; and whenever
permanent bridge Shall be erected upon said
site the same Shall be Of sufficient strength to
sustain the weight OF such canal aqueducJ: but
the construction, attachment and maintenance
OF such aqueduct Shall be such as the Secretary
OF War NAY determine, and shall be without
cost to the United States or the District OF Co.
lumbia- And 1t is further provided that If upon
the erection OF such permanent bridge the said
canal company Or their present leSSeeS shall
reject OF refuse to reconstruct secure and attach
the said aqueduct at their own expense. CT IL at
any time, for the space OF six months, they shall!
fall to use such aqueducJ for the purposes OF
canal. or fall TO keep the same in good condt-
tlon and repair, or IL at any time they shall use
the same for other than canal purposes its les
sees and assigns in said bridge and property
Shall cease and determine. and the said a1uaducr
shall be detached and removed by the Secretary
OF War.
WHAT THE BRIDGE COMPANY WANT.
The question has been asked what the aque.
Duct bridge company want for their property
should it be converted into free bridge. A
STAR reporter made the inquiry to-day OF an
o1llcer or the company and received the follow
bridge company consented after lengthy negoti-
atiOns thOughinvoving great loss to Jhemseiv.5
was this: For S1OO, 900 they would grant to the
United States the right to perpetuaily maintain
free bridge over the piers on condition that
the canal was not to oe inteHered with, but
that the bridge was to be made strong enough
10 support the trough OF the canal For the
maintenance OF the trough the United States
was, however, never hereafter to be subjected
TO any expense whatever. and that the free use
OF the piers for free bridge was never to De
hindered or interfered with by the use of steam,
or In any manner whatever. The present
bridge structure vas to be conveyed to the
UDiie0 States and at once made free The title
TO the United States was to be made satisfactory
TO the Secretary OF War;
THE EIGHT PER CENT. CERTIFICATES.
In yesterdays STAR we published the full
text Of the bill reported to the House from the
District committee by Mr. Neal to refund II.
outstanding per cent. certificates OF taa =
trict OF Columbia. The following is the report
which accompanied the bill:
1.-The Committee for the District OF Columbia
TO whom was referred the bill Is. l65I) II pro
vide for funding the S per cent. improvem.nt
certificates OF the District of Columbia replr-
as fol0WS:-That they have carefully cOnai Ter q
the said Dill, and have come to the conclusion
that the same ought not to pass for the reason
that 1t IS not sdvisable to further increase the
funded debt of the District of Columbia in aay
instance where 1t Is not absolutely necessary
In this case it is not necessary, because progis-
ion can be made for this species OF indeo edness
IN temporary way, which leaves it suostan-
TALLY In the control OF the proper authorities.
What are known as the IS per cent. certificates
were issued by the late Board OF Public Works
under authority or law conferred upon said
DGaTd by the Legislative Assembly OF the said
District OF Columbia The Forty first Congress
OF the United States passed an act, approved
February q, 1871, entitled AN act to provide
government for the District OF Columbia and
among other things provided ia section 81 OF
said act for board OF public works to be ap-
pointed by the President OF the United States
for the performance OF specific duties In said
To have the entire control Of and make all
regulations that they shall deem necessary for
keeping IN repair, the streets, avenues, alleys,
ana sewers or the city and all other works which
may be entrusted to their charge by the legIs-
lative assembly or Congress. TO disburse upon
their warrant all moneys. appropriated by the
United States, or the District OF Columbia or
collected from property holders In pursuance
OF law. for the Improvement of streets, avenues,
alleys and sewers, and roads and bridges; and
snail assess IN such manner as shall be pre-
scr1Ded by law, upon the property adjoining,
and to be especially benefited by the improve
ments authorized by law, and made by them. a
reasonable proportion Of the cost OF the i'm
pToVement, not ex exceed1ng One-third OF such
cost, which sum shall be collected as all otner
taxes are collected.
Section IS of said act provides that these
Officers shall be paid by the United States
Tney were, therefore. in every respect federal
officers, and were amenable O1lEy to the govern.
ment OF The United States. The people OF the
District OF Columbia had no control over them
and were powerless to restrain them In the ex-
erclso OF the power and authority conferred
upon them Dy law. Under authority OF law,
and In exact conformity herewith the
board OF public works issued these eight per
centum certificates and upon them received
the money they purported to represent with
which they prosecuted the vast system of i'm
provementS which have made Washington the
magnificent city 1t now is, as respects its streets
avenues and pubic grounds. That this money
was extrayagantly expended In many Instances
does not effect the principle involved In the
provisions OF the bill submitted as a substitute
for the Senate bill Under the provisions OF the
act OF the legislative assembly Of the District OF
Columbia approved May 20, 1873, the said board
OF public works were ''auuhoriZed to issue and
to use solely In the discharge OF outstanding
obligations certificates OF Indebtedness for work
done under the direction OF the board and
chargeaDle TO the private property benefited
thereby, Ia denominations OF nfty dollars or any
multiple OF that sum, dated July /, 1873, payable
10 bearer, With interest, Semi.annualiy from
July l, 1913, at the rate Of S per centum
not exceeding S2,O00,000 and not exceeding the
amount chargeable to private property for
WORK done or In progress OF execution under
existing contracts, and payable, not exceeding
one-hfth of said sum- at the end OF each year
from July !, 1873"
The assessment certificates for special I'm
proVements were to bear 10 per cent interest
and were to be deposited with the sinking fund
per cent certlflcates. The amount OF these
per cent certificates now outstanding with ac-
crued interest, Is now about 100000, aud toe
special assessment certificates originally
pledged for their redemption amount to
81, 26S, OOO which, with accrued interest at 10
per cent, would now foot up over 81, 900, 900,
amply SufHcient to redeem all the outstanding