The Evening critic., 1882-06-01

posItion for which nature and the founders of
The Capitol had designed It. Even Maryland
avenue, naturally one OF the finest streets In
the city. leading out northeastwardly directly
from the Capitol grounds, receives no atten-
tion whatever.
Although II is one of the greatest thorough
fares leading out OF the city, these Commits
sioners have never asked for penny Tor It's
And East Capitol street. stlii remains half
paved, retaining q large portion OF Its old,
rotten wood pavement, as do also several other
streets In lis vicinity.
contriycd to ovade the plain provisions OF the
law, already quoted, requiring them to submit
posed TO be undertaken by them during tho
nsca1 year next ensuing" &C., by presenting
large estimates for all parts of the city, out of
which they could mike the sectional selec-
For 1883, tho pending bill does not allow
them so large margin, but on their recon-
mendation Congress partially assumes tho re-
sponsibility of making a sectional appropria-
priation, practically to relieve the Commits.
sioners from further responsibility in the
matter. out OF the appropriation for 1879
the Commissioners seem to have expended
more than $4,000 on streets In
Open Violation of the Plaincst Pro.
visions of Law,
and now they seem to seek relief for them
selves and their suretfes In an appropriation
bill.
Under tho item OF improvements and Re-
pairs lines 2s to SO, the accounting officers
OF tho Treasury are to be authorized to credit
the Commissioners with the amount OF said
unlawful expenditures. In addition to the
general law, already quoted, requiring esti-
mates to be submitted showing In detail the
work to be undertaken by them, etc, the act
Of June 20, 1878, appropriated $1,250, 900 for
the general expenses of the District OF Colum-
bia, to be disbursed by the Commissioners of
said District for the purposes set forth In their
estimates Of January Fl, 1873, as amended
And the Deficiency Appropriation act for
1879, OF March 3, 1879, provides for an addi-
tional appropriation "for the fiscal year end-
ing June 80, 1879, and that all said appro-
priatlons shall be expended In accordance
with the estimates OF the Commissioners Of
said District approved by the Secretary of tho
In defiance Of these plain requirements of
the law, the Commissioners expended large
sums of money on streets not tven mentioned
In their estimates or submitted for the ap-
proval of the Secretary OF the Treasury and
for the improvement OF which there was no
peculiar necessity. OF this Illegal expendi-
ture more than 500, 900 was used on street
and West street, directly on the line OF travel
Between the Residences of Two of TIL g
Commissioners,
for granite-block pavement, costing S2.15
If relief from liability for such misapplica-
tion Of funds is to be obtained in the guise OF
an appropriation, when shall we reach the end
of such
Misgovernment for This Impovcr-
ishcd District.
in which the people are practically voiceless
and helplessp In conclusion, your attention
is respectfully invited to the note appended by
the Secretary OF the Treasury on page 173 of
the Book of Estimates with reference to this
schedule for street Improvements for 1888,
now under consideration by your committee,
in which, referring to the law on the subject,
the Secretary says: f-l.I lff
''The schedule submitted with the estimates
(Appendix T. page 265,) does net meet the
requirement of the law"
By change of tho pending bill from line
| 90 to 33 inclusive the important suggestions
of the Honorable Secretary's said note might,
| apparently, be easily accomplished. \" ot
| which is very respectfully submitted.
s. @. CLARKE.
Washington, D. c., May 30, 1882.