The Evening critic., 1882-03-02
The District Estimates and Expendi-

TO Mekditor Of the EeeHiRg Critic:
Only on one occasion have ever asked to be
present at a meeting of n Congressional com
mittee. On the 21st of January, 1881, by permit
ssion of Mr.. Cobb, chairman of the Subcommittee
On Appropriations, was present at meeting
Of said committee, briefly TO submit my oblec-
tons as a citizen to the peculiar system of
estimates of the District Commissioners, espe-
cally as to street improvements. Commits
sioner Morgan was present and insisted that
that was not the proper place for such objec-
tions, but that they should be submitted at the
office Of the District Commissioners. The next
morning, therefore, presented myself at the
Commissioners office for the purpose and was
promptly informed by Major Twining, in the
presence of Messrs. Dent and Morgan, that no
such complaints should be brought there and
that all such questions belonged to the Con-
gressional Committee that had accepted their
system. Mr.. Dent said did not understand
the matter at all, and Mr.. Morgan said moth
ing.
That very evening wrote TO said Board of
Commissioners restating some of the points 1
had submitted against their peculiar practice,
respectfully requesting an early reply, but
now, more than year thereafter, said letter
remains unanswered To enable them to
verify and yindicate their Judgment in the
matter, n copy thereof Will be cheerfully fur
nished for publication, If desired. And now
we are made to understand that we cannot
even be admitted into The presence of the Dis
trict Committee when in consultation on mat
tiers especially and vitality affecting the inter
ests and the rights of our people. speak
patiently and advisedly and desire TO be held
strictly responsible for every statement.
The act providing permanent form Of gov.
ernment for the District OF Columbia, approved
June IL, 1878, expressly provides that "the
said Commissioners shall submit to the Secre
tary OF the Treasury annually, for
| showing in detail the work proposed TO be un-
| dertaken by them during the fiscal year next
| ensuing and the estimated cost thereof"
Hitherto this plain requirement OF the law has
| been entirely Ignored and disregarded, but in
their estimate for the next fiscal year, there is
an apparent recognition of the existence OF
en- n pannfplmlnf nlfhnn0h "a a. n
| the Treasury admits 1t "does not meet this
requirement OF the law"
| The Commissioners schedule of work neces-
| sary for repairs and improvements OF streets,
| avenues and roads in the District January 1,
| 1882, amounts TO 81, 5S2, ,562.65, Out Of these
| "necessaIy" improvements, however, they
| select and submit "schedule of streets re-
quiring Immediate attention." amounting
| with the error OF their footings corrocted-to
a SPECIFIC appropriation Of SIG, 1880 more
| to widen and improve the Fourteenth-stree
road beyond the boundary-in al 1872.
Of s361, SO for the improvement and re
| pair OF streets for the next fiscal year, II
appears evident that "the work proposed &c
be undertaken by them during the fiscal yeai
next ensuing" Is all embraced In their afore
said estimates, aggregating 1872, 2,607.60.
OF this amount the Commissioners propose
| u expend more than two hundred and ninety
| thousand dollars ($200,OO0) In the northwes
quarter OF the City and its suburbs, aud onl,
four and a-half thou usand (S4, 300 In the north
even this small pittance is all for North Capt
tol street. east Of which not a single penny 4
TO be expended. This large expenditure 70
"streets requiring immediate attention" Il
| the northwest, is not merely nor mainly 70
the replacement of wood payements.
also includes the Improvement OF Seventeenth
and Eighteenth streets, from Q street {
Boundary, and and 3, and U and streets
from sixteenth street 10 Boundary, and W stree
from Fourteenth street 10 Boundary, portion
of which are 10 be opened through a swami
over which the track OF carriage was neYe
| made and ON which no building ever stood
This very sparsely settled outskirt for tn
immediate Improvement of which there
such pressing necessity, Is about two an
a-half miles from the Capitol, In the extrem
northwestern part OF the city. At the SAN
time, and d streets south, crossing III
meridian Of the Capitol within two on thrt
squares therefrom, are impossible for carrias
or footman, and the next seven parallel street
II not absolutely impossible, are In no cond
tton for travel. For nearly mile south of Il
Capitol every street crossing Its meridian, b
one, remains unimproved and even n
| graded and that one-B street-is OF stet
grade and largely occupied by street raj
road. Still not one of these streets is 1
cluded in the said Commissioners ''schedu
OF streets requiring immediate attention
''This may be sport to them, but II is dea
| 10 u.s." Respectfully,
March j, 1882. $. q. CLARKE