Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-07
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
The Annual MeetiAE at Foundry
Church.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR, ETC.
There was large attendance at the annual
mSetlng OF the Associated Charities held at
the Foundry church last evening District Com
missioner E1monds presided During the evening
MIS- Nellie s. McCartee sang several selections and
MI WIN. X. Cohen performed an organ voluntary.
The general secretary, Mr. L. S Emery. submitted
Ms report, which gave sketch OF the operations OF
the society, and said that it Is estimated that since
The charities were organized street begging has
been reduced about fifty per cent
statement OF collections contributions. dis
OlfsenentS, ETC., by subdivisions embodied in
the report giving the following totals: Aided 655
families; individuals aided SCI, given emplovment-
50, furnished transportation, 8; contributions re-
cttIen. S39is 2l expenditures. s315i15 balance,
slb4 10. total number of members 7y7
KEY. William A. Bartlett, OF the New York ave-
nue. Presbyterian church, delivered theAnnual adj
dress, which was very eloquent discourse on
Shari'y, taking the ground that the system now
being carried into eject in this city offered solr-
uon OF the great problem OF psuperisn.
The treasurer, NJ g. Emery: reported that the
amount received by him since January 4. 1882
sSai4S1; expended, 90 Ia 70
M. Martha A. Shell read an Interesting paper
C Concerning systematic charity, giving the views
ana experience OF those engaged In such work In
Mrs sara A. spencer read a paper giving a report
OF Tie proceedings OF the tenth annual conference
OF he National Association OF Charities recently
he'd ID Louisville, Ky.
business session of the society was then held
Soomons referred TO tue fact that there had been
some friction which he considered a gratifying
sign as it showed that people were interested In
cheney of the general secretary, and said 1t had
been agreed by number OF members that he
sicud De relieved or part OF his artluOuS labOrS
10y the employment OF an assistant secretary. Mr..
L. :. Emery was then nominated general secre-
tary by Mr. Enoch Totten. or Brother Totten,'
he was styled by one VI Ills fellow plianthrOpiStS-
A motion was made to have Mr. Soomons cast
the Da hot OF the society for Nj. Emery. Mrs.
Spencer objected to proceeding in that way and
Il.
said he did not know OF any dissatisfaction with
Mr. Emery that amounted To nything In point OF
The motion tnsructing Mr.. Solomons to cast the
vote for Mr.. Emery was then carried
himself as treasurer.
Mrs Spencer said satirically that this was the
hrst time the association had seen MIR. Emery for
eighteen months and she nominated Mr.. A. s.
Pratt.
Brother Totten observed that 1t was not neces-
sary for Mr.. Emery to attend these meetings The
duty OF the treasurer was to honor their checks
When drawn upon him, and MI. Emery was the
Mr. Pratt declined the nomination and Mr. Emery
was then elected without opposition. The Old board
OF directors was reelected. follows A. s. Solo
A. ": GangeWer, DR. X: b. Donaldson, Hon NJ. G.
Emery, John +. Cook f. B. Barnum, A. S. Pratt, 3.
pickman Mann Thomas }. Losler, Mrs. NJ. A. Smell,
MiS a L. Barber, MIS- sara A. Spencer, Rev. DR..
"ynAoop and c. E. Foster:
The Ten Per Cent Guarantee Fund.
THE RECENT LETTER OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO CON-
TROLLER LAWRENCE
Following Is the text Of the letter Of the District
commissioners, mentioned in THE STAR which
drew from Controller Lawrence the statement that
he agreed with the views OF the Commissioners in
regard to retaining the ten per cent guarantee fund
from the pay OF the avenue pavement contractors;
that he had SO ruled, but his ruling had been sub
Sequently reversed by the acting controller of
Which action through some oversight the Commits
sioners had not been notified:
OFFICE OF THE CoAAlssioNERs, DISTRICT OF Co.
LtaBiA, W ASHINOfoS. November =. 1883.
Hon. william Laurence, First Controller, q. S.
Treasury:
Sr:-ln answer to a letter Of the 18th ultmo from
lhe Acting First Controller calling attention to
ciaim No 1890 in favor nj II. L. Crawford and J.. s.
flDrrt: amounting TO 81 3i2 so for repairs to con
eitte pavement lad by the Baiiey-FTerch Paving
company. but not kept In repair required by the
terms OF The contract, ana asking what action If
any, had Deen taken TO recover the bond of The
falling contractor tie amount due because or his
1ilure to fulnll the terms OF his contract the com
nis>i0ners have to say that suit against the bond
was ordered 10y Them May 18th, 1882 and is now
pending
In this connection the Commissioners feel obliged
TO record their emphatic protest against the action
oH WIllc ti'e security Of the ten per centun guar
ahi't PROVIDED ny law 10 meet the very emergency
That has arisen in this has become lost to the.
District. This action was taken without consulting
reported the failure Of the company To fuilI their
contract. and after they had requested the suspen
sion or interest payments on the bonds in which
the guarantee fund was invested. II appears to
have heeh based on opinion by the acting first
controller to the effect that the amount of the
guarantee had been Illegally withheld; yet he now
admits Iii the letter before the Commissioners that
the contractor was required by his contract to keep
the pavement Ia repair. Wherein then was the
1ilegality OF retaining and investing the ten per
cent designed 10 secure the fuinent Of this obi
cation?
AS the matter now stands, the recovery to the
District OF tie amount due from the Bailey French
paving company Il. e., ID. w. Bailey Is made to de-
pend entirely upon the very uncertain prospects, of
coilecI1ng II on the bond-eSpecially uncertain be-
cause the bond was contingent under the contract
upon the fact that retain Of ten per cent was to
be Invested and held to meet the very obligation
now In question. Bailey himself Is dead
The commissioners maintain that under the law
theirs Is the responsibility to retain and Invest the
lunn III question, and that without their sanction 1t
cannot, with any propf1ety whatever, be assigned,
through the action OF the courts.
ms expression or the Commissioners views is
necessary FOR the reason that the treasurer OF the
United States now holds. and at the time OF deliy-
erlng the amount withheld on the Bailey contract
ulu noin, amounts retained On several other con-
tracts Tor precisely the same class OF work and in
Votving precisely The same principles TO DISPOSE
Oh THESE sums as was done In the case Of the Bailev-
French paving company. is clearly fnincal to the
interests or the District well as to those of the
pit!eS VINO became SuTetieS thu bond OF the con-
tractors with the understanding that this 10 per
cent Woud be held available to 1efra$ the cost OF
sich repairs as the contractors might be required
but fall To make. Very respectfully,
tSlsned! JAS. B. EDMoSDs, President.
The Evolution of Man.
MAJOR POWELL DISCUSSES THE SUBJECT BEFORE THE
METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY,"