National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-21
ON THE AVENUE.


I'VE have been treated very badly by the
government. Our land was condemned and
our houses pulled down, 50 that We have been
compelled to find homes elsewhere. We filed
our claims in duo form months ago, and each
one of us was compelled to furnish an abstract
of tito and all tho evidence necessary to
sustain our right to convey tho property.
Well these papers were transmitted by the
attorney general to the United States attor-
ney for the district for examination and veri-
fcation, and now in the press of other bust
ness this work is either laid aside or
given so little attention that it will
be year before we got our money. The
district attorney insists that tho chain Of
transfers of title shall be traced back to the
days of tho Calvert grant, and l believe the
one man placed on the work has made score
of trips TO Rockville. So. Mary's, and Balti-
more to see If their land stands oil straight
from the grant Of Charles / to the present
time. We are all poor and need this money
to provide homes for our families, and it
would BIO simple act of justice on the part
of tho attorney general to take some action
looking to pushing our claims to a settle
ment."
For real, genuine, confding, open-hearted
trustfulness," said the colonel, II reckon
bran new congressman can't no outdono.
and he gave tho name of his town, but I'm
not going to give it toFyou. l was not ac-
quainted with him, but we were riding UP the
avenue on the same car. The car was full
and when it stopped to let on lady and gen.
tleman up jumped Mr.. Congressman to give
the lady q seat. noticed that the lady had a
Washington guidebook in her hand and they
seemed to be visitors to the capital.
The congressman evidently noticed
the same thing, for he Immediately
began conversation with the
strange gentleman. The first thing he did
was to backcap the city as if it were the worst
place in the country. He said it had no de-
cent stores no business no enterprise, no any
thing, except lot of government paupers.
Then he told the man who he was and where
he came from; said this was his first term,
and told what he expected to do; talked over
the tariff matter and Morrison's bill, and in
formed tho stranger how he was going to vote
upon it. When ! left the car he was begin
ming to toll that stranger about his family,
how many children he had, and how old they
were. presume before he got to the capitol
he had informed the stranger how many
pieces of clothing he sent to the laundry
every week. He was very confding man"
~,
In communication of considerable length
~. II. c." makes q few points against the
police department. One reason for the in
efficiency of the department he finds in the
fact that its chief, man without experience
in police matters, was appointed to his place
by Commissioner Edmonds "for political
reasons" He further remarks that Maj. Dye
would do we'll to change his detectives and
set the new ones to looks after "crooks" in
stead of policy and pokor games. "There is
doubtless moro money for the district" he
suggestively adds, sin raiding these games
than in looking after crooks, but we are pay
ing a tax to have our property protected, and
when it is stolen we want the services of
Maj. Dyes officers to recover it,"
o'r. 4~e
Communications criticising tho district
commissioners for opposing the bill intro
duced in congress giving citizens the right to
| sue in the court of claims for damages to
JUBlT pTOUGTty Cbubtu ny btIcoO
are frequent and very long. In considera-
BILE roll of manuscript Square Deal" states
that the present commissioners are trying
ito defeat legislation which their predeces-
sors, in reports to the president, have
annually referred to as necessary to provide
for the adjustment of class of meritorious
outstanding claims" Square Deal" fur
| Their states that "the commissioners
willfully misrepresent the history of the
claims legislation and assume to be true that
which they have intelligence enough to
know is false" He says that the board OF
audit was abolished because of payments
made to contractors in violation of law and
not because of its action in regard to these
claims. He states that he Is now paying
taxes to pay bonds issued to settle his neigh
boris claim for damages, and does not think
his neighbor can now object to paying his
claim of precisely the same character. He
suggests the appointment or election Of
'honest, able citizens" in place of tho present
comm ssioners.
In another large roll of manuscript upon
tho same subject "R" writes that the com.
missioners should mind their own business
that their office is executive, and that they
are much out of place in attempting to influ-
ence legislation. "The persons claiming
damages for INJURIES" he says, merely ask
that their claims be heard by competen
court. If they have no valid claim the tria
will be at claimants expense. The counse
for the district is the proper person to maxi
an argument when the claims are before thu
court. The duty of the commissioners is t.
execute the law, not to argue for or agains
claims" ar" makes the claim that the re
grading of the streets was done without an.
valid authority, since municipality pos
sesses no power beyond that given in it
charter and the charter of the district doe
not give it the power to regrade streets.
s"@
Hon. John G. New arrived hero last even
ing from the west. He says that all tn
arrangements for the accommodation of tn
national republican convention, which will
meet in Chicago on June g, have about BEEF
completed. Quarters have been secured 70
the delegates, and the work of preparing tn
exposition building for the occupancy of tn
convention will have been completed within
week or so. There will be no difficulty Il
visitors securing ample hotel accommoda
tions as tho various hostelries arc arrangin
to increase their capacity to point that will
enable them to readily care for all who ma
visit Chicago during the session of the tw
conventions.
30
IT don't understand" said the observin
citiyan ,O,ow tbat aama yirtuous con0rne