National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-22

rupt and delay u.s. Whatever conclusion we
reach is indorscd upon the petition or commu-
nication and that paper is put back in the
basket on the secretarys desk. The reporters
get IL If they want it, and the decision is
usually published before the clerk gets IL
copied in his record"
Concerning the matter Of secret sessions,
tho reporter inquired why the commissioners
should not meet publicly as rule, just as
do the aldermen of any city.
Maj, Lydeckor replied that tho commits
sioners were not legislative body like q
common council, but were rather mayor with
three heads. Nobody would think of requir-
ing mayor to explain the processes of
thought by which ho arrived at certain
conclusion. The secret sessions Of the COM
mssoners were those in which they met to
agree upon action. The decision was always
made public.
Tho only legislative power which we
have" added Mai Lydocker "is in deciding
about hack stands, and there is the fullest
publicity about our action in that matter"
.-. We are merely the disbursing officers of
tb,,f, government" said Judge Edmonds. IF
VIC ~ Inappropriate any money it must be our
own I}at can't be the governments The pur-
vosa Gov Al ghich the money appropriated by
pOn,ro.s ;s fleN be used is settled by congress
,Tmst wb.t mar Of streets shall be improved is
decided by cong ress, ana congress even pro,
;f a. nnornnr;at;n NJ is not sufficient for all
,b.t 40" ya,ncd an only latitude,h in max.
ing up the recommend 49,. = 'S''na'.s Si' ~ " "
be submitted to cong 80; T. Lu'J ,' Srt sn".
any citizen has chancd1 ~ Si, 70 ntntu. h'se
estimates are printed lois, ,Ia na,',,, ;,,,
Gen. West said that .fH oh .iio i,SIon ,
ers bought hors9 for tx 80 S,,,S ,,. "nu p",u
for il out of the Contngdtn.s lS"u, uiio .p eo.np
troler of the treasury ns" .ne,r s ecrVn '.i9
and mde the commission H., y pS S "a a. ~ ..,tnt "ss
their own money. "Shom:e - -, @ S.'"'
we do ne. have control oy =" " 'Ni w" WI"
Thn romnr,or ,.,,od ~ le attention Of the
.....s,z1fiO.SS ain order issued by
,Sn,. pno ,S 80 IN which all officers
"a a,,,i,.s -, &c ~ a; fstr ct government are
ohihitaS -, g.; fshinR any information
relating to the Affairs ti ~ n',si, e. 80,
,n;ss;anS, w Ss ,,Sa, flded for by existing law
- sai, ,is ~ N - yJvidcd that this order
sbai, ~, nnsi;h;, kws bo given to the press
-, ,,a,tP - f n,t,Tic interest and concern
,,,han Iii, ,,thds; ed by the commissioners"
Gnn Wost .,a.Jed emphatically that the
ordor ,yos not ;ntet nded to keep any informa-
a., ,,n,.,,o - II the press, but that IL was
roaao naoossnr,, ~ the fact that certain EN-.
rinyo, b.d 80, partial. imperfect, and one
.fjaca H. cr6atia/ IA TO the treasury department
ond 90 connroSs; fonal committees, whereby the
cor, nniss;nnars Yhad been greatly embarrassed.
IL nod oiso yhappened that unauthorized
st.,ns'a,ta ~. n been made either by the tax
coiieo.or or assessor to citizens who had felt
,Lnn,soJ,.o, .1ggrieved when the commission. |
ors docii,od H., be bound by these statements. |
81 Jn.'t ?Jelieve," said Gen. West, that
,n, hoard ~ commissioners ever was or ever |
I'll, H. tular. 1t isn't in the nature Of |
thinnS tLpatF they should be. Nobody comes
~ tbis h., aiding except to secure some per-
.onai .Ssvantage. Nobody comes in behalf of |
~ n,ot pie. When a man don't get what he |
,.a,ts 'he goes away and curses the commits
sT;an.3rs. We stand here Tending off unjust |
snd unrightoous claims day after day, and of
g. trso we make enemies. We are trying to
-; I've this district the best government we can
sd we ought TO have the support of the
sEewspapers instead of abuse"
Gen. West spoke with considerable feeling
/ upon the subject and it was evident that ho
considered his as rather thankless task He
said that an attempt was now being made in
congress to make valid unjust claims
against the district amounting to $5000-
900 or more. If these claimants wereIsuccess-
ful it would prevent any further improve.
ments being made for years. and would still
further sink tho district into debt. He
thought the commissioners ought to have all
possible aid from the press and people in
fighting these claimants. He showed upon
his books where three great corporations had
merly were, making enemies Of them.
All the commissioners, declared themselves
as willing and desirous that everything
about their Office should be public. They
also insisted that their records and proceed
ings always had been public. In this respect
tbcre is much conflict between their state
ment and those of the reporters of various
newspapers who have been accustomed to 90
10 that Office for news.