Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-06
EWERSANDSTREETS
Il
Il III
The Board Of Trade Replies to the
Knights Of Labor.
THE WHOLE -.GRDOND GONE OVER
Without the Issue of Bonds Moth
ing Can Be Done.
HELP FOR LABORING MEN

in the rooms OF the board to listen TO the
report prepared by r. Ross Perry for the
special committee appointed to consider
the objections made by a delegation repre-
senting the District Assembly, Knights of
Labor, to the proposed issue of bonds for
city improvements. There were present B.
II. Warner c. c. Glover, John 3. Wight,
r. Ross Perry, Samuel Ross, Thos. w.
Smith, o. G. Staples, VIM. A. Wimsatt, s.
W. Woodward, Theodore W. Noyes, Fred
erick L. Moore, George T. Dunlop, James
NJ Johnston, Thomas Someryille and
Henry A. Willard. Mr.. Perry presented
careful and exhaustive consideration Of
the opposition made to the bond issue.
Reply to the Knights of Labor.
The reply which was addressed to Messrs.
w. H. G. Simmons, Paul T. Bowen and NJ.
f. Hobbs delegation from District, Assem-
bly, 66, knights of Labor, said:
The directors of the Washington board
Of trade have carefully considered your
communication of January 3D. and submit
the following suggestions in connection
with the important questions discussed by
you:
At the outset you say that 1.-The labor
organizations are in favor of most of the
ostensible objects of the bond bill" The
main objects of the bond bill are four:
!. To proceed as soon as practicable with
the work of continuing the system of
trunk sewers, at cost not to exceed
81, 100000
.. To proceed with the work of complet-
ing a system of sewage disposal and pro-
lection against floods, in accordance with
the plans recommended by the congress
slonal board of sanitary engineers, at a
cost not to exceed $i,35oGOO.
j. To eXpend not exceeding 81, 100000 in
carrying out the provisions of the act Of
Congress of March ,, 1893, authorizing the
laying out of a system of highways in The
county.
~. pop
grading and curbng all unimproved streets
in Washington and Georgetown, and in i'm
proving streets, roads and highways in
the District including the necessary
bridges and culverts.
Ali of these objects come within the
strict meaning of the term, local improve
States has said OH U. s., p. 7oD: TT is
not open to doubt that it is in the power
of the state to require local improvements
to be made which are essential to the
health and PROSPERITY of any community
within it's borders. To this end 1t may
provide for the construction of canals. for
draining marshy thd malarious districts,
and of levees toprevent foundations as
we'll as for the Opening of streets in cities
and of roads in tfietcountry."
The courts. both national and state, have
always upheld the POWER of the legislature
to authorize municipalities to issue bonds,
with or without the approval of a popular
vote of the citizens of those municipalities
g Wallace. D. 33t9irin aid of the construc
through their corporate limits, upon the
theory that the benefit to result from such
construction camef within the definition of
a public local benefit, All of the objects
proposed to be accomplished by the bond
bill are such as have been uniformly rec
ognized by courts, legislatures and writer's
upon municipal law and policy proper
subjects of legislation and Of municipal
care.
The necessity for the present making of
each of the four specified improvements is
| che ,,aI,rc nlH- Inv fhn nf no
committee on the District of Columbia (Re-
port No. 1917, Fifty-third Congress. second
SESSION., accompanying the bond bill Oh. K.
1910. This report we request you to read
attentvely, for we are persuaded that 1t
will remove from your minds what we
deem misapprehensions with respect to this
BILL
The conclusions of the report referred to,
showing the great need for the speedy COM
pletion of the proposed sewer system, and
the desirability of Immediately providing
for street extension on comprehensive
plan are briefly summarized. The report
then continues.
No Way but by Issue of Bonds.
We trust that what we have said thus
far--at, perhaps, unnecessary length-will
convince you that all of the improvements
provided for by the bond bill are not only
proper and urgent, but that they must be
made together in pursuance of one COM
prehenslve, harmonious plan, and that the
present is the time of all others for their
execution. How shall they be paid for2
| Upon this point the District committee
| says:
1.-THE cost of the work provided for in
| this bill, together with the condition of
| the public treasury, preclude the possibility
| ton. so that, whether the work be au..
| thorized now or hereafter, an issue of
bonds must be the means provided for rails
| ing the money. The condition of the money
rot tst foXrn h1n ar a
| Again, this committee says: 1T Is only
| fair and just that bonds should be issued.
| as the Improvement is for the benefit or
| future generations.
AS pertinent to this point, we ask your
attention to the following extract from the
| annual report of the mayor of Philadel-
| phia, Pa for the year 1883: "There was
| great amount of money expended In lS'l3,
completing many mucn-needed permanent
| improvements which the welfare and
| progress Of our city demanded should no
| longer be delayed 1t is Impossible to pro-
| cure from current taxation, at the present
rate the money necessary to continue these
| works, which will be a benefit not only to
| the present alton, but also still
| greater benefit to the generations to come,
| and 1t is, therefore, in my Judgment, good
| financial policy to adopt the same course
pursued by all well-regulated and success
| full orporationS--create loans, the pro-
| ceeds of which shall be expended in such
work, it being but equitable that the future
| generations should be compelled to bear
|
The report gave statement or bondS IS
| sued by many of the large cities Of the
country, showing, that the issue of bonds
by municipal corporations, to provide for
| public work of permanent nature, Is COM
mon. The loans referred to were made In
| several cases to coSer the construction of
sewers or drainage systems
| objections Considered.
1--WE come nowys TO consider your objec-
| lions to the bond bill, and we will refer to
them in the order in which you place
| them. ~
| l. You oppose public debts. That ma
ton, a state, municipality. an individual
| is justified economically in mourning a
| debt would seem to be beyond question.
| Many man has only been able to acquire
| a home for himself and family by going
| into debt. If his yearly income enables
| him to pay his current expenses, ana yet
| leaves surplus sufficient to meet interest
| upon his debt and some annual payment
| in reduction of the principal, no one can
| question the prudence and good judgment
| shown by that man in buying his home by
| mourning debt for it's purchase money.
| If you consider the business operations
| of this country and of England you Will
| be astoniShed to find the enormous pro-