The morning times., 1897-02-04
CONTRACTORS OLD CLAIMS.
These Dating from the Shepherd
Era Under Discussion.
THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
An Intimation by Mr.. Pitney That
Senate Report Was Tampered
With-The Total Demand Grows
From $4,000 to ST, 400, ,OOO-The
District Committee in 1t.

The House yesterday afternoon decided
to reconsider the subject OF paying the
claims to contractors who did work for
the Old board OF public works under the
Shepherd regime. and now say they have
| never been fully paid. There seems to be a
wide diversity Of opinion as TO how much
these demands viii amount to-
lt was decided in the closing days of the
Fifty-third Congress to send them to the
court of claims for adjustment with the
understanding that the total amount
wanted was about $4,000. 1t is alleged
now that TINS was a gross misrepresenta-
tlon' and that the law was amended in
the Senate 1t the last moment in such a
way as to make it practically mandatory
Tor the court OF claims to direct payment.
An effort is being made to repeal this
law by an amendment to the District an
preparation bill. In the course of debate
Mr.. Pitney. charged trickery in the Senate
report on The bill in 1895
Ihe matter came up on report from the
committee on rules by Mr.. H. Henderson
admitting Mr.. Dockery's amendment which
was ruled out on point of order Tuesday
afternoon. This amendment in a few words
repeats the act of February 13, $50 send
ing these claims to the court of claims.
MIR. Meredith at once attacked the re-
port with much earnestness. He said in
correct statements had been made regard
ing the matter when it came up the day
before. The District Committee had a bill
before il in regard to the same matter and
IL was not proper TO take it out OF their
hands. The amount involved had been put
at more than million dollars by persons
advocating the repeal. He was assured it
would not exceed 100000, and this would
be shown at the hearing before the Dis
trict Committee this morning.
He supposedthe Committee on Rules would
be satisfied when they saw the District
Committee taking care of the subject, as
was its province. He opposed this way Of
repeating law by bringing in a rule. He
was sure Chairman Babcock, if present,
would take the position that the subject
ought to be left TO their committee
Mr.. Richardson, also from the committee,
said the essential point OF his assertion
Tuesday was true; neither the Commits
sioners nor any one else was pressing the
to bring in rule in this way to secure
the repeal OF a measure under considera-
tion by its proper committee. 1t was treat
ing the District Committee very cavalierlv.
The bill that became law in 1895 was
reported by Judge Cobb, OF Alabama, a
careful and conscientious legislator, and
be could not think it subject to the grave
charges against it.
MIR. Mcmillan said that under the old
rules the amendment, having the object
TO reduce expenditures, would have been
in order The motion now coming by unan-
imouS vote from the Committee on Rules
only proposed to restore that condition
He remembered when the bill was passed
whose repeal was now sought, it was stated
that the amount involved was only S75-
900. He was now Informed that the
amount piled up against the District was
81 100000. The question, however, was
not upon the allowance of these claims
but whether the House should, while on
the appropriation bill, discuss the pro-
posed repeal Their action need not in
terfere with the hearing by the District
Committee.
Judge Sayre said he objected to the
consideration OF the bill which was now
attacked when it came before the Fifty
third Congress, but was assured that it
carried only $4,000, and had the ap-
proval OF the District Commissioners. He
was now assured that the Commissioners
had never approved it.
Mr.. Meredith replied that he did not
wish to criticise any committee, but the
Committee on Appropriations had consti-
suited itself n guardian of the Treasury
and often did great injustice to citizens
IL 1t was right to pass this bill to pay
$4,000 OF these claims, it was right
TO pass it for a much larger sum. if
properly proved. The board of public
works had fixed the price On contracts
ana number OF contractors had thrown
up work as unprofitable Additional pay
was offered by the board and work was
resumed. The added amount had been
paid in many cases. Furthermore, citi-
Zens whose property was affected had
paid for the improvement at the advanced
rates.
Mr.. Pitney said the original bill had been
got through without proper examination.
An amendment had been slipped in on the
Senate side, making ineffective safeguards
put upon the measure at the suggestion of
had purr ortcd to give the views of the Com
missioners, hut had omitted the most es-
Sential features of their communication
do you charge that against me?'' asked
Mr.. Meredith, who had not card clearly
Il charge it against nobody,'' was the
reply. Il simply say it was done somehow
in the Senate handling of the measure
Messrs. Iockery and Bailey both spoke
vigorously against the claims and in favor
Of allowing the amendment repeating the
law. The former said the purpose was
simply to get action on the matter this
Congress. it was getting too late for an
Independent bill. The claims had been re-
Ported adversely by Representative Burton
in the Fifty-first Congress and by Senator
Mcmillan in the Fifty second. He was sure
the mount would be found to be 81 AGO.
00O
In my Judgment" he concluded, 'sno
more unjust, ineGuitable claim challenged
the attention Of Congress-
Mr.. Bailey favored such an unusual pro-
cecding, as proposed, only because he was
persuaded it was the only way to protect
the District from grossly unjust demands
The vote to allow the amendment was
passed with very few dissenting votes
BRIDGE BURNERS PENSIO rs.
a Favorable Report for S12 Month
Made to the House.
The House Committee on Invalid Pen
sions yesterday reported favorably the bill