Evening star., 1898-11-30
Detailed Statement of District Re-
ceipts and Expenditures.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
Arranging Old Records and Chang
ing Disbursing Methods.
STATEN E n rs

Mr.. ]. T. Petty, auditor of the District,
today submitted to the Commissioners his
report of the operations of his department
for the year ended June 80, 1898, which is
as follows:
I have the honor to submit herewith in
series of exhibits report of the receipts
and expenditures of the District of Column
bia for the fiscal year which ended June 30,
1898, together with the balances remaining
severally at that date to the credit of the
general revenue account, the various trust
funds and the appropriations made by Con-
gress.
When the board of public works was legis-
lated out of office, June 90, 1874, it left as a
legacy to its successor in the municipal con-
troll of improvements a large indebtedness,
for the settlement of which board of au-
dit. consisting of the then first and second
controllers of the treasury, created
The awards of this board proving unsatis-
factory in a number of cases, it was sum-
mari1y abolished March IA, 1876. with no
provis Oh for completing its unfni he'd work.
Matters remained thus in allegiance until
the passage of the act of June 16, 1880,
which conferred jurisdiction upon the Court
of Claims for the adjustment of all out
standing claims against the board of pub
| lie works and the contemporary and next
| succeeding government of the District of
Columbia.
The consideration of claims presented un-
| der this act developed the fact that large
| proportion of the claimants had received
either from the board of public works or
from the board of audit or from both pay
ments at board rates" which We're in eX-
cess of their contract rates. and the Court
of Claims gave judgment in favor of the
District for counter claims to the amount Of
these excessive allowances. Not satisfied
with this verdict. claimants appealed to the
Supreme Court of the United States. but
We're again defeated, the decision of the
COuT, Of Claims was sustained.
Act Granting New Trials.
Failing thus to secure judicial sanction
Of these unearned drafts upon the public
treasury. they next sought congressional
approval. urging their suit from year to
year but in vain, until February 13, 1898,
when they compassed the passage Of an
act granting new trials in their cases and
making it mandatory upon the Court of
Claims in the rehearings TO allow them
board rates. notwithstanding the fact
that thes" rates were from 20 to 40 per
cent higher than the prices at which they
had agreed to work for the government,
and which were plainly written in their
contracts.
This legislative enormity held its place
upon the statute books for more than two
ears. until March =. 1891, when Congress,
awaking to a realization Of its utterly in
equitable requirements, repealed it by an
overwhelming vote and vacated all iudg-
ments rendered in accordance with its pro-
visions that had not already been paid. As
thl decisive action upon the issues involved
was only taken after frequent discussions
by the members of the several committees
of Congress, attorneys for the claimants
and representatives, of the District of CO.
lumbia it was reaSona BILE to hope hat it
might be accepted as a final settlement.
This "cOnsummatiOn'' SO "devoutly to be
wished was not realized, however. as at
the last session the measure was again in
trOduCed-Seuate bill 1871. House Of Repre-
sentatives ;}49, Fifty-fifth Congress- second
session-but this time, with the mandatory
clause requiring payment of the higher
board rates eliminated, and proViso in
lieu thereof inserted directing their allow
ance. If found to be reasonable, just and
equitable