Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-27

case, whether or not they support the
half-and-half plan. I feel that I should
mittee to aid in the elaboration Of the
case. If l were representing a client I
would not be at liberty to do SO, nor to
present condolences; and l would be
liable to disbarment were I to do so.'
A phase of the relationship between
the United States and the District of
Columbia not touched upon hitherto
was preached by Nj Worthington.
cepting the Mayes report on the mil
lion-dollar back interest claimed to be
due on the 1855 bonds:
The resolution which required the
District to pay back this money was
based on the work of two accountants
named Mayes. and there was no hear
ing or publicity given to their work.
They reported that in 1876 and 1877 two
sums of 100000 each had been loaned
the District by the United States for
the purpose of paying interest on the
365 bonds. The report was made to the
House. which was indignant that We
had taken SO much money and had not
repaid It,"
Mr.. Worthington said that the joint
select committee was authorized to eX-
anime into the funded debt of the Dis
trict and that the S.6o bonds repre-
scented that debt, and threw out the
sponsible for the interest on the bonds
then it was responsible for the whole
issue.
Refers to Early Days.
In order to show just what the
bonds were he went into a history of
the District. showing the need for
great expenditures of money in order
to make decent, livable city in the
early days.
"WaShington was disgrace" he
said. II have lived here fifty years
and know whereof I speak. The streets
were unpaved and great feature of
the city was the clouds of dust.
ferrous; we had but one little line of
cars, and in winter those cars were
heated merely by a foot of straw
strewn on the car floors.
system. for. In fact, we had none.
Those who condemn the board Of pub
lie works Of that early day of recon-
struction should also remember that
the board did great work. And there
should be no blame attached to the
citizens of the District for not doing
better, inasmuch as the reason was to
be found in the extraordinary man
ner in which the city was laid out.
Inc government saw 1t should take
Georgetown. Washington and the coun-
" were wiped out and a territorial
government established. The board of
PUBIC works was inaugurated. and 1t
went to work under the direction Of
Gov. Shepherd, sometimes called Boss
Shepherd. 1t started ON a broad scale
and within short time petition was
circulated and presented to Congress
gaining attention to the fact that great
debts were being piled up. i have seen
signed this petition presented to Con-
gress: The House committee on the
District Of Columbia investigated and
reported that all was well and that the
work should go ahead. The work of
Improvement went on and the debts
piled up. Later a joint select commit
tee of the two houses Of Congress in
Vestlgated and found extravagances, but
cautiously refrained from attaching
any criminal blame to any one: and the
under which these 365 bonds were au-
thorized."
Abolished Existing Government.
This act, Mr.. Worthington pointed
out. not only authorized tie issue of
these $50 bonds, but also abolished
the local government as it then existed
and created a joint select committee of
afterward known as the Nor
rill committee. to repor. to Congress
at it's next session the proportion of
the Districts expenses which should be
borne by the federal government and
by the District.
He read from this act language show
ing that the bonds should be free from
all taxation, and the faith of the
United States is hereby pledged that
by proportionate appropriations" as
contemplated in the act. a sinking fund
should be created to pay off the bonds.
the funds should be provided for the
payment Of the interest on the bonds.
Mr.. Worthington read from the sun
days later than the act creating the
1855 bonds, in which provision was
made for the District expenditures and
for the payment OF interest and so
forth on the funded debt Of the Dis
trict to the extent of about S1,o03,00o.
these appropriations were to be con-
sidered and adjusted between the fed
erai government and the District &C
cording to the proportion to be decided
by Congress following the report OF
the Morrill, committee.
He quoted. too, from the same act,
showing that $4,000 had been appro-
priated to defray the expenses of the
board of health of che District for the
fiscal year 1875. and the District Com
were directed to Apply ss2.-
900 Of the District revenues raised by
taxation to the same purpose.
Here was the half-and-half plan, al
ready" said Mr.. Worthington. He then
showed how the federal government
had appropriated two-thirds Of the
amount for the police here and the
District was to pay the other third.
Government Intent to Split Expense.
From message to Congress by
President Grant, when 1t assembled at
the next session following the creation
of the Morrill, committee and the 3.65
per cent bonds, Mr.. Worthington quoted
statements showing clearly that 1t was
the Presidents understanding that the
federal government was to pay its ap-
Of the as bonds and the
interest thereon.
THE first interest on these bonds" he
said. FELL due February /, 1875. 1t
amounted to 1882. 900. All the bonds had
not been issued at that time. On that
viding $4,000 out Of the federal
Treasury to pay the interest on these
bonds. and the language Of that act
was to the effect that this sum was to
be adjusted later between the District
and the federal government according
to the proportion agreed upon by Con-
gress, after the joint select committee
had reported"
Mr.. Worthington said that it might
well be argued by the citizens of the
District that the federal government
should have paid the entire principal
and interest on the 1858 bonds because
the citizens of the District had nothing
to do with the creation Of the debts
the bonds were issued to pay. but those
debts had been contracted by the board
of public works. which was responsible