The Washington times., 1915-10-20
Charges of Mismanagement
Were Not Proved,

The act contained the following inn
portant provision:
THE board OF public works shall
have entire control OF and make all
regulations which they shall deem
necessary for keeping In repair the
streets. avenues. alleys. and sewers
OF the city, and all other works
which may be entrusted to their
charge by the legislative assembly or
Congress. They shall disburse. upon
their warrant all moneys appropri-
ated by the United States for the
District OF Columbia. or collected
from property holders In pursuance
OF law, for the Improvement Of
streets. avenues. alleys. and sewers;
and roads. and bridges. and shall
assess in such manner as shall be
prescribed by law. upon the property
adjoining. and to be specially bene-
fitted by the improvements authoriz-
ed by law and made by them
reasonable proportion Of the cost
OF improvement. not exceeding one,
be " collected as oil other taxes are
collected"
on January %, 1872. less than one
year after the passage Of this act. a
memorial. signed by 1000 taxpayers Of
the district: was presented rsu to The The
Board Of Public Works and other Of
ficials with extravaganza and misman-
agement. This memorial was referred
TO the Committee on the District OF
Columbia. The committee made an in
vcstigation, which resulted in major
ity and minority report III. r. Report
, No. ~. 42d Congress, ID session.. The
majority report was signed by H. II.
Starkweather. chairman. and six 9TH
er members OF the committee It held.
in substance. that while mistakes might
have been made by tho Board OF Pub
lie Works. the charges Of corruption.
misconduct. and serious mismanage-
ment had not been proved. And the
committee said:
"The governor and members Of the
board are. on the whole. entitled to
the favorable Judgment OF Congress.
and are to be commended for the
zeal. energy. and wisdom with
, which they have started the District
upon n new career OF Improvement
and prosperity; and the District It.
self IL entitled to fair and generous
appropriations from Congress. in
some manner corresponding to the
valuation Of the property owned by
the United States"
Early in 1874 another memorial, sign
ed by a number Of the leading citizens
| and property owners OF the District
charging the officers OF the Distric,
! government with unlawful conduct.
gross extravaganza: and mismanage.
Tlent, was TeltITeu 10 JOINT seleCt
, committee Of the Senate and House OF
Representatives. That committee con-
sisted OF Senators William r. Allison
| Allen q. Thurman. and William M
| Stewart. and Representatives Jeremiah
NJ Wilson. Jay A. Hubbell. Lyman X
Bass. II. J. Jewett. and Rober; lIamil.
| ton.
The committee held public hearings
! IN which the mcmHri',l!ats and the orrI.
GERS OF the District vrrr YcDre ocnt"d DS
| their respective counecl. on thn 10Th 81
June 1874. by report CScnutC EcDo =
No. 4j3, AID Congress. LIST session.. which
was Concurred in by all the members oil
the committee. II submitted bill
J abols shing the executive OF the District
the secretary. the legislative assembly
| and the board OF public works. The
committee stated in Its report that rs
| members had arrived at the conclusion
! that the existing form OF government
| OF the District was a failur,. mt thaI
| no remedy short OF its abolition nnt
| the substitution of simpler. moro re-,
| stricted and economical gove~rmcn,
would suffice. 1t, therefore. reported 3
! bill for temporary government. "unt:
| Congress shall have time to mature ant
! adopt a permanent form"