Case: JOB BARNARD, Administrator of Robert H. Ryan, v. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Abbreviation: Barnard ex rel. Ryan v. District of Columbia
Decision Date: 1888-05-14
Docket Number: 
Citation: 23 Ct. Cl. 505
Volume: 23
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: JOB BARNARD, Administrator of Robert H. Ryan, v. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Judges: 
Pages: 505–505

Head Matter:
JOB BARNARD, Administrator of Robert H. Ryan, v. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
(20 C. Cls. R., 127; 127 U. S. R., 409.)
On the claimant's Appeal.
An express contract provides for grading and excavating a designated street at a specified price per yard. An entry on the journal of the Board of Public Works designates a higher price for “ roelc excavation.” The contractor is paid the contract price; his administrator seeks to recover the other.
The court below decides:
(1) It is well settled that an entry on the journal of tlio Board of Public Works establishing prices could not control an express contract subsequently made.
(2) Where the District of Columbia seeks to recover back money paid for contract work, the burden is on it to show that a certain deduction ordered by its engineer should have been enforced by its auditor.
(3) Au overpayment allowed by the board of audit may be recovered back.
The judgment of the court below is affirmed on the same grounds.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Field
delivered Ihe opinion of the Supreme Court May 14, 1888.