Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-15

ADOPTED Albert ii DoWel was then elected
emo ling cierS. Frederick Douglass T. zen nom
mated Joseph 3. Weems as serges' E Alarms.
carried. Henry ". Lee was then e.fected ms
sen ger TO the board. A''
m officers elected then cam q for ward to the
clerks desk, and were sworn IN by District At
to-ney Fisher.
Mr:Guliek offered a cor. pilat on of
which the clerk proce rr,ed In Rad Tbernle,
d sigi a C the tollOwi' ~
STAND SO COMMITTEES
70, 70, Dc aRp9interl On National Relations,
~, Eailroads md Canals, Gas Lights, Drain lse
sewerage AID Distribution OF Water, Police,
heath, Asy lum and Charities, Claims, Schools
Geor get Jwn and County Affairs, Printing. En-!
crosse. and Errolled Bills, wharves, Rules,
ana Unfinished Business. The rules were
Air. Brown offered resolution that
COMMITTEE OF TWO
be appoin ted to wait upon the House of Dele
gates and inform that body that the Council is
organized and re ldy to proceed to business, and
that the same committee in connection with
such committee as the House OF Delegates NAV
ap pp1 %ast upon n, ms ms. e1celency Henry D.
him that the assembly is organized, and ready
to receive any communication he may have to
make adopted. The chair appointed Messrs.
Brown and Gro "a the committee and a recess
was taken until the committee were ready to
report.
Mr. Brown, from the committee to wait on tn.
Governor, reported that they had performed
that duty, and the Governor would send them a
communication in writing. The me- age OF the
Governor was shortly afterwards received, and
The CLERK proceeded to read it as follows:
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the Council and House of Delegates of the Dis.
trict of Columbia:
The act of Congres ~ entitled, can act to pro-
yidea government for the District OF Caium-
the trst election OF the members of the House
fDele gates shall be held within sixty DAYS from
the passage OF the act; and that the Governor
SHAH convene the Leg .slat.ve Assembly at such
time and pl1ce within the District as he shall
appoint and direct. The earliest prac,.c lbe
day ior holding the election was design tied by
receive the powers and duties devolving nj On
1t by reason OF the expiration of the old govern
mems. The act of Congress provides that "the
charters of the cities of Washington and George
town ehall be repealed on and after the fret day
Of june, A. ID. 1871, and all effices OF said cor
por ations abolished at that date;' and that "the
Levy Court of the District of Columbia and ali
officers connected Herewith shall be abolished
on and after aid first day of June, A. ID. 1911"
1t is, therefore, imperat that provision be
N ide for the cation of offices and the appoint
rest OF officers to perform the functions ey-
piring with the several corporations superse led
by the territorial organization.
Certain general laws also are demanded to
carly into effect the provisions OF said act of
Congress recognizing the government of the
District Of Columbia. This work of prepara-
expiration OF the existing municipal and county
governments, and 1t is respectfully reroIn-
menGed that you do not enter upon special local
legtlation until such legislation is rendered alb
solttely necessary by the extinction OF all other
legislative authority in the District.
Among the more important questions which
Will require your serious consideration are: The
hnancisl condition, the internal improvements
the schools, the SAINT ry regulations, the system
OF titles and cor ecti N, and the revision and
dying OF the laws OF the District.
THE TuR DrsrpyCr
The financial condition of the District will i'm
meCiately emand Jour attention. The amount
o. the inde btedness OF Washington city cannot
now he accurately stated, As the floating debt of
the city embraces not only its ascertained liza
biities, but its liabilities growing out of CON
tracts for streets, sewerage. and other improve
ments, some OF which contracts are only par
italy executed, and payments upon them have
only been partially made. The funded debt OF
Georgetown will not exceed 900, and that
city has no floating debt. Its financial affairs
have been admirably managed, and records OF
all contracts for street improvements and other
expenditures. as well as OF all receipts, have
been satisfactorily kept.
he indebtedness Of the county is inconsidera-
bic, but its precise amount can not at present
be ascertained. Upon the expiration of the sew
era, governments OF the District nal state
ma 1T of their total Indebtedness will be necessa
~. in order that provision may be made for the
a 5ustment and payment Of the same in accord
The funded debt of Washington CITY, Includ-
ing certificates OF indebtedness, is stated by the
City Register to be S2,O99, l2i22 The City
Auditor reports the amount Of the funded debt
sa,o5s ,Gs9s3. This discrepancy is probably &C.
pntation OF the interest account. The
reasons already given, cannot now b ascer
tained with any degree OF accuracy. In this
debt are included the liabilities Of the city,
for improvements, the total amount OF which
cannot at present, with the means of informa-
ton within reach, be even approximately ascer-
No tfvn0t AA
that this floating debt will amount to 81 900 900,
but II Is believed that this estimate will not
cover the actual amount. In view OF this UNI
certainty it is impossible with any safety to
make specific Recommendations In relation
thereto. Proper measures reaching the whole
oase, can only be perfected upon full informs
and Of the indebtedness to accrue from existing
contracts. When this information Is procured,
the first re qusite will be to provide for the set
Ths ne.t sten sal hs anu 1ds scc.1ng liabilities
expenses OF the government Of the District, and
for further needed improvements, and to deter
by direct taxation, and the amount to be pro
vided by the proceeds of funded loan.
In order that you may leeislste intelligibly
upon this subject, it lie respectfully recon-
mended that commission be authorized ana
empowered to ascertain and audit all cut
ttaLdIrg claims against the several govern
submitted to the Legislature Tor the liquida-
ton OF funding Of the same, and for the crea-
tloE OF such bonded debt NAV be deemed
neceSlry. 1t is further recommended that
provision be made for the organization of a
Board OF Sinking Fund Commissioners whose
duty ii shall be to control and manage The
cebt OF the District under such rules and reou.
lations as may be provided by law. Hayink
thus made provision, by a systematic and
thorough plan, Tor the settlement of the in
Gebtedness OF the outgoing governments,
which plan should be matured as speedily As
possible. there should be prompt legislation.
covering the immediate wants Of the new
government. The necessity for this leQ station
is urge Mt, and as the simplest method of meeting
this necessity is suggested that the LIST day OF
july be Designated as the commencement OF the
ts;al year. Tho assessments hayine Already
been made In the cities and county, there In 70
goo q reason Why the tax levy for the current
year should not be made, 20 that il viii be due
and payable ON the LIST day Of July. Meanwhile,
In view Of the fact that the new government
succeeds to an empty treasury, authority should
De given to anticipate the revenue, and to nepo-
'iaie temporary loan based thereon FOR ench
amount Is may be deemed necessary to cover
curfent expenses for the Intervening time.
Il for the Legislature to determine what
ON GERS are necessary for the assessment and
collection OF the general revenues Of the Dis
triet, and to prescribe the checks and guards
both In receiving and diGbursnR the public
moneys, together with the manner in which the
accounts relsting thereto shall be kept. Tho
receipts OF the government Of the city OF w ash
fngton from general taxation are, in round
MN m N