National Republican., 1874-06-01

the body corporate for municipal purposes,
constituted by that name 10 the organic act,
with the powers Of . municipal corporation
not inconsistent with the Constitution, laws Of
the United States, and the provisions Of the
organic act. The District Of Columbia, mean
ing the municipal government BY that nams,
takes such powers only, with such coreiative
TO 1t in the act creating II, or, t tne most,
such powers a. are necessary To carry into
practical effect the authority expr essly granted
The thity-seventh section of the organic act
creates within the Territory, not as g subordi-
nate agency to the municipal body corporate
above named, Q Board Of Public Works, which
is given entire control of the streets, avenues,
alleys aud sewers of the city. It has been de-
cided by the Supreme Court Of the District Of
Columbia, in Bsrnes VS.. The District or Colum-
bia, and In other cases, that the municipal body
corporate, known as the District Of Columbia,
has, under the organic act, no control over the
avenues, streets, alleys aud sewers IN the Dis
trict, and no duty In respect to keeping them in
repair and that though the Board of Public
pal body corporate, It is not a subordinate
agency of the municipal corporation any more
than If created by a separate act.
The indebtedness of the Board Of Public
Works is, therefore, no portion OF the indebted
ness of the municipality called the District Of
Columbia.
This construction of the organic act 10 not
one imposed upon it by either the District or
the board. It is according to the express terms
of the statute, and has repeatedly received the
sanction of the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia, which Is q court of the United
States. ---... -
The answer of the Governor properly, there
fore, separates the liabilities of the District Of
Columbia and those of the Board Of Public
Works. '..--.---
The indebtedness, not of the lsster, but of
the former, together with that of the old cor
porations, Is 70 be considered, with regard to
the Limitations, to sic, 100000 prescribed by
the act of Congress Of May 8, 1872.
The bonded debt of the District of Columbia,
not including that of the Did corporations, as
stated on page ID of the Governors answer,
amounts to IS, ,527 $50. Temporary loans ne
gotiated by the District, as stated on page 25
of the Governors answer, amount to S410, 900,
making an aggregate of IS, ,9S7 $50. Deduct
from this SS15,9O being the amount of Dis
trict and other bonds on hand including those
hypothecated to secure the above mentioned
temporary loan, as stated on page IS of the
Governors answer, and there Is left, repre-
senting the true Indebtedness of the District Of
Columbia, not including the debt of the old
corporations, the sum Of IS, ,12l $50. The in
debtment of the old corporations, which, it is
to be remembered, was incurred before the
present District came into existence, Is found
on page % of the Governors answer, and
amounts to "a, $50, 1891 The aggregate debt
of the present municipal corporation, known as
the District of Columbia, and of the corpora
tions which preceded it, amounts to 9,472,-
139 81.
The amounts due to creditors on account of
current appropriations of the Legislative As
sembly, are payable out of appropriate funds
derived from taxes which will be ample, when
n aoa Ial&R 81,
count, and it would have been collected but for
the imperfect annual tax law. The appropria-
tions will lapse unless the revenue shall be
collected. 1t thus appears that the Limitation
fixed by act Congress to the indebtedness of
the municipality known as the District of Co
lumbia, including that of the old corporations,
has not been transgressed.
If, however, 1t shall be desired TO ascertain
the aggregate indebtedness of both the NUM-
cipal body corporate, called the District of Co
lumbia, and of the Board of Public Works, the
information is readily accessible upon the re-