Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-05
ALEX ANDRIA, VA.
TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1874.

TUE DISTRICT GovERNMENT.-ln the Sen
ate. Yesterday, in view of recent developments
and the failure of the present system Mr.
Stewart, of Nevada, introduced bill to pro-
vide for the resumption by Congress OF the leg
islstiye powers delegated to the District OF 20
lumbia. The bill purports to be modelled on
bill prepared by Senator Morrill,, of Name
several wears since, and is accepted as full nc
tice that the present authorities regard change
in the form Of government inevitable.
The bill provides that five commissioners shall
he amounted by the President and confirmed by
the Senate, who shall perform the duties ano
exercise the powers specified, and shall receive
the compensation of $4,000 each for their entre
services, and shall be known as the COMMISSION
ers for the Adjustment of the Affairs OF tne LIS
trict of Columbia. 1t shall be the duty OF the
com mission to advertise for all claims OF every
name and nature against the District and the
cities of Washington and Georgetown; to regis
ter and classify all such claims; to examine ana
approve or disapprove such claims; to ascertain
all existing contracts, condition OF the Work un-
der each, the amount paid and to be PAID, 10
settle with such contractors when their contracts
shall have been completed, and to pay them, or
give them such evidence of their indebtedness
as they would be entitled to under their con-
tract to examine the laws under which each
class of indebtedness has been incurred, and re-
port their opinion as to the validity OF such
laws to examine the relation between the Gov
eminent of the United States and the District OF
Columbia, with view of ascertaining what pro-
portion of the existing Indebtedness is fairly
chargeable to the United States, and what ought
to be raised by taxation upon the property OF
the District; and, also, what proportion each
ought to pay in the future; to ascertain what
claims ought to be paid out of the assets OF the
District government and the revenues Of the
current year, and recommend the same to the
proper officers of the District for payment; to
classify the various funds that ought to be set
apart for the support and maintenance OF the
different branches of the District government
and to assign to each its due proportion OF the
revenue; to examine the various modes of as
sessment and taxation which have been adopted
with q view of remedying any injustice or inc
quality that may have occurred; to prepare
bill for the consideration of Congress which
shall provide for the funding of all existing In
debtedness and all Indebtedness that may arise
from existing contracts, and also for the estsb-
lishment of the just relations between the Dis
trict of Columbia and the United States, and
the proportions which should be paid by each
for the maintenance of the District government
and the improvement of the District, together
with such other matters as they may deem ne
cessary for the establishment of just, economi-
cal, aud efficient government for the District,
and for reasonable improvements therein, and to
make full report of their proceedings to the
next session of Congress.