Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-16
DISTRICT OF COLUKBIA.

DISTRICT UF COL hDI1.
The following is the report submitted by sena--
tor Morrill, OF Maine in support and explanation Of
the "bill for the better government of the District
of Columbia; -
The Joint Select Committee appointed by virtue
of the fifth section of an act approved June 20,
1874. having attentvely considered the subject
matter report
1t is believed that the purposes for which this
District was acquired will be best accomplished,
and the interests Of all connected with its growth
prosperity and destiny best subserved by the dI
rect exercise by Congress ofthe authority devolved
upon it. While the primary and permanent obi
CATION and duty is and will be to the National
Capital it may not be overlooked or forgotten
that the CAPITAL is the residence of many tens OF
thousands of American citizens, to be SUPPLEMENT-
ed in the progress and development OF the country
by other tens and hundreds of thousands, and
that independent of any question OF conhictpg
interest or authority, it Is so plain that as regards
expeuditures for the improvement and adornment
of the capital of great nation having at the same
time a proper respect to the convenience, PRIV
iIeges. and immunities of resident population
and of those connected with the administration OF
the Government, UNITY OF interest," must nc as
sured and it is belved may be accredited TO exist,
in that the general welfare would necessarily
seem to be included in the proper development OF
the design of the capital city. Inc demands loi
expenditures as indicated in the disposition CT us
avenues and streets and numerous squares, VIII
necessarily be upon a scale beyond what might
reasonably be imposed upon or drawn from TIE
resources of q business and resident population.
It has appeared to the Committee that this DIS,
trict, whose geographical limits scarcely exceed
the ordinary township, anomalous IN us acqulsir
ton and jurisdictional rights, having one Chief
and paramount public interest might not uniltiy
he treated as the Constitution plainly lmpnes ana
enjoins, as political unit, needing only harho
Nous system of laws and faithful administrator
thereof alike Indifferent to policies OF States or
parties. The fact that it is the nations capital
Justly inspires national pride in its welfare, WILL
as the years come and go, commend 1t 10 the So
icitous care of the representatives OF tue people
of all parties will make it, 1t IS to be hoped' that
common ground where the iervor OF pa.rlo 1 .ha
will rise above the zeal Of paltisanshlp, and the
laws, appropriations and appointments to once
will be made in relation to its real wants, ana
cease to be shaped by partisan aspirations or local
interests. The Committee recommend, as pest
calculated to avoid repetition Of the errors and
shortcomings of the past, and to promote the in
terests of all who are may be IN any way con
nected or associated with the National Captal III
the future, that Congress exercise that exclusive
legislation over the District with which IL Is IN
vested by the Constitution, and proviae ior eile
general superintendent of its affairs and the en-
forcement of the law through officers and agents
directly amenable to the supreme executive au
thority of the United States. AS to frame OF
Government, observing their instructions ana also
the constitutional limitations on the appointing
power, and having regard to proper efficiency OF
administration and of official responsibility, Tue
Committee have deemed it necessary to make tne
new government for the District department III
the Government of the United States, strictly Inn
tied to the affairs of said District. At the head OF
this department shall be Board of General Con-
troll designated Board Of Regents, OF three per-
sons, TO be appointed by the President and con-
firmed by the Senate, with certain tenure OF OIL
| fee and removable only for cause who are 10 ex-
ercise the chief executive authority, always acting
as public body, and with limited and defined
| powers Within this department and subject 10
its supervision are distinct subdivisions or bureaus
at the ead of each of which is Board OF Cooper
| alive Control whose duties and powers are also
Defined and whose dongs are open to proper IN
spection. These heads are appointed by the Re
| gents except as to the Board of Education, por-
| ton of tine members Of which to be elected by
the inhabitants, and except also the Bureau OF
Public Works, the head of which is to be detailed
by the President from the Engineer Corps of the
army have q certain tenure Of office, and are re-
| movable by the Regents for cause. They relate
to and embrace the entire civil service of the Dis
| trict except such falls under the Executive De-
| partments and the courts, and are denominated
| the Boards of Health, of Education of Police, of
Excise, of Public Works, Fire Board, of Build
| ings. So far relates to these branches OF the
service generally, the best methods of securing
efficiency and economy, and the principles involved
| are much the same as those prevailing in other
considerable American cities and those agencies
and methods have been adopted which experience
has shown to be most reliable elsewhere, with such
| additional provisions it is hoped will be found
efficacious and especially adapted to the peculiar
condition of the District.
I With the view of delivering Congress Of embar-
RAISING details of strictly municipal affairs, it has
| been thought desirable to present a framework
| of government that could be administered with as
infrequent appeals to its authority as the nature OF
| the case would allow. To accomplish this it was
necessary to confer sweeping, ill-defned, discre-
tionary authority, to enter into details as to the
| extent and manner of exercising authority, and
| accordingly the latter course has been adopted,
and the Committee trust will be found to have Sc
cured thereby desirable publicity of official &C
ton, certainty as to method, responsibility for
abuse efficiency in the public services, and protec-
ton to individual rights. Authority to make suit
able and necessary ordinances and regulations IN
harmony with the laws Of Congress, has been con-
ferred upon those charged with the executive ad-
| likely to require.
The Commissioners" of the District of Column
| ba are required to make, cause to be prepared,
suitable ordinances and regulations for the several
bureaus and also to cause to be prepared by suit
| able persons for transmission TO Congress at its
next session. such digest and revision of all ex-
isting laws as especially applicable to said Dis
trict and also to provide systematic code of pro-
cedure IN practice for the courts, and said Com
| missioners are required to prepare and submit to
the President, for transmission to Congress. de-
tailed estimate of the expenditures required for
the year ending June 80, 1876.