Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-19
THE NEW DISTRICT GOVERNMENT
Final Passage of the Bill.
ITS Provisions I'm Fall.

in the Senate yesterday afternoon, Mr.
Allison Red up the bill providing a new
| form OF government tor the District of Co.
lumbis. and said, the bill was the result of
| the most careful COZ s:deratlOn by the com
| Mittee, and had passed the House almost unan-
.mousiy. He hoped the bill would be passed
| without ameLdm
| Mr. Window moved an amendment apprl
prlaing S250,00 for the purpose OF psyisE the
| COIkingmen employed on the public works uu
G,r the control of tue Board or Public Works
! but withdrew the Amendment on the statement
| of Mr.. Allison that the committee had recon
M Ddt d an appropriation Of ons million dollars
| Mr.. Sargent moved TO amend the second sec
| ton by presiding that one of the three commits
sioneIs shall be designated as president Of the
| comuision, To be styled the governor.
| Mr.. Allison said there was no necessity what
| ever for thi,; that the commission was only to
he a ten porary affair.
| MIR. Thurman safd the only object of this
| amendment seemed TO be TO create a dignity
| fer some one. Ii wss hoped that the President
| would appoint three honest, careful, sensible
| men 10 this ommission; men who would not
| care tor any such title a. governor. The great
object now should be to lift the District out of
| It's present distress. What was wanted was
| simple, honest men, who would look after the
| Interests OF the people, and care nothing for
| titles. 1ho governor never ought to have been
me mber OF any OF these boards. Tn, object of
| this commission was TO audit the accounts of
| this District, accounts which had not been au
| dited for three years, or from the beginning OF
the present government. The accounts OF none
with the other.
Mr. Hamlin conceded to the select committee
all the ability and industry which they deserved,
| but be indicated thst he did not think the bill
| covered everything. He thought some provision
| should have been made for the funding of the
| floating debt In regard to the temporary char
acter Of the new government, it M ht last for
year or two, SLo therefore he thought the
aEenGm, LIT of Mr. Sar gent was a proper one,
nd be would vote for II.
The an endmeIt was rejected-ayes IL, NAYS
Sc, the alternatives being Messrs. BOgy, Clay
| ton, CT nc yer, Hanlin, Kelly, Mitchell, Nor
rill, (Mel Oglesby, Patterson, Sargent, Win
Mir. Sargent moved An amendment to the
sixth section, striking cue that portion provi-
ding that the First and Second Comptrollers of
the Treasury shall constitute board of audit,
and providing that the Secretary of the Treas
NY shall designate three OF his 81 oordinates 10
cor stltute the boari of audit.
MIR. Allison said the committee lad carefully
considered this matter, and were satisfied that
the two officers mentioned were the proper ones
pected that they would do the details OF the
work mainly through subordinates, but the hon.
esty and efficiency Of these officers was so well
known that there was no danger that they would
put their signatures to anything which they did
not know To he right.
Mr. Sargent said too much was lett to the
subOrdinates and no restriction was placed upon
them.
Tie amendment Of Mr.. Sargent was rejected,
receiving only four votes.
The bill was then passed without ans ndment.
The ELI as Passed.
AS the bill will 10 doubt receive the Presi-
dents signature and become a law, We print its
Provisions in fun as il finally passed both
Houses, including tie amendments made on
motion Of Mr.. Wilson in the House providing
tor report TO Congress 10y the commissioners,
&c:
BILL for the government of The District OF Co
lumbia. and tor ether purposes.
Be ii enacted, dc, That all provisions or law
providing for al ext cutIFe, for a secretary for
be a a
Board OF Public Works, for Delegate in Con-
gTess in the District OF Columbia are hereby
repealed: PvOriaed That this repeal sh all not
feet the tenn OF Office OF the present Delegate
II Congress.
See. 2. That the President OF the United
States, by aud with the advice and consent of
The Senate, is hereby author. Zed to appoint a
commission, consisting of three persons, who
shall, until Otherwise provided by law, exercise
ali tie over ard authority row lawfully vested
in the Governor and Board OF Public Works of
AID District, except as hereinafter limited; and
hail be snhjv CT TO all the restrictions and lin
'tatoDs Low imposed by law on said Governor
or boafG; and shall have power to apply the
faNes or other revenues OF said District to the
pay ut al the current expenses thereof, to the
support OF the pubic schools, the fire depart
mel and the police, and TO the payment of the
cebts Of said District secured by pledge of
the securities Of said District or Board of Pub
lie Ncrks as collateral, and also to the payment
Of GcDtS due 10 laborers and employees OF the
Dikhict and Board OF Public Works; and for
that purpose shall take possession and super
vision OF all the Cfices, books, papers, records,
moneys, credits, securities, assets, ana accounts
belonging or appertsinng te the business or in
terests Of the government Of the District OF Co
| lumbia and the Board Of Public Works, and
| exercise the power and authority aforesaid; but
| said commission, in the exercise or such Pc yer
| or authority, shall make no contract, nor incur
| any obligation other than such contracts and
obligations as may be necessary TO the faithful
| administration vf the valid laws enacted for
| the government of said District, to the execu-
| ton OF existing legal obligations and contracts,
aud the protection or preservation of improve
| ments existing, or commenced and not COM
pleted, at the time of the passage OF this act.
All taxes heretofore lawfully assessed and due
| or to become due shall be collected pursuant to
| law, except as herein otherwise provided; but
| said commiss oners shall have no power 10 an
| ticipate taxes by sale or hypothecation of any
| such taxes, or evidence thereof: Pro, tied, Plat
| nothing in this clause contained shall affect
| any provisions or law authorizing or requiring
a del osit OF Certificates OF Assessment with the
| sinking fund commissioners Of said District;
| and said commissioners are hereby au
| thorized to abolish any Office, To con-
| sol1date two or moro offices, reduce
| the number OF employees, remove from
office, and make appointments to any office su-
| thoTiZed by law; and the compensation OF all
| officers and employees, except teachers in the
public schools aid officers and employees in the
| centum per annum. SAID commissioners shall
each, before entering upon the discharge or his
duties, take an oath 10 support the constitution
OF the United States and TO faithfully discharge
theedutes imposed upon him by law; and shall
each give bond in the penal sum of fifty thous-
and dollars, TO be approved by the Secretary of
| the Treasury, for the faithful discharge OF the
duties OF his ofice and shall each receive for his
sci vices compensation at the rate OF 1--WE thous-
and dollars per annum: PrOrided, That nothing
IN this act shall be construed 10 abate or In any
wise interfere 18th any suit pending in favor Of
or against the District of Columbia: AMI pro
CtdedJ UrtkeT, That in suits hereafter commenced
against the District of Columbia, process may
be served on any one of said commissioners,
until otherwise provided by Law.
Sec 3. That the President of the United
States shall detail an officer Of the Engineer
Corps Of the Army of the United States, who
sbalI, subject to the general supervision and
direction OF the said board OF commissioners,
have the control and charge Of the work OF re-
Pair and Improvement of all streets, avenues,
alleye, sewers, roads, and bridges OF the District
OF Columbia; and he Is hereby vested with all
the power and authority Of, aud shall perform
the duties heretofore devolved upon, the chief
engineer Of the Board OF Public Works. He
shall take possession Of, and preserve and keep,
all the instruments pertaining to said ce, aud
All the maps, charts, surveys, books, records.
and papers relating to said District, or TO any OF
the avenues, streets, slleys. public spaces
squares, lots and buildings thereon, sewers, or
any OF them, Us are now in or belonging to the
ofhce OF said engineer OF the Board OF Public
Works, and shalj, In books provided for that
purpose, keep and preserve the records now re-
quTed TO be kept, and such as nav be REQUIRED
IN NfTnl Lava a t.r.A>