The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-11
TEgE DssTRsCT NOSE OUT OF Tgui.
WOODS.

We recall, as pleasant reading a this
particular lunclule, the editorial remark of
o cotcmporary-intc to be especially
severe on us that only five newspapers
could be found in the country that disap-
proved, to put it mildly, of the promotion
of Alexander II. Shepherd to the position
of territorial governor of the District of
Columbia. The result has proved that we,
and the four Others that planted themselves
on the same position, were right. Indeed,
nothing hut the most intense partsanship
could have prevented anyone, who kept
himself informed upon current topics, from
seeing that it was the worst possible ap-
pointment that could have been made.
Aside from sworn testimony and the exact
coIruptions in the district government !;
the complete surrender of the government
to the control of ring of which Shep-
herd was the head and front, the eXtraya-
CANT and fraudulent expenditures of the
board of public works were rs well known
then as they are to-day. Had the press
spoken then according TO their knowledge
many thousands of dollars might have been
saved to the taxpayers Of the district as
well as to the United States for we all are
compelled to help pay for these fraudu-
lent expenditures and these so-caled i'm
provements in Washington and much of
shame and disgrace spared to the country.
50 grave were the charges, and supported,
as they were, by the most influential citi-
zens and largest tax payers of the district,
| that Congress, ON assembling ordered an
| investigation into the affairs of the district
OF the details of this investigation and tho
facts proven before the committee. we have
kept our readers informed and it is, conse
Quently, unnecessary to retcr to them again
They have now finished their labors an(
| find that all the charges made were sub
| stantiallY true, and, therefore, have report
cd bill aholishing the territorial govern
mcnt and repeating all laws providing fo
the different boards or departments thereof
In its stead, it is provided that the Presi
dent, by and with the consent of the Sen
ate shall appoint three commissioners wilt
shall exercise all the duties now impose,
upon or vested in the territorial governmen
except, we presume, the legislative de
paItment which will be exercised by Con
gress rs il was before the territorial GOV
ernment came into existence. Under th
direction OF the commission an engince
officer OF the army is to have the care o
streets, bridges, etc, and Of their repair
The bill, also, imposes. and provides for tn
collection Of a tax Of three per cent on tn
property in Washington, two and hal
per cent in Georgetown. and two per cen
in the county, the tax to he payable on til
first day Of November, and Onc-fourth q
it is for the reimbursement of the Unite
States for money advanced, and to NAL.
good the funds that have not received the
share Of the taxes, aud the remainder to /
applied for the payment of the current @,
penses of the district
The commission is not intended 10 |
. permanent but is only to govern and mat
age the district and its affairs until pla
for its future government can he devise
, and perfected, TO that end, Il committC
Of two senators and two representatives,
to be appointed, to sit during the recess an
report on the first day Of the next scssc
of congress. If the committee had failt
! to find single fact, if they should NAL
, no report whatever, the fact that the
place the government of the district und
Il commission during the next six month
because lhey dare not trust the territori
| government, is more damning to Govern,
E Shepherd and his ring than the stronge
3 language of condemnation, they could us
would be. And the committee are N
2 alone in their fears, as all advices fro
Washington state that the bill will
5 promptly passed by large majority
G both houses Of Congress. In the mea
{ while, to settle up the affairs of the prese
3 miscalled government, the first and secoi
c comptrolers of the national treasury a
| to audit the accounts, and for this purpo
+ they ARE to have access to all books al
/. papers of the district and board of pub
p works, all bank books, etc, to subpG
t witnesses, and employ expert accountant
n to audit all kinds of Indebtedness of {
n district government in all its branches, al