National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-06

uE1srs u the sane e1nraetef that may be put
Dy bringing their reports that have been
pstAted and abstracts ffom their books they
can Be enab3ed to answer definitely these ques-
lions, and those Of similar character, that
may be psi to them. ] have also to request
that sone Of the gentlemen Of the city govern
ment viii, II they can conveniently, furnish us
with tN0 or three copies Of the laws that have
been passed by the Legislative Assembly. There
Is but one copy that We have been able to find
in the Senate document library. The law re-
quiees, think, that two copies shall Be: trans
naiseed to each branch Of Congress. think
that ID the law.
Mr.. Harrington. TIE law requires that four
copies shall be transmitted to each House, and
will state, Mr.. Chairman, that had the
pleasure i Of sendjpg four copies up here 10 ODE
Mr.. Stanton. will state also that when I
was secretary had the same pleasure sent
up four copies. We will take pleasure In fur
nishing the committee with copies.
The Chairman. The District Committee in
each House Of Congress deeire, of course, two
or three copies, and those copies that were sent
to the committees disappeared In some way.
We had great deal of trouble in finding the
one that Il on our table, and we wN be Obliged
| to you, gentlemen, If you will furnish US with
copies OF those laws.
say 1 placed copy in the Congressional Il.
brary. That was not required By the organic
act; but l voluntarily did 80. furnished It to
the librarian.
The Chairman. simply mentioned the fact
'that we had great deal Of trouble in finding
Gcopy.
Mr.. Harrington. Mr.. Chairman, there have
been some difficulties connected with the pub
lication Of these copies. The Legislature only
authorized the publication of 1--WE hundred
copies Of the laws. There has been q great
demand for them, and owing to the limited
number printed we have not been able to meet
that demand.
The Chairman. This compilation of your
laws contains all the acts Of Congress, does It!
Gov. Shepherd. All affecting the District,
Mr.. Chairman.
The Chairman. wish to say to the superin-
tendent Of public schools, who, believe, Is
here, and to the collector of taxes that If they
have any printed reports we would be very
glad If they would bring Us two or three copies
of them for the use of the committee.
will mention, in this connection, that I have
in my hand memorial, addressed to this COM
mittee, asking the committee to investigate the
legality of what is known a. the sewerage as
sessments. 1t is obvious that It is improperly
addressed to this committee. We can have no
jurisdiction Of Il unless it were addressed to
one Of the Houses Of Congress, or both, and
then referred to us.
Mr.. Merrick. I apprehend that question will
necessarily come up In the progress Of the ex-
animation.
The Chairman. It may. This memorial sp-
pears to be very numerously signed. do not
know who these signatures are. Our door
keeper brought this paper and placed It in our
hands kw moments ago. The gentleman
who handed It to him has left, and there Is no
way Of ascertaining who presented It. Youcm
take this paper, Mr.. Merrick, and ifthe memo
rialists see at to have It presented to either
House of Congress, and 1t Is referred to the
committee, we win, Of course, take jurisdiction
of It.
Mr.. Mattingly. would suggest to the chair
man of the committee whether It would not
be proper at this time for these memorialists
to specify, under this reference, what definite
charges they propose to make, 20 that we may
come prepared to meet them.
The Chairman. Alter the memorialists have
had reasonable time to examine the papers and
documents, and the answer of the Governor,
which they have not yet had an opportunity Of
seeing at all, and which they can only have
after it comes from the printer, It Is very pos
sfble that the committee viii expect them to
make more particular charges than are con-
tanned ip the memorial. But we cannot say
now what we will do. We cannot mako an
order now; especially as the committee is not
Is all we can say at present.
Mr.. Merrick. I will state, Mr.. Chairman,
that at the proper stage of the case, with the
permission Of the committee, we will be pre-
pared to put the parties fully on trial to their
satisfaction and to that of the committee.
The committee adjourned until tomorrow
morning ut II O'Clock.