New-York tribune., 1874-06-17

after eXnaustfng every avallaDie resource' u'"'
for ts payment unless new tax for THIS purpo'e
should be levied But this is not the whole hoatne or
unfunded liability resting upon the people OF TINS D
trct. The total obligations for which the Boaru VI
Public Works aud the District are liable may DC s'aeu
at 81 6S3756. The total burden, all things eonsidereo'
t2o.9l6,o0s The Committee are able to see ou' on'
way in which the Board could have expected TO pay TINS
large debt that Is, by receiving aid from congress-
az IT have occurred to them that the resources
OF the District could not be taxed sufficiently to pay
them as was shown By OF the counsel for the Dlscs
Government. The Committee say that on the 'n oi
March, 1873, Congress made an appropriation OF SoV"
the purchase OF the interest OF the Dstrlet h '
City Hall building, and provided In the act az loo"
"The be applied by said District only for 'ne
erection Of suitable buildings for District oihces
The amount OF this appropriation was drawn from tne
Treasury but the Board, being In need OF money iOr
other purposes used $4,000 OF the amount thereof noV
whstandng the specific purpose for which the appro
priaton made, and supplied the place OF the same
by deposting $50 900 Of their sewer bonds In aDucpa
ton OF the assembling Of Congress- and with vie" oi
getting relief by of appropriation the Board made
up an account against the United States OF Al0 Inc
Committee say the work done without warrant VI
law but IL proper the United States should pay lheH
proper proportion when ascerained. The manner ih
which It proposed to appropriations at thS
session specifically referred 10, not only TO sho"
how this Board has been conducting their ahiirs Du'
the purpose also OF showing that for the protection
OF the Government essential that some n1ed un-
varying should established for the ascertainment
OF what the Government should contribute toward the
expenses OF this District without it an Appropriation
committee viii always be liable 10 be mlsled into I'M
proper allo Tns ia OF the recommendations
Of the bill reported by the Committee. The necessity on
such rule might be further illustrated by reference
TO the OF January and March 3. 1873, py
tho sformer OF which N,24l,920 %, and by the
latter is2.9o7Ol2 90 were appropriated These acts
founded accounts presented by the District au-
thortes for work said have been done and for which
IL alleged that the Government Of the United States
was equtably liable. The testimony taken by the Com
mee scrutiny Of the reports Of the Board OF Pub
lie Works convince the Committee that those accounts
unreliable and inaccurate and that the provisions
OF requiring their verifcation were not complied
with according the letter and spirit The Committee
Of opinion that by appropriations and by taxation
sufficient should be raised 10 place the Govern
men OF the District on cash basis as 10 current ex-
penditures The Committee after examining the & nnan
cia condition OF the District say that making the fullest
allowance for taxes, 70 be paid by july l. there VIII DC
deficiency at that time Of 81. 900 900 at least.
The Committee recommend, in view OF all the clrcum-
stances that not less tnan the foregoing sum be appr
the payment OF interest the debt Of the District due
July J. aud the remainder 70 pay employees ana M aoofers
Government and that OF THIS sum the interest should
be reimbursed and the remainder should await the
proper adjustment OF reiaVe paymeIts ss nerein
gested In tbs estimate no account has Deen taken Oh
the necessary cost OF funding the floating debt or audit
The report concludes as follows:
The testimony that the District Treasury is
Committee therefore. recommend the abolition Of the
Executive the Secretary OF the District the Legislative
Delegate in Congress. They do not mean by recon-
mending the abolition of the Legislative Assembly 20
preclude idea that there should not be repre-
sentative body in the District OF Columbia but they be-
eve that the one now existing with the powers con-
ferred is such contemplated by the COns
the wants OF the District require ana mas
much the next Assembly Will be elected before the
laaain Of IN
incur tine expense OF electing Legislative Assem-
bly,, which, If not abolished now would likely be
abolished at the session. From what has already
been said, think 1t clear that the Board of Pubic
ercsed powers that ought not TO be committed
present Delegate in Congress 10 continue un e close
of the next in order that the Dlsct might nave
representative the floor 10 make such criticisms as
he might deem necessary upon the form OF government
which they have raised committee TO provide iOr snd
report upon The Committee recommend the appoint
ment of committee to manage the affairs OF the Dis
trict under limited and restrained powers De
cause Sopd sners sy,em Of n@e%ork for the govern
ment OF the District and have 1t fully discussed
and passed upon the present session OF Congress Ine
Committee have placed the repair Improvement. ana
control of the streets under the management OF an
officer of the Engineer Corps Of the army because they
believe under officer, whatever work Is done
will be well done, and by an officer responsible TO the
Executive and 10 Congress. They have also recon-
mended the raising OF committee TO devise frame OF
government, ana submit the same 70 Congress as IL,
Thav nave recommended the appointment OF two
bers OF each House for the that they believe
that the committee should be nOn-partsan and non-po-
ltlca so that whatever stem Of government may De
estabIlshed it will he subject 10 the shtings and
changes Of party politics The Committee believe tnats
due 10 the people of the District that all the debts ce
tad bv the Board OF Public Works and by the District
Government should be adjusted, and inssmucn as IT VIII
he impossible TO impose sufficient taxation upon the
propertv OF the District to provide for their Immediate
payment they have recommended that those debts De
hearing low rate OF interest and as preliminary 20
that funding they think IL essential that carein aud
of these claims should be made by responsive Ocers OI
tha Cox