New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-25
WASHINGTON.
REORGANIZATION OF THE DISTRICT GOV
ERNMENT.
second class $lt


FEATURES OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEES REPORT
A NoN-pARTIsAN GOVERNMENT DEsIRED-oFFI-
GALS TO BE HID STRICTLY TO ACCOUNT -
SEPARATE SCHOOLS AND COMPULSORY EDUCA-
TON PROBABLY TO DE RECOMMENDED.
[DY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBUsEi
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2L-Mr. Dorman B. Eaton of
New-York has been in Washington to-day, in con-
sultation with the Special Committee appointed at
the last session of Congress to prepare the plans for
new form Of government for the District OF Co.
lumbia The bill embodying the views Of the Com
mitee has been completed, but as it mas not yet
been formally acted upon, its provisions
have not been given to the public. At
the same time some of the principles that
have governed Mr.. Eaton and the Committee
i'll performing their task and the objects which they
deemed it of paramount Importance to attain have
not been concealed. In former efforts to govern this
District Congress has attempted to delegate part
of the legislative power conferred exclusively upon
il by the Constitution TO the people. The Commit
tee arc of opinion that this has been a mistake,
and members have grave doubts that any acts
passed by municipal or territorial legislative
body can have any legally binding force
The intention Of the trainers of the Consti-
tuition in regard to this matter cannot be
doubted an the new bin Will therefore provide for
the exclusive exercise by Congress Of this power and
duty. At the same time it is deemed desirable to
cultivate among the people of the District certain
degree Of responsibility and while, should the Com
mittoes bill be agreed to- they win not probably be
required hereafter to pay the entire expense of
maintaining the Government here they will be re-
CURED to bear their just share of the burdens. The
Committee has also stTiven to make the new Gov
eminent non partisan in its character They inter-
pref this TO be the desire of Congress, shown by
the nOn-partisan character of the Committee The
new bill will, therefore, contain provisions which
are expected to raise the Government above the
level Of party politics and make 1t something more
than tender to the Administration. No
matter which is in power it will not here
after be a nursery tor little politicians. The
Committee has therefore aimed to draw
its bill so as 10 secure honest and
efficient officers without regard to party, and to
make it very easy, indeed absolutely certain, that
dishonest or incompetent men shall be turned out.
Members of Congress will find, should the Commit
tees bill be adopted, that there will be no places IN
the Washington Government for their friends and
strikers. Another thing which the Committee has
considered all important is that all the acts OF the
officers of the new Government shall be open to the
inspection Of every one who has a right to know
what is going on. Its members believe that they
will be able to define the powers and duties Of the
officers, for whom they Will provide so miputely
that there can be doubt in the minds of any one
rs what these powers and duties are and that any
failure of an official to do his duty or the assump
ton of power not delegated to him. will be at
known and at once checked. In short the Commit
tee has attempted 10 franc form of Govern
ment that shall be in strict conformity
to the Constitution; that shall be non-parisan
and that shall Of necessity be honest, efficient, and
economical In the consideration of the subject the
Committee has found itself called upon to deal with
many very important questions of public policy.
In determining the character of the schools the
whole question Of civil rights as raised
by the Sumner bill presented itself. The Commit
tee had to decide they would recommend
mixed or separate schools and whether also the
pupils Of one race should bs excluded from the
schools Of the other Compulsory education was
also considered. Ii is believed, though not on the
authority of any one who has been engaged in the
preparation of the BILL that separate schools and
compulsory education will be recommended. The
Committee will meet in few days for the fnal
consideration Of its report.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REVENUE SERVICE.