New-York tribune., 1874-06-02
REFORM IN THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT

REFORM IN TIE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT
TIE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
CONSIDERING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE GOVERN
MENr OF THE DIsTRICT-THE PRESENT SYSTEM
AND OFFICERS TO BE DESTROYED ROOT AND
BRANCH.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TILE IRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The Joint Committee to
investigate the affairs Of the District held another
meeting to-day for the purpose of considering their
report and 10 devise some plan for the future gov
ernment of the District. The Committee find the
latter part of their task difficult, especially
the time within which they must act is now very
limited 1t may be considered as beyond all ques-
ton that one feature of the report will be the de-
struction Of the present Government, root and
branch. Neither the Legislative Assembly, the Gov
eruor the delegate in Congress after the end of the
term Of the present incumbent, the Auditor.
Controller Secretary Of the District nor the Board
Of Public Works viii be continued, aud it is pos
sibe that that the Police and Fire Commissioners
will also be abolished.
Several plans have been proposed in the Com
mittee for supplying the places OF these officials.
One of them is as follows: To give to the President
Of the United States the executive power; the man
agement of the revenues TO the Secretary of the
Treasury the assessment of taxes to the Secretary
of the Interior; the charge of improvements OF
streets, &c, 10 the Chlef Engineer OF Tue Army;
all matters of law to the AttorneyGeneral; and
charge of the schools TO the Commissioner of Educa-
ton. To meet all expenses of the District Govern
ment it is proposed by this plan to levy tax of
per cent as at present, real estate, make
special assessments, collect license fees, &C., and
the United States is to appropriate, annu-
ally a sum equal TO that derived from
all other sources. The same plan also oOntemplates
the appointment by the President and confirmation
by the Senate of an Auditing Committee to ascertain
all indebtedness of the District and Board of Public
Works including bonds, sewer certificates. certif-
Gates of indebtedness, unaudited Indebtedness, and
all claims for damages of old material, return OF
general sewer taxes, &C., all of which shall be
funded by the Secretary of the Treasury into Dis
trictbond bearing low rate of gold interest and
payable at the Treasury Department after long
series Of years out of District funds. An appropra
tion Of $l,000,0O0 TO meet accrung interest and
ordinary expenses during the coming year is another
feature of the scheme.
Should such bill as this be reported it would
probably meet the approval of a majority of the
Taxpayers of the District, would insure honest
and economical administration of District affairs,
and would make such liberal provisions for i'm
proyement of the national capital as would insure
its becoming at late day the most attractive city
IN the United States. At the same time it would be
open TO the objection that it entirely ignores the
people of the District, and makes necessary an an
hual appropriation for District purposes of about
$4,000 900 Again. there are many who think that il
tie present Distinct ring is found gully it ought