National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-08
OURFUTURE GOVERNMENT
THE LATEST PROPOSITION IN THAT
LINE.

LINE.
REPORT OF THE JOINT SPECIAL COMMIT
TEE-ARGUMENTs OF MR.. MORRILL, IN
FAVOR OF THE BILL AS sUBMITTED-A
BOARD OF APPOINTED REGENTS WITH
LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWERS.
In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Morrill,, from the
joint special committee, submitted the report of
the committee, synopsis Of which Is as follows:
The joint select committee appointed by virtue
Of the NTH section OF an act approved June %,
1874, entitled IAN act for the government of the
District Of Columbia, and for other purposes"
report that, on entering upon discharge OF their
duties, glance at the history Of the diverse
EXPERIMENTS AT GOVERNMENT
in the District which became the actual scat of
the Government Of the United States in the year
1900, the recent summary proceedings of Congress
in relation thereto seemed to invite to efforts to
avoid in the future repetition Of the past; while
the act gave ample scope for the adoption of
such methods as might be supposed better suited
Of Congress in relation to the political capital Of
the nation.
The committee do not enter into the question of
whether the inhabitants Of the District, being
citizens Of the United States might not constit1-
tionally have conferred upon them the power OF
legislation and the rights of municipal govern
ments; but conceding, for the purposes Of this
discus sion, such authority in Congress to exist,
It is plain that all proper exercise Of It must be
rights and interests which the American people
have in their capital, and the obvious duty of
Congress to protect and promote them to the ex-
cluSiOn Of all interfering or Incompatible inter-
ests Nor is 1t perceived that the exercise of tho
exclusive authority Of Congress, by express grant
Of the Constitution under the terms of the cessOn,
would in any just sense impinge the rights OF
local or selfgOYernment. From
THE UNQUALIFIED AUTHORITY
conferred upon Congress, and that the object to
be affected thereby is the capital Of the nation,
all 1Pnfslatfnn the nfsfriet ha hall tn no
national in its character, and primarily in the in
terests OF the American people at large, and that
will be so whether that legislation be direct by
Congress or by delegated authority.
Congress, by tho terms Of the Constitution, be-
comes the trustee Of the nation, administers its
trust in its interests, and may not share its trus-
teeship with another to the prejudice OF the eeSfuf
que trttSt-the body OF the American people.
Committed to its exclusive care, for special and
sacred purpose, to Congress will be imputed the
results Of its execution, however deputed.
The ineXpedieney Of the delegation of its au-
exclusive character Of its Jurisdiction and the OBJ
jeets Of acquisition, is believed to be sufficiently
gated jurisdiction in the District. That OF the
cities, it may be remarked, with no purpose to
and inacsnt tdt wors s%1Ie ort
succeeded, on the contrary, unhappily enterpris-
ing, ambitious and expensive. II is believed that
the purposes for which this District was acquired
will be best accomplished, and the interest of all
connected with its growth, prosperity and des-
tiny best subserved, by i
THE DIRECT EAEECIsE CONGHESS
of the authority devolved upon it.
The demands for expenditures, as Indicated in
the disposition Of its avenues and streets and
numerous squares will necessarily be upon scale
beyond what might reasonably be imposed upon
or drawn from the resources of q business and
resident population. These may properly be re-
quired to make that
JUST CONTRIBUTION TO THE CURRENT ANNUAL
EXPENSES,
the interest of the public debt, and its ultimate
payment, which people so situated as compared
with other communities may be required to pay
for like protection, privileges and immunities.
The proportion Of expenditures which
should be borne by the United States and the
citizens and resident property holders is propo-
sitiOn not deemed susceptible of exact determine
ton; nor does it. in the views taken by your com
mittGe, become important.
These, not to repeat,
NECESSARILY IMPOSE on CONGRESS-
the duty of making provision for needful expendi-
tures we'll for their supervision as for other
branches Of the public service.
And this is deemed not departure from tho !
principle which underIies the uniform policy Of
Congress as expressed in its legislation; in the
design OF the city, and the inhibition of all |
changes therein, In its ample provisions for water
supply, for the complete administration of JUS |
tice, tor national police, for n board of health
the establishment Of public schools the support |
of charitable Institutions, the maintenance of |
bridges, improvement Of squares, the exercise OF |
exclusive authority over streets and avenues, the
admission and regulation Of street and other rail-
ways; in fine, in every delegation of the exercise
of authority special or general, this paramount |
authority, obligation and duty Of Congress in re-
lation to the District is apparent, as well when |
limited municipal powers upon cities |
as in the institution the first commission for its
sole supervision and control, and never more sig
nally displayed than in the recent summary abO-
lition of the Territorial government and the In
stitutOn in lis stead Of an absolute board of CON
The committee recommend, as best calculated
to avoid repetition OF the errors and shOrt-cOm-
ings OF the past, and to promote the interests of
all who are or may be in any way connected or
associated with the national capital in the future
that Congress exercise that exclusive legislation
over the District with which it is invested BY the
Constitution, and provide for the general super
Of its affairs and the enforcement OF
the laws through officers and agents directly |
to the supreme
EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES.
As to frame Of government, observing their
and also the constitutional nmlta-
tons on the appointing power, and having regard
TO proper efficiency of administration and official
the committee have deemed Il ne.
cessary 10 u0ke the new government for the Dis
trict department t1 the Government of the
United States strictly limited to the affairs of said
District. At the head Of this Department shall
be board Of general control, designated board
Of regents, OF three persons, to be appointed by
the President and confirmed by the Senate, with
certain tenure OF office. and removable only for
cause who are to exercise the chief executive au-
thoTity, always acting as public body, and
WITH LIMITED AND DEFINED POWERS.
Within this department, and subject 10 its
are distinct subdivisions or bureaus
at the head of each of whom is 4 board OF cooper
alive control, whose duties and powers are also
defined, and whose doings are open to proper
inspection.
These boards arc appointed by the regents
except as to the board Of education, q portion Of
the members of which are to be elected by the
inhabitants, and except also, as to the Bureau Of
Public Works the head of which is to be detailed
by the President from the Engineer Corps Of the |
Army, have certain tenure Of office, and are |
removable by the regents for cause.
With the view Of relieving Congress |
Of embarrassing details Of strictly municipal
q fairs, It has been thought desirable to present
a Framework Of government that could be admin
isteTed With as inirequeDt appeals to Its author
ity as the nature Of the case would allow. |
Authority to make suitable and necessary Ordi- |
nances and regulations, in harmony with the !
laws Of Congress, has been conferred upon those
charged with the executive administration as |
extensive as the local interests are likely to !
require.
The militia system has been revised, and |
limited and comparatively Inexpensive force pro
Yided for, deemed adequate, however, to any dc. |
mands FORTS service which may be anticipated.
THE JUDICIAL COURTS,
standing upon the basis of statutes of the |
United States, quite independent Of local con
troll, arc not deemed necessarily to fall within |
the scope Of the authority of the committee, and 1
have received no share OF its attention, except as
to the Police Court, in regard to which certain |
are made with the view OF efficiency |
and dispatch in the transaction Of Its business.
The establishment of municipal court is also |
provided for, having exclusive civil Jurisdiction
Of matters now eognizaRle by justices Of the
diCiUn Of said Justices and In addition thereto it
is provided that any judge of said municipal |
court may, under such regulations may be |
prescribed by the Supreme Court Ofthe District, /
be designated by the chief justice Of said court TO
hold term and sessions of tho Police Court with /
the view Of facilitating the business therein.
Provision is made for the assessment and col |
lection Of tax upon the real and personal estates
OF the inhabitants OF the District, except such as
arc exempt by law, at the supposed mchun |
rate of
TWO DOLLARS on TIE ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, |
the valuation for such taxation being the true !
value thereof as upon Just appraisement be- |
tween debtor and creditor. The assessors arc to |