Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-04

proposed New District G0yernm ent.
BILL INTRODUCED BY SENATOR STEWART TO-
DAY.
In the Senate to-day, Mr.. Stewart introduced
bill providing that the act to provide for
government fer the District of Columbia,
Passed Feb. 81, 1871 and all acts amendatory
thereto, be repealed, and the legislative powers
delegated to the District government are hereby
resumed exclusively by Congress.
The bill provides that i've commissioner
shall be appointed by the President and con
hrmed by the Senate, who shall perform the
duties and exercise the powers herein 4fte =
5000 each for their entire services, and shat
he known as the commissioners for the adjust
ment OF the affairs of the District of Columbia
Ii shall be the duty of said commission to adj
vertise for all claims OF every name and nature
against the District and the cities of Washing
ton and Georgetown; to register and classify
approve such claims; to ascertain all exist'ng
contracts, condition of the work under eaca,
the amount paid and to be paid, to settle with
s sSeh , contractors actor when their contract
them, or give them such evidence OF
Indebtedness as they would be entitled
to nnder their contractf; to examine the laws
under which each class of Indebtedness has
been incurred, and report their opinion as To
the validity Of such laws; to examine the rela-
ton between the Government OF the United
states and the District of Colum bia, with visw
OF ascertainiDg what proportion Of the existing
indebtedness is fairly chargeable to the United
states, and what ought to be raised by taxation
upon the property of the District and also what
proportion each ought to pay in the future; to
ascertain what claims ought to be paid out OF
the assets OF the District government and the
revenues of the current year, and recommend
the same to the proper Off GERS of the District
for payment; TO classify the various funds that
ought to be set apart for the support and main
tenance OF the different branches of the Dis
trict government, and to assign to each its due
proportion OF the revenue; TO examine the va
rious modes of asses sment and taxation which
have been adopted, with a view of remedying
any injustice or inequality that may have Oc-
Cured; TO prepare bill for the consideration
OF Congress which shall provide for the
funding of all existing indebtedness and
all indebtedness that may arise from
existing contracts, and also for the establish
meDt of the just relations between the District
OF Columbia and the United States and the
proportions which should be paid by each for
the maintenance of the District government
and the improvement OF the District, together
with such Other matters as they NAV deem
necessary for the establishment of a Just eco
nomical and efficient government for the Dis
trict, and tor reasonable improvements therein;
TO make full report of their proceedings to the
next session of Congress; and that these com
missiOners may employ such clerks, account.
ants and experts as may be necessary, aud nav
call on the District officers for any informa,ion
or assistance which they may req uire; also that
said commissioners shall have power to send for
persons and papers, examine witnesses, &c.
The bill WAS ordered to be printed aud re
ferred TO the Joint Special Committee inyesti-
eating District affairs.