National Republican., 1874-07-07
RULERS OF THE DISTRICT.
WORKING SESSION OF THE NEW
CoMHIssION YESTERDAY. .


Friday afternoon, and they proceeueo al ONCE
to organize by the election Of secretary ana
counselor. In making both these selectlohs
the Commissioners were governed by the faet
that the two gentlemen, in the respective posi-
tions assigned them, possessed the technical
I,ovledpe which they lacked, and were, there
fore. needed that they might proceed nteii-
gently.
This was work enough for one day, and
being patriotic they quietly adjourned over un-
til Yesterday morning, when they met pursuant
to adjournment.
MANY thought thatt he meetings would be held
IN the Governors room, at the executive Office,
corner of Seventeenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue. but they were disappointed. The gen
tiemen for their own accommodation had taken
nm their Quarters at the Arlington, and in or
der 10 accommodate his guests, Roessle had
pIaced at their disposal the well-knoWn parlors
of the Pomeroy house. Nice, quiet quarters
they are in which to make, uumake or conduct
a government. Carpeted, curtained and mir
rored in the most fashionable style, furnished
with luxurious chairs, softly cushioned and up
holstered in blue and gilt, they presented an
air Of inviting comfort, which will tempt men
with less weighty business on hand to be a
trffe indolent. But they meant business, and
as the soft Southern breeze from the verdant
foliage Of Lafayette park swept through the
room, and famed them increasingly, they
worked well and with diligence.
BY9o'CLOCK
IN the morning each had finished breakfast,
and with Arlington toothpicks vigorously at
work they walked through the corridor to the
scene of their labors. Nine O'Clock is rather
early, but DR.. Tfndal was st his post, and the
Commission took seats at the table which oc-
cupied the centre of the rear parlor. 1t was
carelessIy strewn with papers, pens, tnkstands,
etc, and held bound volumes of laws OF all
dates and pamphlets Of all descriptions, each,
however. relating in some direct manner to the
work before them. Mr.. Dennison, the elder
of the party. with his tall, erect frame and
Jacksonian bearing, by general acquiescence
acted as spokesman. Under the terms Of the
law they were q coequal trinity, and they met
with the fun determination and understanding
that the welfare of the District; the single
object Of their appointment, should be sacredly
guarded: that the trusts cOnfded to them
should be observed, and that when their
lsbors should cease they could point with sat
isfaction to the results and claim a verdict of
popular approval from the entire people of the
District, for whose interests each one lad
made more or less Of a personal sacrifice.
However much they wished TO get through
the work it soon became evident that they
would make haste slowly, in other words they
~, -r~a11 hnflN hnV
took any decisive steps, and in order to accom-
pIish this they, after an informal discussion,
concluded to call in certain gentlemen for con-
sultation. About 10 O'Clock Mr.. E. L. Stan
ton. the counsel, arrived, and soon thereafter
the several laws relating to the District, their
practical and legal effects, were under serious
consideration, and their several interpretations
ard constructions discussed. Then came
COMPTROLLER TAYLOR, .
of the Treasury Department, who is one Of the
auditors designated by the bill. lengthy
but informal discussion ensued as to what
steps were essential to the prompt and vigor-
Gus prosecution of the duty assigned the
auditors, the probable time and expense neces-
sary TO complete the work, and certain other
matters of detail in regard to routine business,
in which he was well posted. Alter he had
left the subject of the disbursement of the
money was taken up, and it being stated that
the interest on the bonds was being paid by
the New York bank, that branch Of the sub
ject was laid over informally, with the under
standing that the warrant to reimburse the
bank would be duly forwarded. The payment
Of the EMPLOYEES was next broached, and, as
the proper person to give information on thii
subject, Comptroller George E. Baker was in
vited to meet the Commission, which he did
The conference was quite an extended one
and it is fair to presume that during its con-
tinuanCe a general talk was had on the sub
iect of District finances in all their ramiica-
tiOns.
Mr.. Moses Kelley, president Of the Sinking
Fund Commission, was soon in attendance
and securities of all kinds were discussed
from the old Wallach corporation bonds to thu
sewer certificates. In this connection it ma!
be well 70 refer to a Tumor which gained con
siderable credence yesterday, that the eigh
per cent. improvement bonds were to be funded
This, Mr. Kelley states, is without foundation
in fact, and that as soon as the Sinking Fun
Commissioners are in funds they will appl'
them to the redemption Of the one-year bonds
as required by law. By appointment
EX-GOVERNOR SHEPHERD
and Mr.. H. A. Willard, of the Board of Publ
Works, called at two o o'clock, and had length!
interview, during which the entire organization
ofthe District government, its several branches
the labor performed, the cost thereof, in fac
all that pertains TO the workings Of the affair
of the District in its different departments, wer
recfted in that concise and comprehensive maI
ner Characteristic of the two gentlemen VIII
were discussing them.
This concluded the labors for the day, an
although no definite conclusions were arrive
at, it may be stated that the first work don
will be providing for the immediate payment c
the salaries Of employees, the reduction c
such Of the clerical force as can be dispense
with without detriment TO the service, tn
consolidation of certain Of the bureaus, and tn
general reduction of expenses at every pOssibl
point where they can be reduced. For the cul
rent month the Executive office will be held
but at the expiration of that time it and Legi
IatiVe hall will be surrendered to their owrer
OF course there could be no new governmeI
without applications for Office, and alread
several have been made, but the chances al
that the present employees, or as many as a
needed, will be continued.
Throughout Columbia building there is
general uneasiness manifested by the clerl
and demployees, which cannot be dispelled unit
the Iooked-for and certain discharge is mad
then things will 90 on smoothly.
Lieut. Houe, the engineer, viii act IS exec
tive officer of the board, with headquarters
Columbia building. He will be engaged +
the present in making an inventory Of Il
stock and property of the Board Of Publ
IS Works, and an estimate of completing the fl
Provemerts already begun. No new contrac
wiz be awarded.
This morning by appointment the Commi
sion will meet the Board Of Fire Commissio
ers, the Board of Health, and probably Il
commissioners Of the new Northern market
THE DISTRICT SECURITIES.
The Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund ha7
under the provisions of the recent act, prepaI
design for the new three-sixty-fve fund.-
bond, and have submitted the same to the s.
rotary Of the. Treasury for his approval. ]
section of the law under which the bond
h hoolr ay,H