National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-16
THE L1ZsTRIOT IN CONGRESS.

L!BE-4 LAW IN THE DISTRICT-THE
n wv BILLBOARD OF AUDIT AND
OUR SECURITIES.
In the Senate Mr.. Mitchell, by urgent request,
introduced q bill to incorporate the Mutual Pro
lection Insurance Company of the District Of Co
lumbia District Of Columbia.
Mr. Conkling presented q memorial Of N. A
CoWdrey of New York, stating that the District
Of Columbia is indebted to him, and that he is
unable to obtain any other payment Of this in
debtedness than bond upon which he cannot
realize more than 20 per cent, and asking the
privilege Of exchanging this bond for q bond Of
the United States Mr.. ConkIlng said the memo
rial was accompanied by bill, which he had not
yet bad an opportunity to examine, and could not,
therefore, say whether he would approve it; but
zen of his State, he asked leave to introduce It.
The bill, which provides for the consolidation Of
the debt Of the District and for the exchange Of
United States bonds for the bonds Of the District,
was referred, with the memorial, to the Select
Committee on the District.
THE BILL
directs the Secretary Of the Treasury to issue
four per cent. thirty-year bonds of the United
States to an amount not exceeding eighteen mil
lion dollars, and exchange them within one year
for the bonds and stocks Of the District Of Co
lum bia and the cities Of Washington and George
town, dollar for dollar, the difference in the In
tere7t Of either to be adjusted by him. The total
amounts Of these various classes Of securities are
set forth in detail, and, including eight million
dollars Of the 3-65 bonds and Board Of ADULTS
certificates, authorized and guaranteed by act Of
congress last June, they aggregate slT,i42soc.
The difference in interest between what the
United States have to pay on the eighteen mil
lions of four per cent. bonds and the amount they
are entitled to receive on the debts taken by
them in exchange therefor is stated to be
100000 per annum, and this amount is to be
pledged and invested as q sinking fund for the
principal. The bill is accompanied BY pream BILE
which sites the Copgtitution and rebort made
by the House Judiciary Committee last session,
10 show that the United States are liable for
these debts, contracted through their delegated
representatives.
THE NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT
The bill to provide 4 new government for the
District Of Columbia was then taken up, and the
CLERK concluded its reading, and it was then laid
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, then called I'D the
House joint resolution to extend the functions of
the Board Of Audit Of the District Of Columbia.
Passed.
The resolution, as passed, is as follows:
That the board of audit constituted by section
of the District Of Columbia and for other pur-
poses" be continued until otherwise provided by
law, with all the powers and duties specified In
said section, and with compensation TO the mem
beTs OF the beard at rate proportional according
to time to that granted in said act, and payable
as therein provided; and the time for presenting
claims is hereby extended for the period of thirty
days from this date, and persons having sustained
damages to real estate, but failed TO present
the same to the Board II Public Works, may
present the same Tor audit and allowance within
the time above limited, specified in the seventh
class Of claims mentioned in said sixth section:
Provided, That when the title to claims evidenced
by certificates OF the auditor Of the Board of Pub
lie Works is involved in suits now pending in any
court Of competent jurisdiction, such court shall
not be Ousted Of jurisdiction in respect of such
question of title and after the board of audit
shall have ascertained the amount, if any due
upon any such claim the certificates of said board
of audit shall be issued and be convertible in
favor only of the person finally adjudged in such
suit to be entitled thereto, and when said party
may by law have execution Of such Judgment or
See 2 That said board Of audit shall proceed
forthwith to examine and audit the accounts of
the treasurer and auditor Of the late Board of
Public w OrBs according to the provisions Of the
said act entitled IAN act for the government of
the District Of Columbia, and for other purposes"
approved June %, 1874, as required by said act,
and shall specifically report whether the accounts
Of said treasurer were so kept from day to day as
to show his payments of currency or bonds, to
not the moneys and other assets which were re-
Ceived by, or were under the control Of said
treasurer, have been properly accounted for by
said treasurer: and what II any, Of such moneys
or other assets have been paid out or dis
posed Of by said treasurer without audi
tors warrants or certificates therefor; what, il
any, payments were made without evidence that
the same were made for or on account of the pub
lie improvements in the District of Columbia
made by the said Board Of Public Works: what,
IL any, payments were made upon illegal or
irregular warrants, accounts or vouchers; and
what, If any, amount remains in the hands of said
treasurer; and 10 the end aforesaid and to enable
thd said board Of audit to complete the duties
assigned thereto in said act, said board shall
have all the powers, and perform all the duties in
said act set forth; and shall make report Of their
proceedings herein and pursuant TO said act,
together with all oral testimony hereafter taken
by them to Congress, at the present session
thereof, rot later tnan the fifteenth day Of Feb
Iuary, eighteen hundred and seVenty-fTe.
THE HOUSE.
In the House yesterday, Mr.. POlani OF Vt,
bill to regulate the prosecution for
libel in the District Of Columbia. Judiciary.
THE GAS INSPECTORS.
A communication was laid before the House
yesterday from the Secretary Of the Interior sug-
costing an appropriation for the payment OF the
salaries Of the inspector and assistant inspector
Of gas metres in the District Of Columbia. The
Ottices were created by tbo law regulating the
distribution Of gas in the District Of Columbia
passed at the last session, bat no provision was
made for the payment Of these salaries, which
we're fixed at 8, 600 and q, 900 respectively.
On Thursday next the House District Commit
Ice will hear the District Commissioners with
reference to certain data being prepared by them
fnpG pV al a.