Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-17
Future Gevernme.s OF tho District.

Future Governments OF tho District.
NETTING OF THE JOINT CONG sKssIoNAL
COMMITTEE TO DAY.
The Joint Committee of the Senate and
House OF Representatives appointed TO frame
Q form OF government for the District OF
Columbia met at the rooms of the District
Committee this morning ut 10 O'Clock, Sem
ator Spencer In the chair; Senator Whyte
end Messrs Hendee and hunter present.
Joseph Liboey, of Georgetown. advocated
that Georgetown should have its water free,
On account of the original expense borne by
It's people when water was introduced. He
read from q report made by General Meias,
in 1859, 70 show that IL Georgetown paid q
certain tax per front foot. which Mr.. Libbey
says was paid, the city would forever have
water free.
HOW SHALL THE COMMISSIONERS AP-
POINTED.
Mr.. Hendee said that he had inquired into
the matter and ascertained tina u Senators
Edmunds and Thurman were OF toe opinion
that II commissioners were to be appointed
under the constitution, the President must
make the appointments.
Senator Wbyte said he did not regard that
assumption as good law. He thought Con-
gress had as much right to direct how COM
missioners should be selec ted as IL had to
permit q municipality in Washington and
The people to elect mayor.
Mr. Hunton coincided with his views.
Senator Spencer said IL the bill directed
the appointment of commissioners Jointly
by the executive and legislative branches
that the lawyers In the Senate would kick
against 1t and the bill would fail.
senator Wbyte.-ThsJ don't make any diff
ference Let us do our duty aud let the Sem
ate tear the bill TO pieces IL iL desires to
by the United states Supre me Court, where
iD that court, by a vote OF 8 To 4, decided that
the members of the late board of public
works were not officers of the United States
In cOntradistinctiOn TO their also being OFF,
GERS of a municipality. In giving this deci-
sion The court Overruled the decision of the
Supreme Court Of the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Hendee-That doesn't say though that
they were not officers of the United States
and must be appointed by the President.
Mr.. Elliott.-Oh, no; agree with you as to
that
Mr.. Elliott then proceeded to cite cases
where the Supreme Court OF the United
States bad decided that justices of the peace
were officers Of the United states. Person
ally, he said, he favored the appoi ntment of
comm issioners by the Senate, House. and
President, but he was very clearly OF the
opinion that inasmuch as Congress had ex-
elusive jurisdiction over the District, and
that Congress would frame the bill prescrIb-
Ing government of commissioners, that
said commissioners became United States
officers, and could only be appointed by the
President. He favored the appointment of
nOtaries public by the courts, and that all
judicial writs issued in the District should
run In the name of the President OF the
United states, and not In the name of the
commissioners.
Senator whyte said his Idea was to make
III
SO that they could sue and be sued.
THE STREETS.
Mr.. Elliott said he hoped there would be
eOme regulation concerning the streets and
highways. III q man falls into hole in the
street, aud breaks his leg, he has no redress
at Jaw, because the Commissioners say the
United States has exclusive control of the
streets, and the Supreme Court decides that
the Commissioners are not Enitet States
officers, In centradis tinctiOn to being NUM-
cipal officers. Hence the Commissioners. In
IN fhau Sntf
States officers, and dodge responsibility; and
the United States says they are municspal
officers, and also lodges the responsibility.
He hoped the lines In regard to the streets
would be sharply drawn.
On motion OF Mr.. Hunton, 1t was decided
TO defer until subst quent day the question
and that, meanwhile, a sub committee ge,
all the legal information possible as TO the
power OF Congress to appoint officers 10
Offices created by Congress.
Tin YEARS REsIDENCE" FOR CoMnts
sIONkRS VOTED DOWN.
The question OF how long the two Com
mission ers TO be appointed for the District
should reside here, was then discussed.
Mr.. HuntOn advocated q ten years resi-.
dence.
Mr.. Hendee said that he had been 10 form
ed that some of the best citizens mere hal
not lived in the District ten years.
The vote was taken on ten years resi-
depce, and II was lost-Senator Vnyte and
Mr.. HuDtOn voting In the Affirmative, and
Senator Spencer and Hr. Heudee In tue neg
alive.
"FIvE YEARS, AGREED TO.
Senator Whyte then moved that ave years
be nXed as the term of residence. Senators
Spencer, Wbyte and Mr.. Henaee voted ar
nrmatively, and Mr.. Hunton negatively.
MT; Hunton moved eight years, and IL was
that the limit be fixed at five years actuaI
residence.
ON motion OF Mr.. Hunton. 1t was dsc.d ed
that the United States should assume re-
eIOnfibility for
THE DEBTS OF THE DISTRICT
and that 1t contribute each year 10 per cent.
OF the expense OF the govern ment.
Gov. Hendee Il ana not willing to vote for
such broad proposition as 10 assume the
Mr.. Hunton.-well, you will have to come
that. Ny plan IL, the commits sioners shall
each year, through the secretary of the
treasury, send their estimates of what is
needed, and that when congress approves Of
II that 40 yer cent. be appropriated by con-
gress, and the rem aiming balance be raised
by the commissioners in the best mode pos
sible This win do away with congress
passing An annual tax bill for the district.
Mr., Msrrick, who was present, favored the
NEW CABINET MINISTER,
To be called the secretary OF the District of
Columbia, who should have power to ad.
minister the laws as passed directly by con-
1t was decided to d. the salary of the COM
missioners at IS 600 each per annum.
A DRAFT OF A BILL.
6enhtOf Wnyte submitted 9 oraft or q BILL
prepared by him. II provides for three COM
m1ssioners at 81, 900 each, 70 bond at $50, 900
each. The only change otherwise for the
present recommended by IL IL the abolition OF
The Board OF Health and the appointment OF
q health commissioner by the Com mission
ers OF the District at 50 500 per annum
Meanwhile the Commissioners are request
ed TO report at the first of the session OF the
Forty NTH Congress what other changes
may be necessary.
He said that II q bill was drafted going
into the reorganization OF all the boards, IL
would be cumbersome and antagonlze SO
many interests that 1t would probably be
cefeated. chow can we," said he, "as q
Congressional committee, arrange all the
details OF IeOrganiZa alton, when It often
takes state conventions six months to ac-
complish less than what such a task would
be?''
Mr.. Hunton said he was decidedly In favor
ABoLIsHING THE BOARD OF HHADrH.
He thought one man was enough to look ar.
ter the health interests of the District,
APPoRrIoNING THE EXPENSE.
IT was decided definitely that the United
States should pay forty per cent. OF the ex-
pense OF the District, and the mtssioners
should raise the remaining sixty Der cent. in
Any manner best adapted for raising IL, the
same betng LETT discretionary with them.