National Republican., 1876-02-01
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS.
The House District Committee Want Infor-
nation.

maElons
The Committee on the District of Columbia Of
the House Of Representatives have called upon
thu District Conmissoners to maks answer In
writing to the following ginterrogatories:
l. Whether they have abolished sny ofice, con-
solfdated two or more Offices, or reduced the num-
Der Of employees in the service Of the District
government since the passage OF the act OF June
20, 1874 II SO, what Offices have been abolished or
consolidated, and to what extent they have re-
duced the number OF employees Of said District,
both in number and amount Of reduction, and IL
any officials nil more than one office, specify
names. rares and amounts received by such.
@ hs
ten assistant engineers and the surveyor OF the
District and any Of his subordinates and to the
trict has been complied with, the names Of the
present ineumbents OF these oftices, wheGner OLD
ineumeents or new appointments, and tne amount ~
any form or shape, including any payments under
the board of audit for services or claims, in cash
or in bonds
3. State what they have done since the passage
Of the act of March 8 1875, towards reducing, ad-
justing and equaliZiDg the pay or salaries Of all
the District government In whole or in part, and
what savings, If any, were effected, or additional
expenses incurred under this head; further, If any
ept sources state proportions, rates and amounts,
and authority OF law therefor, and for what Pc
Iicds such payments were made.
.. What has been the annual cos. of said Dis
tIict government, exclusive OF the paymeEt OF
pIiIcpal and interest OF the public debt, for the
last iscal year Of the District, tfrom December l.
1874. TO december 1, 1851 Compile and state in
detail the payments on account of each depart
ment or bureau or board OF the District govern
ments made TO employees OF the board Of audit;
the number and daily, monthly or annual pay OF
each official in each Of said departments or bu
reaus, asylums, jail, Sc; also number, pay and
qualifications Of laborers and other temporary
or permanent employees, whether any or all Of
them are paid in whole or In part out Of the funds
or bonds Of the District; what new appointments
they have made to office Of persons not in office
under the District government on Juue 20 1874,
made since Aforementioned date.
5. State whether in their opinion the number OF
officials, as we'll as the number Of boards or bl-
reaus, could not be reduced without detriment to
the public service; and If so, state what reduc.
or by the abolition of boards or consolidation Of
tho same, and what changes should be made
either in the organization OF said boards or in the
reduction OF the number Of officials; and in what
way, If any, reduction can be made in the present
expenses of the District government.
G. Have any Improvements, either OF streets or
sewers, been made, or any money expended on or
about roads, streets, avenues, parks, canals or
sidewalks; or certificates bonds issued therefor
since June 20 1874 that either were not necessary
to the execution Of legal obligations or contracts
existing at that date. or TO the protection pres
ervation Of Improvements then existing or COM
menced and not completed at that date; II so,
state and specify what improvements have been
so made, in what parts Of the city, who were the
contractors on said work, how they were paid, lin
now due, or TO become due to such contractors
further, state whether there was any open COM
petition for such work under advertisements, and
If SO, in what cases, and whether the lowest re-
spOnsible bidcer was accepted in such cases.
I. II any new work has been given out without
advertisement under so called extensions" or
"modihcatiors" Of the old board contracts, state
the cases. with original estimates under such con-
tTscts and actual cost under such alleged extern
sions or notifications, and whether the same
were given out to the lowest bidder.
S. Specify plainly nature and cest OF any rks
now in progress Or contemplated and proposed to
be paid in sos bonds, with date and number OF
contracts and names OF contractors.
9. Have works reported to Congress in Deeem-
Der, 1874, to be done with cash payments, since
been paid in 3.6j bonds? If so, what were they,
what was the cash estimate in the aggregate,
and what arc the actual expenditures in 3.65
bonds?
10. Was the s75.cOO appropriated for the unpaid
woIkingmeI and laborers employed on the streets
and improvements prior to June 20 1874, which is
payment Of said iabOrers, and are any Of the
claims of tho workingmen and laborers still ua.
satisfied: lfso, state to what extent they are un-
II. Were any sums 0! money claimed to be due
from contractors to the workiDgmsn retained by
the Go nissioIers or board Of audit out OF sums
due the contractors, or any of them, aad whose
accounts had not been settled by the Board of
Public Works on the 23i Of June, 1874; If SO, state
tsiret and for whose benefit retained.
T. state whether the Commissioners OF the
District and the commissioners OF the sinking
u.
all bonds, sewer certificates, &c. paid or redeemed
hy either OF said Doarcs, as directed by section
sixteen Of an act approved March .. 1875, for the
support Ct ;Ee District of Columbia, aud as re-
QurSted 10y letter OF the Commissioners OF the
District GATED February S, 1875, tnd read on the
fuCr Of the House by its Clerk on February -,
1875: and If so, what date or dates, and whether
In amC ucts corresponding with those stated in
said lJtter 0! February s, 1873
Il. state whether the administration of the
hnauces Of the District government is not too
much divided and dilused TO secure proper re-
spOrslbllity and efficiency, whether the comp.
troller has any authority TO inspect the accounts
Of the other District officials or to prescribe the
forms for the keeping rendering of their az
counts; whether any accounts arc Kept by the
comptroller With the collector OF taxes and col
lectOr Of assessments and returns made to him by
either OF those officials of their daily collections
beyond filing in his othce the tressurers receipt
for the moneys paid over, and whether there is
any check !er the prompt and regular paying
over OF the daily collections Of the above collectors
to the treasurer and what provisions, If any they
have to make for detecting any irregularities or
in such respects.
II. Have they made any estimate OF the per-
sonal property in the Dstricttha can be reached
by taxation? If so, state that estimate and the
Of tax that in their opinion be realized
therefrom at the present rate, and at per cent.
On said valuation. State also what are the rates
at which licenses are now issued and on what
basis go issued. Also, state what changes or
notifications OF the license laws Of the District
they would recommend, If any.