Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-06-22

with its control, subject only 70 their sgen-
eral supervision and direction and who re-
ports the measurements for settlement with
contractors, not TO the Commissioners for
their consideration and decision, but 10 tie
board OF audit. between whom and them
there Is no official communication, and
ments is not subject 10 their review, nor
brought to their notice In any way, aud is
final In settlement with contra ctors. The
anomaly is thus presented OF one psrty-the
Commissioners, ordering work 10 be done
and another party, wholly independent OF IL,
the board OF audit, auditing the claims OF
the contractor under such work, and nnally
settling and paying them in certificates OF
Indebtedness executed aud issued by that
board, without any knowledge by the Com
missioners OF the amount Of the claims nor
Of the considerations on which the action Of
the board IN respect OF such claims Is based"
The error was IN the act OF June 20, 1874, Ia
making the board OF audit independent OF
the supervision OF the Commissioners. II
would have been better aud more conforma-
bic to the approved methods OF admInistra.
ton TO have devolved at least some reSpou-
sibility on the executive authorities in the
settlement OF claims against the District
especially OF such as arose out of work done
under their administration.
Another mistase in the act OF June %. 1874
was the charging of The First aud Second
Controllers of the United States Treasury
with the duties that devolved upon them an
der the sixth section OF that act as III was
rot possible for them 10 thoroughly perform
without neglecting, TO some extent at least,
their equally II not more important duty as
The highest accounting officers OF the gov
eminent; and, without intending TO reflect
upon the Integrity OF these officers your
committee cannot but regard it as a misfor-
tune that the board of audit was not differ
entity constituted, and composed OF persons
who could give their whole time and atten-
ton TO the duties of their office. Had the
board been so constituted, your committee
do not doubt the duties would have been
.aIlsiaetorIiy dlscharged than they were by
A few instances OF irregularlty and wrong
doing on the part OF subordinate Off Gals
were detected by the committee. or this
class OF persons, the one who held Office
under the Commissioners was promptly
removed, and the board OF audit having been
abolished by the operation Of the joint res
olution OF March IL, 1876. those OF their subor-
dinates who were guilty OF misconduct have
also ceased TO have any connection with the
government OF the District. In two or three
I'm the settlements made by the board OF
audit. This, however, is denied by that
board, except In single instance. 1t is the
duty Of the District authorities 10 investi-
gate these cases thoroughly; and II proper
legal proceedings shall not be promptly In
stituted, those who shall be negligent in this
respect must, themselves, hereafter, be
held to strict official accountability.
The committee have come TO the concln-
sion that IL is important TO the In terests OF
the District, and TO satisfactory admins ira
llOu Oh lte d1dlTe JDat, ds soon as prdcLlcdDle,
permanent and stable form OF government
shall be provided by Congress in the Dis
trict- IN the judgment OF the committee
proper exercise OF the constitutional au-
government, and justice 10 the interests OF
residents and property IN the District require
that 10 form Of government designed "a
De temporary, and organized for temporary
duration, all the administration OF affairs
shall rot be Indefinitely committed. The
committee also believe that a simple form
of government can be devised. Congress has
hitherto not seen mt to adopt the plan pro-
posed 10 IL at the second session OF the
Forty third Congress. IL is believed that
IN making q further effort TO devise a
satisfs ctory form OF government adj.
vanisReous use can now be made OF the ex-
perience OF the past two years in minister.
ing District affairs, aud OF the labors of the
joint committees 10 frame government, Rp-
pointed under the act OF June 20, lS74
This report is signed by the republican
members OF the committed
IL originally concluded with the following
recommendation:
The committee, therefore, advise thecrea-
ton OF joint committee, who shall con-
slider the subjecI, and shall report TO Con-
gIess at its next session a proper form of
permanent government for the District; and
10 ihis end they respectfully submit 10 the
House the following joint resolution:
"That joint select committee shall be APP
pointed, consisting OF two Senators, TO De
appointed by the presiding officer OF the
senate, ana tnree mefnOerS OF the House, 10
be appointed by the Speaker OF the House OF
Representatives, whose duty IL shall be TO
prepare q plan Tor The permanent govern.
mentof the District OF Columbia. and who
shall report the same TO the TWO houses, re-
spectively. on the first day Of the next ses
sion thereof, and for that purpose, and in
the discharge OF the duty thereby imposed,
said committee is authorized to employ such
assistance as IL may deem advisable at an
exper Sc not TO exceed the sum of IS 900; and
said sum, or SO much thereof as may be
purpose"
This resolution will not now be reported,
on account of the House on Monday last
having passed bill covering these indenti-
cal provisions.