, 1877-12-04
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

Congress Is empowered by the Constitution
with the authority u exclusive legislation owe,
thu District ol Columbfa, In which the seat oi
Government 0f the nation Is located. Tho In
terests OF the District having no direct repro
scntatlon In Congress are entitled TO eapecia
confederation anl carc At the hout1s Of the Gen.
tral Government. The Capital ok tho United
Stntcs belongs to tho nation, and It Is natural
that the American people should take pride in
tie seat OF their National Government, and de-
sire II to bc
AN ORNAMENT TO THH couxrRr.
Much las been done to reniler II hcalthful, con.
tlonc which Its permanent Inhabitants arc not
nble anu ought not 10 te crperted to do. To
lnIpOse upnn them large proportion OF tle
rost required lor public improvements which
tho convenience OF the HoyeEntncnt, anu OF the
many tt.onsands Of Visitors from all parte
or the country who temporarily reside
ieut iuIustlse. Special attention Is asked
by The CoHanlisslAncrs OF the District in
thc!r rcpurt. which Is herewith transmitted. to
the Importance ot a permanent nj Jnstncnt by
Congress Of the financial relations between tho
United States and tlv District, Involving the
iKGrLAN ANNUAL CON rRfnu11OX
bY the United States of its Just proportion Of the
expenses vi the District Government. and of The
such measure OF relief from tho burden 0f taxa.
tipn now resting on the (c0p!s VI tho District az
ln thc wfslutu ot Congress 1llar he deemed Just.
Thu report Of the Commissioners show that
the affairs Ut the District are IN condition -
satisfactory as eruld be expected In view Of The
heavy dUbt 3esttn9 upon 1t, and Its ver9
l,Hlsed meaus for the necessary expenses:
The debt u the district is us follows: Funded
tho United statc4, $1a,7+3, 225o; totai bonded
debt 81, 1..!!gtl.1j to Which should bc aided
certain outstanding cla!ms as cxpluinel ln ttle
report of the Commissioners, 1.1s9,20l.t3:
making tic total debt of tho DISTRICT $Ix, ,3l0,.
HAAS.
The Commissioners also ask attention to thu
importance VI the improvement OF
THE roroNAC RIVER
aud the reclamation Ut tue marshes bordering
the City Ut Washington, and their ylews upon
this subtert aru coucurfed tn by the mctubcrt
os the Board Of Health, whose report Is also
herewith transmitted. 10Th tho con.
district will be greatly promoted. doubt not,
br this Improvement. YuuF attention IL invited
to the suggestion VI the Commissioners aud OF
the Hoard Of Health for the organization Of q
Doard Of CHARITIES TO have supervision and con-
tFOt VI thu disbursement VI all moneys tor
charitable purposes from tue p>trlct Trrnsury,
desire, aisu, to ask your especial attention 10
the need of adding 10 the efficiency of
THE rCut1c SCHOOLS
of Tue District hy fundamental aid from the
National Treasury. Th.+ IL especially Just, aimee
30 large numhcs of tlote attpu1lnE tie
5cN0Ol4 ART cIllufesl Ul clnpIOyea bI tAe ltDf-
crntHent. I carrcstlv commend to your care
the Interests 0f the people Ot the DiatFirt who
arc ~ intimately associated with thu Govern
ment establishment, and 10 whose enterprise
the good onler and attracttveness 0f the Capital
are largely due; and ask your intention to the
request Of the Commissioners for legislation Ia
behalf Ut tho interests inerueted to ther care.
This appropriations askeA fuf tic care 0f tho
rcBeryattuns belonging to tho Government
within the city by the Commissioners uf Public
Buildings and Gr0llnda ara also commended tv
your favorable consideration.
WARRINGTON MONUMENT.
The report VI thu Joint Commission created by
the act approved Aug. =. is7b. an act proy~snQ
for the completion u the Washington munu-
ulent, il also herewith transmitted with accom-.
panying documents. The Board OF Engineer
Officers, detailed u examine the monument, in
compliance will! the second scctlon Of tho act,
hass reported tlat the foundation Ia nsutitclent.
No authority exists for making tho expenditure
nccceaafy to secure lts stability. there.
tord& recommend TINT the Commission
bs tauthurize4 to expeul suc., portion
Of The sum appropriated by tho act ~ may b.
necessary for the purpose. The preScut unan.
Istlttl condition of the monument, begun 80
long agl,. ia repruach to the nation. 1t cannot
bc doubted that the patriotic SENSE OF the cout,-
trv will mainly responl to such prompt pro-
ylaton as may be u,adv fur its completion At Al
early day, and urgt upon CuhgrGss tho pro-
pflcty aud necessity Of immediate legislation
for this purpose.