The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-12-04

formation and will constitute the only report
emanating from the government on the subject
of the exhibition, l invite attention to the
matter and recommend that the report be pub.
lished for general information.
District of Columbia.
Congress is empowered by the constitution
with authority of exclusive legislation over
the District of Columbia, in which the seat of
government OF the nation IS 10 lated. The In
terests of the District having no direct rapre
sentatIon in Congress are entitled to special
consideration and cara at the hands of the gen.
eral government. The capitol of the United
States belongs to the nation, and it is natural
that the American people should take pride 10
the seat of their national government and de-
sire it to be an ornament to the country. Much
has been done to render it heathfnl convenient
aud attractive, but much remains to be done,
which its permanent inhabitants ara not able,
and ought not to be expected, to do To impose
upon them laIge proportion of the cost re-
quired for public Improvements which in great
measure are planned and executed for convent
ence of the governmental land of the many thou
sands of visitors from all parts of the country
who temporarily reside at the capital of the
nation, is an evident injustice. Special atten-
ton is asked by the commissioners of the Dis
trlct in their report which is herewith trans
United, to the i'm poItance of a permanent ad-
justment by Congress of the financial relations
between the United States and the District, in-
volvipg the regular annual contribution of the
penses Of the District government of the out
lay for all needed public Improvements and
such measures of relief from the burden of
taxation now resting OF the people of the Dis
trict as in the wisdom of Congress may be
deemed just
The report Of the commissioners show the
affairs of the district are in q condition as
satisfactory as could be expected 10 view of the
heavy debt resting upon it and its very limited
means for defraylng necessary expenses.
The daht nf the district ia fnllOws. Cd
funded debt, S8,379, 691 So; 3.65 bonds guaran-
teed by United States, $13,743 $50 Total
bonded debt, 500, 122, GAL 96. to which should be
added certain outstanding claims as explained
in the report of the commissioners. 81 1872 204 80
making the total debt of the district 1923, 31O,-
146.48 The commissioners also ask attention
to the importance of the improvement of the
Potomac river and retaining of the marshes
bordering the City, of Washington, and their
views upon this subject are concurred in by
the members of the Board of Health, whose
report is also herewith transmitted. Both the
commercial and sanitarial interest of the dis
tricJ will be greatly promoted, doubt not, by
this improvement
Your attention is invited to the suggestion of
the Commissioners of the Board of Health for
the organization of q Board of Charities
to have supervision and control of the dis
bursement of all moneys for charitable pur-
poses from the District Treasury I desire also
to ask your especial attention to the need of
adding to the efficiency of the public schools Of
the District BY supplemental aiG from the
national Treasury. This is especially just,
since so large number Of those attending the
schools are children of employees of the gov
ernment l earnestly commend 10 your care
the interests of the people of the District who
are so intimately associated with the govern
meet establishment, to whose enterprise the
good order and, attractivepess of the capitol
are largely due. And ask your attention to
the request of the commissioners for legislation
IN behalf of those intrusted to their care The
appropriations asked for the care of the reser-
vations belonging to the government within
the city by the Commissioner of Public Blu Id
iugs and Grounds are also commended to your
favorable consideration.
The Washington Monument.
The report of the joint commission created
by the act approved, August I'd, 1876, entitled
an act providing for the completion of the
Washington Monument, is also herewith trans
mtted with accompanying documents The
board of engineer officers detailed to examine
the monument in compliance with the second
section of the act, have reported that the foun-
daton is insufficient. No authority exists for
making the expenditures necessary to secure its
stability. l. therefore recommend that the CON-
mission be authorized to expend such portion
of the sum appropriated by the act as may be
necessary for the purpose. The present unfin-
ished condition OF the monument begun so long
ago is a reproach to the nation. 1t cannot be
doubted that the patriotic sense of the country
will warmly respond to such prompt provision
as may be made for its completion at an early
day, and urge upon Congress the propri ety
and necessity of immediate legislation for this
purpose.
National Education.
The wisdom of legislation upon the part of
Congress in aid of the states for the education
of the whole people 10 those branches of study
which are taught in the common schools of the
country, is DO longer question. The iutelli-
gent Judgment OF the country goes still further
regarding it as both constitutional and expedi-
ent Tor the general government to extend
technical and higher education, such aid as is
deemed essential to the general welfare and to
our due prominence among the enlightened
and cultivated nations of the world. The ulti-
mate settlement of all questions of the future,
whether OF administration or finance, or of true
nationality of sentiment depends upon the
virtue and intelligence of the people 1t is vain
to hope for the success of free government
without the means of ensurng the intelligence
OF those who are the source of power. No less
than one seventh OF the entire voting popua-
ton OF ouG country are yet unable to read and
write 1t is encouraging to observe in connec-
ton with the growth of fraternal feeling in
these states in which slavery formerly existed
evidences of increasing interest 10 universal
education, and l shall be glad to give my ap-
proyal to appropriate measures which may be
enacted by Congress for the purpose of supple
mentiDg with national aid the local system of
education in those states, aud having already
of Columbia with respect to its public school
system l here add that believe it desirable,
not so much with reference to the local wants
of the district, but to the great and lasting
benefit of the entire country that this system
should be crowned with university in all re-
spects in keeping with the National Capital,
and thereby realize the cherished hopes of
Washington on this subject. I also earnestly
commend the request of the regents of the
Smithsonian Institute that an adequate appro-
priation be made for the establishment and
conduct of National Museum under their su-
perYision.
The request of providing for the preservation
and growth of the library of Congress is also of
national Importance as the depository of all
copyright publications and records. This libra
ry has outgrown the provisions for its accom-
modations and the erection on such site as the
Judgment of Congress may approve, of fire.
proof building to preserve the treasure and en-.
large the usefulness of the valuable collection
is recommended.
recommend also such legislation as will
render as suitable and efficient for the purpose
OF instruction, so far as is consistent with the
public service the cabinets or museum Of the
culture and other collections, the property of
the national government.
The capital of the nation should be some
thing more than mere political centre. We
should avail ourselves of all the opportunities
placed at our command to promote the general
intelligence OF the people and increase the
conditions most favorable to the success and
perpetuity of our institutions.
r. B. HAYES.
December 81, 1877.