National Republican., 1877-12-12

IhlS seems 10 De anomalous anu un1ust, unu
calls for speedy adjustment upon some
other principle than that which has hereto
fore controlled our District affairs.
The time seems to have come when q change
Is not only desirable but inevitable to place
our District government upon o fair, just, and
beneHcent system that will alike command
confidence and respect from the people and
the powers to be. The first questions to be
solved are how shall we extricate the Dis
trict government from its present entangle-
ments2 And how shall it be governed in
the future so as to escape from falling again
into this governmental labarynthP In this
connection we propose to indulge some
suggestions for general consideration.
In the first place, we suggest that the
business of the old corporations, territorial
government, &C., be closed by commission,
which shall have full power TO examine into
and decide upon all claims, liquidate all the
accounts of the District, and present bal
ance-sheet, which shall show the precise
condition of our finances; apportion fairly
the proportion of the existing indebtedness
to bo borne by the General Government and
the Taxpayers of the District-the Govern
ment to assume all existing liabilities This
will leave the new government with clean
sheet and healthy starting-point.
:. This point attained, then comes the ques-
Ii on of~ new government. We are led to
su ggest, SO long as there seems to be no
hope for recognition of the right Of suf-
frage and representation for the District,
that our entire interests be abandoned TO
the General Government and that the local
government be divided into four depart
ments, each organized with board of com.
missioners, and all subordinate to the Secre-
tary of the Interior. These boards to be
designated as The Board of Public Works
and Collection of Taxes, the Board Of Edu-
cation, the Board Of Public Health and
Charities, and the Board Of Police and Firo
Department..
| Each of these boards to be composed Of
the same number of members, say five or
seven, and the whole to be placed in es-
pecial charge of the Assistant Secretary Of
the Interior, who shall be regarded as the
head of the District government The func-
/ UOnS Oh IntSt Nrtrah hNoPSsu'SiJ w Nv
purely executive, each TO be allowed suffi-
cient clerical and other force adequate to
their respective departments.
The several members of these boards to
constitute the Council of the District Of
Columbia" which shall hold stated meet
, iugs, H. which the Assistant Secretary OF
the lnte-ior, in charge of the affairs Of the
District of Columbia, is to preside and have
: the right Of discussion, but no vote. All
: new measures re'ating to the government
Of the District, or any department thereof
to be introduced in tie Council, discussed
and voted on. Such measures as receive
, the favorable vote OF n.,jority OF
the Council, to be referred to the Secretary
of the Interior for his approval or dissent
Any measure not approved by the Secretary
of the Interior, to be returned to the Coun-
Gil with his objections, when it may again
be submitted to vote, and if it shall re.
, ceive q majority Of two-thirds of all the
members of the council, il shall become q
, law without the approval of the Secretary
If the Secretary fails to return bill to the
Council within fft>su days after being sub
mitted to him, It shsltGhecomc law .he
same as if it received his approval.
Every officer CO .--ot,d Wit. the several
departments Of the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia, except the Secretary OF
, the Interior or his assistant, to b. bona
fde citizen of the District. The members
of these boards to be nominated by the
President and..appointed by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate.
Each board to have the appointment Of
all their subordinates.
ii Congress to decide the amount Of taxa
ton to be borne respectively by the General
Government and the taxpayers Of the Dis
trict The Board of Public Works to col
T lect said taxes and pay the same into. the
Treasury of the United States. All the ex-
penses for carrying on the government of
the District of Columbia beyond the
amount collected by taxation, to be borne
by the Government of the United States
No moneys to be drawn from ther Treasury
on account of the District government ex-
cept on requisitions from the Secretary OF
the Interior.
All contracts to bear the signature of said
Secretary.
AL disbursements on account ofcOntracts
salaries, &c, to be made by the Assistant
Secretary of the Interior upon vouchers
properly submitted by the respective
boards.
We have here presented hasty and some
what crude suggestions for District gov
ernment for the consideration of the people
We are firm in the belief that representa-
\ ton and taxation should go together in thu
IDistrict, and that it is alike unwise Sid un
4 just to disfranchse its citizens, butff tha
right is to be surrendered, then give us
: government that will be benefcent ant
: lust to all concerned.
The Government of France.