Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-06
The District i'm Congress-.

THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT ELL IN THE
HOUSE.
The House to-day, without yea and nay
vo.e, ad3Dted resolution to suspend the
rules and take up the bill to provide perma-
nent form of government for the District of
Columbia. On a rising vote there were l73
yeas and nav. The bill was then taken I'D
and considered by sections. Mr. Cox, of
Ohio, and Gen. Garfield doubted the eonsti-
siOners, and the former moved to strike out
all that part of the section which provides for
the election OF commissioners and vest the
appointments with the President. Mr. Black
burn held that the House had as much right
under the Constitution to elect commissioners
OF the District as it had to elect regents
lor the Smithsonian institution or a
Mr.. COnger moved an amendment that the
President appoint the two Commissioners for
one and two years, and, after their terms re-
ssPectivey expire, appoint their successors for
three years, and to leave the Commissioner
who is to be an army engineer as now pro-
yided by the bill to be appointed by the Presi-
dent from the Engineer corps OF the army.
in favor of the appointment Of the Commits
sioners by the President, and against that
the commissioners shall have been resi-
dents of the District for ten years. He
said it was anti-republican and looked as
some, old fogies who had not kept pace
with the progress of events. Mr.. Burchard, of
ID, held that it was unconstitutional to vest
the election of the Commissioners with the
Senate and House, because they are officers of
the United States and are required to give
bonds as are other officers. Mr.. Mayham, of
not be officers of the United States
tom but would E be 3uni es e ofisers.
MIR. Thompson, of Pa, said he did not believe
that congress had power to name q single
officer for the DistricS of Columbia. Mr. Gar
field said there was nothing in the affirmative
power given to Congress over the District
which authorized it to appoint officers. It's af-
f1rmative power was only to exercise excius-
i've LeqistotiO7sOver the District.
The debate on the bill was in progress when
our report closed.
BILLS BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE To-
The Senate District of Columbia committee
met this morning. 1t was agreed to report
favOrably House resolution regulating ex-
emptiOns in the District of Columbia with an
a anne exSemptlng earnings not to exceed
800 instead OF so per month, as the original
agreed to report favorably Senate bill declara,
toIy OF the h law relating to deseens and nher
report was made on the bin to regulate the
foreclosure OF mortgages and deeds of trust in
the District of Columbia and to prevent fraudu-
lent releases. The dog tax bill was discussed
briefly in committee. After being amended
in accordance with the wishes of the Board OF
Health and District Commissioners, it will be
1HC CUlIlllltltt also re-
ported adversely on the petition of Joseph
Williams, to be given $4,000 for extra work
alleged to have been done by him on the Jetfer-
son school building. The bill agreed upon by
the committee last week, providing an apprO-
prlatlOn to fence and keep in repair the old
HOlmead cemetery, was reported favorablY to
the Senate by MIR. MerrimOn to-day.
COLUMBIAN UNIVERSITY.
The bill introduced in the House to-day sup
Elementary to the act Incorporating the CO.
lumbar College in the District of Columbia
provides that the act of March Sd. 1873. ratify-
ing and confirming the act for the relief of the
Columbian College, enacted by the legislative
assembly and said District, and approved July
18th, 1871, be so amended as to authorize the
trustees and OyerSeerS of the Columbian Uni
versity to hold their annual meetings on such
day in May or June preceding the annual
commencement of the College and the other
schools of the University as the said trustees
and Overseers shall appoint, instead of being
held on the Tuesday next preceding the last
Wednesday III that month.