Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-02
The Death o, Miss wheeler.

The investigation Of the circumstances of the
death Of Miss Susan Wheeler, from the effects
of an abortion, which occurred on B street near
ISL street west, on sunday morning last, about
one O'Clock, Is still in progress. and the police
and others are working with some success. It
is said that the DEVELOPMENTS Indicate that
slmpk1ns knows more of the case than he has
stateu ana tnat no regular physician of good
stanulng was employed to perform the opera
ton ON Miss Wheeler, which resulted in her
death. II may be some days yet before it is
Known VINO performed the operation, but sus-
plc1on now points to a woman whose name has
moi YET appeared in the case, and who has no
acquaintance with or connection with those who
occupy the house.
Simpkins to-day resigned his position In the
controllers Office. Treasury department. The
resignation was accepted as soon as received.
The general feeling is that he should not have
been allowed to resign, but should have been
bounced.
Controversy About District Finances
REPLY OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO TREASURER GIL
FIILAN's REPORT.
Senator Harris, chairman OF the Senate Dis
tI1ct committee to-day submitted lengthy COM
munication from the District Commissioners ac-
knOwledging the receipt of the second annual
report OF the Treasurer Of the United States on
the sinking fund OF the District OF Columbia,
forwarded to the Commissioners with the re-
quest, from the Senate committee, for such adGi-
tional information as they may possess in re-
spect OF the facts therein set FORTH and also for
their views as to the policy of the Treasurer's
recommendations in relation to said fund. The
commissioners first take up the part of the re-
port finding fault with the loan authorized by
act OF 10th of June. 1879, for the redemption Of
certain funded Indebtedness of the District, The
commissioners then give history of this loan
and defendft. Bonds, to the amount of S2S1. 500
matured on first Of January and first of
March, 1879. and as the current revenues
could not conveniently bear the abstraction of
SO large sum authority was obtained from
congress to replace this amount by new loan
at interest not to exceed six per cent. The en-
tire transaction Is then reviewed, explained and
defended. The commissioners complain that
the L. 5. treasurer set up ''Serio,is claim OF
authority that he claimed the right on his
own requsition. and without the approval or
even knowledge of the Commissioners to tai
from the District treasury all monies appropri-
ated for interest and sinking fund OF the Dis
tT1ct debt. and he has In this manner. since
July Isl. 1879. drawn the sum OF $S47, S5l so The
right to draw out and disburse money after il
has been placed to his credit, but they deny that
any money can be lawfully drawn from the Dis
trlct treasury In any other requisition than their
uhe commissioners own. In this position they
say they are sustained by ruling of the Attor-
ney General made September %. 1879. which
they enclose with their communication. This
seems to be the main question, and, in fact.
almost the only one that the Commissioners
insist upon disputing. They say that the az
.hority claimed by the Treasurer would give
MIN power over the several appropriations for
institutions over which the Commissioners have
no control, but which funds are charged by Con-
SfeSS IN the DISTRICT revenues to be drawn In
the same way by those for whose benefit the
appropriations are made. They insist that
their entire control over District finances and
their responsibility therefor, would be seriously
impaired by the exercise OF the power claimed
by Treasurer Gilfilan
The commissioners heartily concur in three
or the treasurer's recommendations viz: the
nrSt, second and fifth, and conclude by saving
that as IL IS or greatest importance to the In
tereStS and service OF the District that entire
harmony and accord should prevail between its
officers and that department of the federal gov
eminent where the funds of the District are
wisely required by law to be deposited and kept
and the accounts OF its officers to be settled and
adjusted, such legislation as will remove all
DOUBT ON the questions at issue is earnestly de-
sired by the Commissioners.
Inc communication concludes as follows: 1t
is a subject OF cOngratulatiOn that Congress. by
the act OF 18th OF June 1875, has at last recoG-
nIed the true constitutional relations of the
government OF the United States to the District
OF Columbia and has established those relations
as between co-proprietOrS in this District on a
Just and liberal basis. The people of the Dis
trlct gratefully appreciate the value to all their
interests OF this long delayed measure Of Justice
ana IL Will be the pleasure as it is the duty of
the commissioners, as their Representatives, to
MAINTAIN and perpetuate these relations by
Jealous and cordial cooperation with every de-
partment and officer Of the federal government
IN the work OF material and moral progress in
Initpd States