Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-10
The District In Congress.


having adopted by the House this afternoon
the resolution providing for night sessions on
the third and fourth Thursdays OF each month
for the consideration OF District business.
The Senate District committee held meet
ing this morning. but devoted all OF their time
to work upon the District code, which they
hope and expect to report In a few days,in time
to pass at this session.
THE EIGHT PER CENT CERTIFICATES.
At meeting of the House committee on the
District OF Columbia this morning the follow
ing letter was laid before the committee by
Gen. Hunton:
TREASURY OF THE UNITED SrATEs,l
Washington. DC, Jan. S, 1881.
Sir:-I desire to make the following represen-
tattons In regard to the bill which recently
passed the Senate authorizing the funding Of
the outstanding eight per cent certificates of
Indebtedness of the District Of Columbia, Issued
under the act OF the legislative assembly OF
May 29, 1913, into three per cent bonds or the
DISTRICT. am OF the opinion that the funding
OF said certificates should not take place for
the reason that it was decided in an opinion
rendered April 2lst, lSl3 by the Hon. Caleb
Gushing. Wm E. Chandler and Walter S. Cox
issued by the board are in fact the indebted
ness Of the individual property holders con-
verted into negotiable form by the
Sr ae and rss TGf g. these In ndT
ual property. holders assessed and indebted.
They are not debt OF the District of Colum-
D1a, and for the further reason that the United
States having paid its full proportion OF special
as esSmen'S should not be required to assume
one half of ali arrearageS, as IL would do Ii tnls
OIL becomes law under the provision for the
payment OF half the expenditures on account
OF the outstanding bonds Of the District of Co.
lumbia, and for the reason also that the prompt
taxpayer who has paid his assessments should
not be taxed for arrearages arising from the de-
linquency OF other property owners. The bill
as drawn provides for the funding OF those Ger
llhcates into bonds OF the 3-65 loan, TO be num-
bered consecutively from the last numb7r now
issued. This provision, while it possibly might
De carried out in an issue OF 655, cannot, or
course. be made applicable to three per
cent bond which Will require coupons OF
different amount from the 3 655, neceSSitattng
new bond from an entirely new plate. Ii tue
act is to become law it should be so amended
that the time during whicn the per cents may
be preSe nted for redemption with interest," at
the legal rate, shall be limited TO date at
which the interest On the certificates shau
cease, and the interest on the bonds issued lii
exchange therefor Shall begin at per cent
No more than thirty days from the passage OF
the act should be given. Some provisions also
should be made in the act for the disposition OF
the collections Of special assessments for
which tax lein certificates have been deposited
with the Treasurer OF the United States, the
proceeds OF which were by law TO be applied to
the payment OF the principal and inter
Should the act In question. providing
for the funding OF the S per cents. become
law. the trust, so far as the application OF
demption is concerned will determine. | would
recommend. should the act, be passed, that the
proceeds OF all special assessments for which
tax liens can be held by the treasurer be ap-
piled by him to the sinking fund for the eX-
JiDguishment Of the funded debt of the District,
which by reason OF the high market rate OF the
bonds Will prove insufficient. Should the pro-
ceeds OF special assessments be included fn the
revenues OF the District under existing law the
United States would be required to contribute
an an. equal amount to the general expenses OF the
ItlYp ~ n
proportion for the interest and principal of the
new loan. Very respectfully,
JAMES GILFnLAN, Treasurer, L. S.
AFTER the reading or the letter and some dis
cuSS1On thereon the committee adopted the fol-
lowing resolution offered by Mr.. Neal:
Resolved, that the Commissioners of The Dis
tr1ct OF Columbia are requested TO inform this
committee at their earliest convenience: lsI
The amount of the eight per cent certificates
now outstanding, as near as may be. % fne
amount of the ten per cent bonds or certificates
and by what authority and under what law he
same were issued. Sd. The gross amount OF soe-
cial assessment liens, as now readjusted ap:,li-
cable to the payment OF these eight per ceau
certificates.
The committee authorized Chairman Hinton
to move in the House that on the third aid
fourth thursdays OF each month a recess D.
taken until ~ O'Clock, and that the evening"
sessions thus provided for be devoted TO the
consideration exclusively OF business apparjaln-
ing TO the District OF Columbia.
THE TRAMP LAW DISCUSSED IN TIE SENATE
Z.
known as the tramp bill, came up again 10 the
Senate today as regular business. Senator
vance, who reported the bill and had 1t in
charge. made speech in its favor, In which he
citeo and quoted from laws OF the same charac.
| ter In different states, to show the need OF one
here In the District. He insisted that the law
| Is much needed here, and that the one under
consideration was milder In its provisions than
those OF number OF the states. Senator Car
| penter opposed the bill. saying that the tramp
laws quoted by Mr.. Vance were enact
oPa Vrhn
"tramp scare prevailed and those laws
were notortously severe and criminal in their
PROVISIONS The pending act was somewhat
milGer but it was too severe, and he moved TO
lay it on the table. This was lost, by vote Of
II ayes to rs nays. Senator Ingalls, thought the
bill should be modified by inserting the word
"may" IN connection with the powers OF the
court In Furnishing offenders so that there
would be no doubt as to the discretion OF the
court to accept security or sentence TO punish
ment, as the case might require. This amend
ment was agreed to, and at this juncture the
expiration OF the morning hour sent the bill
over.