The Washington times., 1904-12-02

7 HC report IS q VOluIntnOuS uOcuiuSnls
consisting OF 700 typewriter pages. The
first twenty-four pages OF the report
contain general recommendations re-
garding the District government as
whole The balance includes special re-
ports and recommendations regarding
each Office grouped under the following
heads: Executive, finance, public
works, public safety, public education,
aI1 charities.
The order authorizing the investiga-
ton was issued August y, 1903. Mon
cure Burke, OF the Engineer Depart
ment, was first appointed a member Of
the committee, but in January OF this
year he resigned and was succeeded BY
Major r. D. simms.
The report IS largely consumed with
detailed statements of the methods pur-
sued in the various departments OF
bookkeeping. and the Recommendations
are chiefly intended TO provide a more
uniform system OF keeping accounts so
as to economize in work and the number
Of vouchers, documents, etc. necessary
for the transaction OF business.
The Chief Fault.
The chief fault found by the commit
lee in the District business system is
the vogue of the collection of taxes
and water rent bills, which it terms at
least unusual. and declares 10 result in
the frequent duplication of bills and
payments. A radical change Is proposed
in the methods OF the assessor and col
lector OF taxes.
The committee spent a large part Of
ats time in an inves. ration Of the
charitable institutions, the control OF
which has long been a bone of con-
tention between the District and the
Government officials. Nevertheless the
committee decided 10 c0nfine its report
to four of these institutions and makes
no recommendations beyond the manner
of making disbursements and keeping
records.
Contracts for Public Work.
Among the recommendations of the
committee are:
That an emort be made to secure
an amendment TO section hve OF the
organic act of June II, TO provide
that In the event Of the disability OF
either Of the Commissioners appointed
from civil life. whereby he may be
prevented from performing the duties
of his office for so long a period as TO
cause serious embarra assment 10 public
interests. the remaining two Commis-
sioners may enter into contracts for
the execution of the public works specl-
ned in the fOrenamed section.
That except in case OF emergency.
regulations. and amendments 10 exist
ing regulations made by the Commis-
sioners. be promulgated only at stated
intervals. 10 be fixed by the Commis-
sioners.
Nomenclature Of Offices.
THAT 1u effort be made TO procure
LEGISLATION assigning TO each Office and
department of the District government
"a title Indicative of the work of such
office.
Under existing conditions no rational
distinction is made between depart
7.e,tsr and offices" of the District
government. and the use OF designa-
tio1s which are not authorized or recog-
uized bv law IS not infrequent
That wherever it appears desirable
that any office or department of the
District government should use seal
ness. am effort should Dee made to OBJ
cain legislation authorizing the adop-
ton and use of an appropriate seal by
such Office or department.
Codifcation Of Laws.
That AN effort be made % procure leg
islatiou providing for the codidcation Cf
az laws OF "a municipal character which
are operative within the District of Co
Emb'-
At present these laws are contained IN
many distinct and dissimilaT volumes.
some OF which are so rare and SO widely
disburs,d as 10 be practically inaccessi-
bic 10 the public
That aE effort be made TO secure an
appropUst tion 70 defray such actual eX-
penses as may be required 20 arrange.
classify and index the old accounts.
records, and papers belonging TO tae
New 0veTcoatings. Wineman, oI4 F.