Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-24
Text of Resolution.

The Pomerene resolution makes the fol-
lowing provisions:
THAT there is hereby created a COM
mission, to be known as the District of
columbia commission. to be composed
ot twelve members. three members of
the Senate, to be appointed by the Vice
President, three members of the House
of Representatives, to be appointed by
the Speaker, three actual bona fide resi-
dents of the District of Columbia who
are conversaut with the affair of
pointed by the President, and the three
Commissioners of the District: that said
commission is hereby empowered and di-
rected to make a thorough examination
OF the relations at present existing be-
tween the federal government and the
District of Columbia: that the commits
sion is directed to ascertain and report
to Congress whether local sclf-govern-
ment might not now be granted to said
District of Columbia, and that if said
commission shall ascertain that said local
self-gover,llnent could now be granted
| to the District of Columbia, said COM
mission prepare and report 10 Con
gresS a bill creating said local self-gov-
eminent.
The commission shall make a careful
investigation to ascertain what federal
aid should be given to the District of
Columbia by way of contribution from
the federal Treasury for the support of
the local affairs of the said District of
Columbia. The commission shall have
the power and authority to employ
secretary, clerical help, and such ac-
countantS and experts on municipal af-
fairs as it shall deem proper and neces-
sary for a thorough, comprehensive re-
port. The commission shall fix the COM
pensation to be paid to these persons
and If the said commission shall sit dur
ing recess of Congress the members of
the commission shall be entitled to
mileage and hotel expenses made neces-
sary by attendance on these meetings.
the same to be paid out on a voucher
signed by the chairman of the commits
sion
Public Hearings Provided.
THE commission shall give public hear
lnSs in the District of Columbia, or
at such other places as a majority of
said commission may determine. The
commission is especially to ascertain and
report to Congress the fair average rate
of taxes collected in other cities of like
size to that of Washington upon the
actual cash value of it's property and re-
port to this House what would be a fair
and reasonable rate to be assessed against
the property Of the District of Columbia
at its actual cash value.
The commission shall ascertain and
report what kinds and classes of property
are assessed In other cities and what
KINGS ana classes OF property should be
assessed in the District of Columbia and
at what rate. in order that the property
in the District of Columbia might bear d
fair burden of taxation as compared with
property situated elsewhere; that said
commission shall make full and complete
report of Its findings of fact and it's con-
illusions and recommendations for legis-
latiVe action to Congress not later than
the first Monday in December, 1914; that
said commission is hereby empowered to
summon and examine witnesses, admin
lister oaths, compel testimony, and re-
quire the production of books and pa
pers for the purpose of making said in
vestigation and examination.
The life of the commission shall term-
nate on the filing of the report. unless
Congress shall otherwise direct For the
purpose of defraying the expenses of said
commission in the making of said inves-
tigation and preparing said report there
is hereby appropriated. out of the funds
| not otherwise appropriated the sum of
$4,000