Evening star., 1915-02-13
TO ADJUST RELATIONS
Of Us AND DISTRICT
Preliminary Move Is Inaugurated in
Bill introduced by Sena-
tor Hollis.
Creates Board With Power to Inves-
tigate Conditions-Taxation and
Franchise Part Of Inquiry.

| bill to create board to investigate
| and report on the political and fiscal
relations existing between the United
States of America and the District OF
Columbia has been introduced by SEN
ator Hollis of New Hampshire and re-
ferred to the Senate District committee
Senator Hollis Is member of the Dis
trict committee and will endeavor to
get favorable action on his measure
he said today. The board created by
the bill would not only look into the
matter of making appropriations and
1evying taxes in the District, but also
into the matter of franchise for the
residents of the District.
Provisions of the Bill.
The terms Of the bill are as follows:
THE President Of the United States is
hereby authorized and directed to ere
ate a board of three men to Investigate
and report to the President and the
Congress of the United States concern
ing the political and fiscal relations ex-
listing between the United States and
the municipal corporation known as
the District of Columbia.
That said board shall consist Of
three members to be appointed by the
President, with the advice and consent
of the Senate. No member of said
board shall be a member of the Con-
gress of the United States. nor an in
habitant of said District of Columbia,
nor an owner Of real estate or personal
property in said District, nor with busi-
ness interests therein The compensa-
tion of the members of said board shall
be fixed by the President and shall not
exceed the sum of $500 monthly for
each member.
Report on Practicability.
THAT said board shall report to the
President and the Congress before the
first Monday in December, 1915. wheth-
er 1t is now practicable to entrust to
the people of the District Of Colum-
bia the making Of their own local laws,
the assessment, collection and distribu-
ton of their own local taxes, and the
selection by their own votes of the ex-
ecutives of their own local government
Said board shall report what part Of
the local expenditures is properly
made at the expense of the United
States; what part at the expense of
the District of Columbia, and what
parts Of these expenses of the District
of Columbia and the United States are
so mingled that they cannot be readily
separated. II it shall seem to said
board that changes in existing laws
are desirable. they shall recommend
specific changes with a view to Great
Ing harmonious, practicable and just
form of government for said District.
Power Of the Board.
THAT said board shall have the
power to call upon the executive de-
partments for such information as may
be in their possession; to employ coun-
sci and assistants: to call public meet
ings; to compel the attendance of wit
nesses; to administer oaths and to do
such other things as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of this act.
That the sum of $4,000 is hereby
appropriated out of any sums in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated
to be expended under the direction of
the President to carry out the purposes
of this act"