Evening star., 1924-06-15
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

After an exhaustive Investigation
into the affairs of the District, the joint
committee of Con-
Ad Interim Form gress drafted and
of Government. new rovern-
ment, or rather, an ad interim gov
eminent, until Congress should pro-
vide a permanent form. The Star of
June 8, 1874, thus summarizes the pro-
visions of this measure:
at wipes out the governorship, board
of public works, legislative assembly
and delegate to Congress, but excepts
the term of office Of the present dele
gate. 1t authorizes the President TO
appoint three commissioners, to be con-
firmed by the Senate, to perform the
duties now performed by the governor
and board of public works: but they
are restricted from making contracts
or incurring any obligation other than
may be necessary to the execution OF
existing legal obligations and contracts
and the protection or preservation of
improvements existing or commenced.
The commissioners are authorized to
abolish any office, reduce the number
and the compensation of all employees.
except school teachers. is reduced 20
per cent. An Army engineer officer.
appointed by the President. is to per-
upon the engineer Of the board of pub
lie works. The rate of taxation upon
real estate in Washington is fixed at
50 per hundred; in Georgetown, $3.50:
in the county, 81.
"A joint committee Of two senator's
n on n IN ~
the presiding officers Of the two houses.
are to prepare a suitable permanent
form Of government. for the DistrictA
and report on the first day OF the
also to prepare and submit to Congress
a statement Of the proper proportion OF
the expenses of said government, in
cluding interest on it's funded debt
which should be borne by said District
and the United States. respectively. The
Treasury are constituted board of
audit, to examine and audit the debt
of the District. The sinking fund com
missioners of the District are author
ICED to issue bonds In sums Of $50 and
$500, payable fifty years after date, and
bearing interest at the rate of 3.65, pay
able semi mi-annually, exempt from taxa
tion and guaranteed by the United
States to the extent specified In the
bill; and the sinking fund commission
ers are authorised to exchange these
class of Indebtedness named in the.
preceding section of the act, including
sewer taxes or assessments paid. No
further certificates of indebtedness un-
der the sewer act are to be issued. The
preceding act Of the legislative as
sembiy of June 20, 1879, Is ratified, but
none of the bonds authorized by the
act remaining unsold shall be nego-
tiated at less than par.
~ -l~ ,n~lyc ~
preparation and will need considerable
revision by Congress, but the features
in the main will, we think. be accept
able to the people of the District. The
rate of taxation for Washington, So
per hundred, seems unreasonably high,
especially if the government Is to as
sumo it's fair proportion OF expenses,
and, further, in view of the fact that
it is proposed to fund the District inl'
debtedness in fifty-year bonds at q,
ever. no provision enforcing payment
of taxes, or encouraging prompt pay
ment by the premium usually given by
way of percentage deducted, 1t would
seem to be left optional with the tax,
iThe reduction of 10 per cent on sala-
ries will strike the victims as rather
hard, but they will have, the prospect
Of being paid in something more yalu-
able than certificates
With some notifications q bill of
this character was passed during the
next session of Congress and establish.
ed the temporary form Of government
for the District which continued until
the enactment Of the law or June IL.
1873. establishing a permanent form of
government. 1t was this later act Of
Congress that was known for many
years as the "organic act" of the Dis
trict providing for an executive of three
Commissioners. appointed by the Pres
officer Of the Army, and also for the
even division or the cost of Districtl
maintenance between the federal gov.
ernment and the District taxpayers.