Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-18
LOCAL NEWS.
ADJUSTMENTS. &c. TONIGHT


Grower s.-Oniy time this season OF Herdi's
charming opera Of . III Trovatore, OF the Gyp-
f sS as popnlaIiy rendered b., by
comic oP-retia of .sHome for the Holidays"
A capital bill.
MAY FEsTIvAL.-MarIni's successful May
evening.
CANTERBUEY.-MulIigan, Emerson, Garlic
ton. Donnelly, Buckley. the Clnetop Sisters,
ana the ContortIonist, in a huge bill this even
ing.
MEETING OF TIE BOARD OF TRADB-The Bill
5t0Te Congress luxurious to he Business Interests
OF me DISfTict-At a meeting of the Board of
Trade, held at their rooms last evening, there
was not a very full attendance. In the absence
of the President. John II. Semmes. Esq the
Vice President, Mr.. Samuel Bacon, presided.
He stated the object of the meeticg to be the
consideration OF the bill introduced into the
Senate of the United States, depriving the Cor
pOratons of Washington and GEORGETOWN eff
their Charters so far as il affected the business
interests of the District and proceeded to read
the section providing for (increased) taxation
on real and personal property, sales of mer-
ChaEdise, &c; also, the section naming the
officers of the District under the proposed law.
fully analysed this bill, that the salaries alone
would cost S32ODOO per annum, leaving little
er nothing for the improvement Of the city.
Mr.. A. X. Shepherd moved the appointment
OF a committee TO prepare a remonstrance
against the bull, in so tar as it affects the bust
ness interests of the District. He had always
Dctu VI opinion tnat the Dlstr1ct should De
governed by but one power-either municipal
or congressional; but with the general pro-
visions of the bill the Board had nothing to do,
ana should conhne their protest to its effect on
our business interests.
Mr.. John Mitchell said that whenever ma
uonal politics was introduced into our NUM-
this Corporation, and it was so now. We must
submit II Congress dictates. Our hands are
tied, and we must go under. We must choose
between this bill and negro suffrage, and of the
two give him this bill.
The Chair said this bill provided for negro
suffrage, as, under its provisions, white and
black citizens were entitled to vote for the Dis
trict delegate to Congress.
MIR. Sioussa commended that negroes could
not vote under the bill; that il did not make
any such provision, and negroes could not vote
under existing laws.
Dir. A. Shepherd said the BILL repeats the city
charters and all existing laws for this District
limiting suffrage 10 white citizens, and there
fore If II was passed in its present shape the
negroes were entitled to vote under the civil
rights bill.
Further discussion ensued on this point
when Mr.. Mitchell rose 10 deprecate any po-
1itical discussion, although the political and
business aspects of the city could not well be
separated. He suggested a general meeting of
the merchants, or OF all citizens of the District,
10 protest against the obnoxious features of the
meas
Mr.. SioUssa thought opposition to any par
ticular section of the bill would not be so eff
tectye as opposition 10 1t as whole.
The Char thought it best 10 demonstrate
against the most oppressive features of the
bill, so that If passed at all it will be in the
least Objectionable form.
Mr.. SIOussa thought this bill was TO take the
place OF the bill granting negro suffrage.
Mr.. A. Shepherd wanted 10 know, if that was
the case, why the words ''white male citizens
In the charter were left out of this bill.
Mr.. John II. Elvans hoped the political
peCt OF the question would be as far as pos
slbe separated from its business aspects in this
discussion. He announced himself, like Mr..
Shepherd. in favor of consolidated govern
ment for the District, and offered resolution
that in the opinion of the Board of Trade the
interests OF the District would be best SUBJ
served by homogeneous government, instead
OF by five different powers, as at present: also,
recommending revision of the civil code.
Mr.. Orme hoped the meeting would adjourn
10 meet on some other evening when there
could be a fuller attendance TO act on the i'm
portant questions under consideration. If pol
Itics were introduced into the Board of Trade
IL would kill the organization. He said the
people of this city were Disguised with the
corporation and its heavy expenditures Of
Sl3u,COO for building a school house, and the
digging out OF the canal at this time. The peo-
pie would sooner surrender he charter than
not
Mr.. Sioussa concurred in these views. and
spoke OF the disgraceful action of the present
corporation, particularly OF the Councils, and
of the business men being run out Of their
stores by the stencil arising from the canal
Mr.. Evans urged the necessity for action on
what he termed his particular hobby. being the
bill for limited partnerships and other meas
ures necessary for the business interests Of the
District.
Mr.. Mitchell would like to see the other end
OF the District lGeorgetown.-RRP.l present
when this matter of the bill repeating the char
ter was considered, which he was more op-
posed to the more he thought of ii. He sug-
gesred public meeting Of the citizens of Wash
lngton and Georgetown at the City Hall.
Mr. Orme was under the impression that If
public meeting of the citizens was called they
would vote in favor of repeating the charter.
Mr.. Sioussa offered a substitute for III r.
Shepherds resolution by having the Chair ap-
point committee Of citizens of Washington
and Georgetown requesting them TO call a
public meeting at the City Hall TO consider the
bill.
Mr.. Orme opposed the resolution.
Mr.. Mitchell suggested an adjourned meet
ing of the Board of Trade at the City Hall,
Mr.. Morrill, TO be invited TO discuss the mat
Ter.
Mr. Elvans said he understood Mr.. Morrill,
was anxious TO explain The bill to the busin, 81
men of the District.
After further discussion the several promo.
sitions submitted were withdrawn, and Mr.
Shepherd renewed his resolution IN the fol
lowing shape:
Resolt ed, That a committee of five be ap'
pointed TO whom shall be referred the bill re
ported to the Senate Of the United States BY
the Hon. Mr.. morrill,, and endeayor to Obtain
such amendments TO the bill as they may deem
necessary, effecting the mercantile intents o
The city.
MT Bacon was thereupon elected Chairman
OF the committee with power 10 appoint tn
other four members, and named Messrs. Mitch
ell. Shepherd, Elvans and Polkinhorn. Ad
jOuTned.
MEETING OF THE DISTRICT VOLUNTEERS
A meeting of the District Volunteers was hell
last evening at Temperance Hall, Col. TAFT II
She chair, and Lieutenant VIM. Young secre
1ary.