Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-18
CHARTER OR No CHARTER

ElseWhere VIII be found the proceedings of
large and influential meeting of citizens of the
District in relation TO the question of the form
OF government for the District most desirable
10 be adopted upon the expiration of the pres.
ent charter. 1t will be seen that the meeting,
composed OF leading citizens of all parties, ex
pressed itself with almost entire unanimity in
favor; LIST, of 3 consolidation of the Corpora
tons OF Washington, Georgetown, and the
county; and, 2d, of form of government by
Commissioners; doing away wholly with the
elective stem IN the District
We have been inclined, heretofore, to favor
the consolidation of the Corporations of the
county and the adoption of a territorial form
of government, as giving the people of the
District some voice in their affairs. We have
doubted if 1t would be altogether healthful
condition of things should the 10000 people of
the District be- put in position TO have no say
whatever in their mode of government 1t has
seemed 10 Us, also, that the mode of government
BY commissioners would put enormous powers.
without check, in the hands OF men who, ac-
cording to the usual course, would be political
sppOintees, having no interest whatever in the
District, or Its people.
We are disposed, however, to give great
weight to the deliberately expressed opinion of
such 4 body of our citizens as was gathered
last night at Metzerott Hall: and if a bill for a
cOmmissiOnerShip form of government, care
fully guarded by the amendments proposed by
the committee, can be got through Congress il
VIII Judging IRON the unanimIty of feeling at
this meetng) prove more acceptable to the
mass of our citizens than any other mode of
government proposed. 1t is urged with no lit
tie force in behalf of giving up the charter and
the elective franchise, that the exercise of that
franchise in this District has proved a delusion
snd = snare, causing US TO grasp at the shadow of
representation and power, and 10 lose the sub
stantial benefits that might have been gained by
aSystem of rule for which the National Govern
mrnt would be responsible. With this respon-
slbilty on its shoulders il Il held that the Gov
eminent would have initiated and carried out
= ~ stem OF Improvement and adornment for
Tie national metropolis commensurate with the
grand scale upon which il was planned and
gratifying to the national pride in filing out
the ideal of a national capital, representing
great, powerful and wealthy country
II l. conceded that the progress of improve
ment IN Washington has been steady, under
our present form of government, but it is GER
tain that II Is not on n scale commensurate with
the extraordinary demands, in a city laid out on
the colossal plan OF the national capital Ad-
hitting that our system of popular elections is
10 more vicious OF Objectionable than that of
other large cities, the question is. whether in
damaging privilege, a bauble that we had
b,tter exchange fOr more substantial benefits
One thing Is certain. that while spectators.
Lobbyists, or partizans continue to exist any
action by the corporate authorities Of Washing
ton, upon almost any question ono matter what
party Il IN power IN This city,) will be repre-
sent d TO our disadvantage before Congress BY
interested persons having an AK to grind a
place 10 seek, or party move TO advance If
the District Is governed under the direct control
a Congress, this lever, which has been worked
80 successfully TO our disadvantage in the past
IN the halls, Hobbies, and committee rooms of
Congress can be operated against us no longer
We sre u stated that Senator Harlan chair
man OF the Senate District Committee. l. pre-
larlng a bill consolidating the District CORPORA
u0ns and extending the charter for twenty
year. We know that at one time MI
Harlan had IN view the preparation OF
Dill OF this kind, but il has be IN given
cut lately that he had abandoned the idea.
ana would favor the commissionership plan
Shouid he press the passage of a bill conflicting
v IN Mr. NoTrills bill the matter will become
Considerably complicated; but. in any event il
W al BE- the duty of the citizens interes ted 10 en-
deavor 20 have the legislation in regard to the
Charter 80 shaped TO protect the interests of
the people of the District and certainly in a
form providing for the consolidation Of the Dis
TICt corporations.