Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-01
GEORGETOWN.
Affaifsin Geer.e.ax..

l. u
and Ii. c. Nichols the privilege Of establishing
branch markets was passed. A resolution pro-
viding for a special election "a ascertain the
sense OF the citizens upon the proposed change
Of government was passed. A substitute for
the same from the Board of Common Council
was read and rejected. The Board insisted or
their res olution, and proposed TO the Council 4
Committe OF Conference 20 consider the mat
ter. Adjourned.
COMMON CouNc1L.-An adjourned meeting Of
this Boa d was held al O'Clock yester lay af-
teTnoon. Petitions Tor the establishment OF
branch markets were received from john Thee
ker, on Bridge street; A. w Fisher, on High
street; and JOSEPH l.. Shoemaker, No. - High
81 Teet; which were referred to the Committee on
Market house, with instructions 10 report a
7. solution granting the privileges asked for.
Mr.. Brown presented the bill of the George
town CCurier (f6Vl for printing the clerks re-
por1; which was referred 10 the Committee on
CLAIMS. Mr. Clabaugh, from that committee
reported resolution 10 pay the claim; pa ssed
hr. DAVIS, from the Committee on Market
house, reported the following resolution which
was passed.
Resolved, de-, That the Clerk be- and he is
hereby directed 10 issue licenses for the estab-
lis hment of branch markets to John THICKER,
at No 20 BEidge street; Joseph L. Shoemaker,
High street, and u. g. and b. F. Nichols al
No. 90 Dunbarton street; and that in the issu-
ance of the fore going licenses the Clerk be, and
he is hereby authorized, TO allow in the pay
ment of the same, pro rata allowance Of the
amount paid by either Of the above named par
ties for the unexpired portion of any other
license that they may hold from the corpora
ton, should they desire TO relinquish the same.
Resolution from the Board of Aldermen, pro-
SIding for special election 10 ascertain the
sense OF the citizens of the town upon the pro-
pc sed change of government, was read. Mr.
Davis thought the resolution onfiicted with
the prescribed forms for the holding Of cleo
lions. Mr.. PickreI concurred with him. and
added that he was IN favor Of deciding the ques-
ton al the general election. Mr.. Clabaugh was
opposed to mourning the expense of a special
election. Mr.. Davis said he was in favor OF see
ing the question decided at the general election
Mr.. Brown was in favor of thu consolidation
of Georgetown with Washington. and thought
ii best to postpone the matter OF an election
until the general election. Mr.. Clabaugh Of
fered as substitute a resolution instructing
the Recorder 10 prepare an ordinance to ascer-
tain the sense of the people with reference to
the proposed change OF government, AT the next
general election, on the 4th Monday in Febru-
airy ensuing: which was passed. A commune
cation was received from the Board of Alder
mel stating that the above substitute had been
rejected by that Board; that they insisted on
their original resolution, and proposing a CON-
mlttee OF conference 10 consider the matter
Adjourned
THE CHATTER QUESTION IN GEoRGETowy-
The third meeting of the citizens of George
town, TO consider the subject of the proposed
change OF government for District Of Columbia,
and the annexation of Georgetown to Wash
mgton, was held last night at New Market
Hall. The number in attendance was very
large.
AT so'clock, the chairman, Jenkin Thomas.
Esq, called the meeting TO order, the secretary
and other officers occupying seats on the plat
form.
dation of the District cities, introd uced at the
meeting on Monday night. by the committee
appointed for the purpose. and published in
the STAR of Tuesday, We're then read and an
invitation extended by the Chair 10 those who
desired to do so TO come forward and express
Them views for or against them.
Loud calls We're made for Recorder Mat.
thews, in response TO which he addressed the
audience for nearly an hour in opposition TO
consolidation, reviewing the Harlan and
Morrill, bills ut some length. The question, he
conceived. was one of vital importance TO the
people OF Georgetown, and IN has opinion,
matters should remain as they are. There had
been no complaints against the government of
Georgetown Ii has been asserted by the ad.
vocates of annexation that the opponents of the
scheme We're influenced by partisan motives
and Discrimination to surrender office. The
impression was groundless, and no fair minded
man could suppose that amalgamation was op-
posed because the Office holders under the
elective franchise desired to retain their places
Another tallacy was the statement that either
the Morrill, or Harlan bill would pass Con-
gress, whereby the charter would be taken
away and the TWO cities consolidated and that
therefore, il behooved the citizens of George
town TO make up their minds to choose that
bill which would best promote their interests
This was 4 mistake, for he believed that If
fair expression of the citizens is had. and il was
either adverse favorable TO consolidation,
Congress would give the matter respectful con-
sideration, and never pass a bill against the
wishes of the majority of the people Just so
with regard to the relative influence of George
town with Congress. either a distinct corpo-
ration portion OF Washington Congress
had never yet treated with indifference pe-
ttions for improvements or appropriations
from Georgetown, and he had no idea that
such would ever bs the case. Besides.
should We sacrifice our commerce. wharf
interests, coal trade. &c, as would be
done should annexation take place! BY an
neXatlon Georgetown would be unable to OBJ
tain any adv antages at the hands of the over
powering majority OF legislators which Wash
ington would nave and be placed in a defence
less position in connection with the efforts of
that Corporation 10 wrest from Us our coal
trade. close our channel, and deprive US of 9TH
er commercial facilities, and transfer the same
TO the Eastern Branch and Potomac wharyes
IN this city Mr.. Matthews read extracts
from the Harlan and Morrill, bills, commenting
upon those sections of the Morrill, bill with ref.
erence to renting out cellars, bringing
fish 10 market prescribing vaccination.
Speaking OF the Board Of Metropolitan Police.
he said il was not only a useless expense to
maintain that institution. but authority was
vested in their hands which should belong to
proposition 10 take away the elective franchise
and place the District in the hands of five COM
missieners. that met with his conscientious
disapproya Instead of the elections being
pronounced, he thought them pleasant little
diversions, and promotive of a feeling of salts
faction among the people. A corporation Cow
eminent l. better calculated TO consider the in
terests of n community than Congress, and
should their legislation he inludicIous or op-
pressiye. the officers could be turned out al tne
next annual election. Mr.. Matthews treated
the subject under consideration in all its phases
and earnestly opposed any change in the char
ter of Georgetown. As to the debt of Wash
ington, IL W as enormous-over million of dol
lars-and il would be unfair TO require
the citizens of Georgetown to help pay II, as
municipality. He ridiculed the argument used
in favor OF the growing prosperity of Washing.
ton, based upon the great increase in her popu-
lation. Facts would prove that this increase
arose from the large influx of negroes, over
twenty thousand of whom had located in
Washington since the commencement Of the
late war. Would any man contend that il was
a source of congratulatlon TO have the city in
which he lived crowded to overlooking with a
population destitute, starving, and unable to
take care of themselves! He supposed not His
remarks Were concluded amid applause with
the following couplet from Pope:
.sBe not the first by whom the new are tried,
Nor yet the last TO lay the old aside"
Dr. Cragin next addressed the meeting. He
said the argument of Mr. Matthews had some
what changed his views advanced at the former
meeting, but the public debt of Washington was
not proportionateIy larger than that Of George
town: so, therefore, the argument ad vanced by
the opponents Of annexation, that GEORGETOWN
weuld be burdened with an in creased finan cial
responsible was untenable. Among the
many reasons in favor Of annexation was the
beautiful building sites on the heights of George