Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-18

Dill should Be placed on tho OOmMit1 a. f.
instance, Major Richards, for the Police Depart
ment, some leading member of tNe Board
School Trustees for the School dDpartmon&, and
The same with regard to the Water deparsment
Pre- department. Sewerage department Sur
veyors department., &c, &c. The experience
OF these gentlemen would enable them 10 make
bill
Mr.. John r. Elvans said there WA mi.
point involved in the matter; the lower board
of the present City Council had adopted a reso.
iuhon requesting their committee before Con-
gress TO ask the continuance Of the present city
charter for 20 years That certainly was an
tagonistic to the views of this meeting. The
resolution came TO the upper board last Mon.
aay ssng but 70, two weeks
see any antagonism between the corporate au-
thorines and the tax payers. He was opposed
To the extension of the charter, and il the Coun-
eipal tax payers the abrogation of the CITY
charter, there would be nothing accom-.
plished. In the Board of Aldermen the tax
paying element OF thus community was prob
ably represented as much in this or any
other meeting. This meeting was placed in a
peculiar position, because, if the Councils went
before Congress, they would probably say their
constituents were tax payers, and they might
have more influence with Congress Would it
not be better to take little more time in this
thing' He intended to offer substitute for
the resolution now before the Aldermen look
ing 10 the consolidation of all the corporations
in this District He thought the Police Depart
ment and School Department should be taken
from the arena of local politics. He asked that
little more time be taken for celebrating this
matter. His individual proposition would be
TO ignore any attempt to suggest to Congress
any particular form of government, but would
endeayor TO have the School and Police DE.
partments divorced from local politics.
Mr. Shepherd said he hoped his friend
ElyaDs would be- successful in diyorcing the
police and school departments from local poll
ties. He doubted. however, if the Taxpayers
OF this city have much to say as to who goes to
the City Councils. As regarded the supposi.
ton that concert of action could be arrived at
between themselves and the City Councils, he
would say that one board of the Councils had
by large majority, expressed themselves in
favor OF renewal of the charter for twenty
years, and the other board would have done the
same but for the POstponement of the question
effected by Mr.. Elvans. If the matter should
be- postponed until the City Councils har-
monized with this meeting there would be
time to renew the charter not only for
twenty years, but for one hundred wears!
The taxpayers of this city did not want any
elections of any kind, and had not wanted
them for twenty years. If the people trified
with these little petty elections the city never
would come to anything. He did not want to
tread on any ones corns or hurt anybodys feel.
ings. but there was a large and respectabi meet.
ing here tonight. and action should he taken
We want an honest board of commissioners
and no broken down political demagogue
Good men were wanted, such men as General
Mlchier-men who have some ideas, some pub
lie spirit, and who do not seek the position
merely to feather their nests. board of COM
missloners made up OF men of the right stamp
could spend our money more judiciously than
II had ever been spent for the impro vement of
the cityi so that in ten years the Oldest nhabit-
ant would hardly recognize the eaty. ZAP
plause. Mr.. Walker had thrown out some
good suggestions that could be attended to
In perfectng the bill, in regard to plac-
ing the commissioners in a position to
sue and be sued, &c. In regard to the chances
for the passage of the bill, there might be some
dinleulty, owing to the peculiar circumstances
IN which We are placed. 1t might be claimed
that IL was a blow aimed at colored suffrage
but 1t could be readily shown that the objection
had no validity. This bill had been carefully
prepared by Senator Morrill, some years ago,
when coiored suffrage was not a matter in
ques tion- and II was advocated now quite with.
out distinction of party. He had had a long
conversation with Gov. Morrill, on the pre-
ced1ng evening. and the latter expressed the
opinion that the Senate would listen to any
suggestions from the taxpayers of the CITY, and
that the bill world be passed in a shape to give
satisfaction. Governor Morrill, said ne would
take off his coat and 90 to work TO effect the
passage Of the bill
In conclusion, Mr.. Shepherd moved as an
amendment TO Col. Phillips resolution to strike
out the word four and insert nine, and that the
chair appoint the committee and announce the
same through the papers, as il would be advis-
able TO take time and get the right sort of men
on the committee
Col. Phillips accepted the amendment, and
Mr.. Shepherd moved that the vote on the same
BE- taken by rising.
The Chair put the question, and every one
arose except Mr.. ID. NJ. Kelsey, who arose when
the negative was called for.
On motion of Mr. Kilbourne, the chairman of
the meeting. DIR. Nichols was made "A MEM
Der of the committee TO be appointed. Ad-
journed.