Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-30
GEORGETOWN.
Affair. I'm Gearrefaxn.

bjr present was almost. IL not equally, rs larg
as those assembled ON Monday night, which
| considering the inclemency of the " Gather
| demonstrated the interest the people feel in tbs
subject. Ats O'Clock Mr.. Jenkin Thomas re
sumed the chair, and Mr.. Levi Davis acted n,
with the assistant vice president seated
| ON the platform
The pending subject under consideration a
| the last meeting being the report OF the commit.
| tee on resolutions, Capt James H. Goddard a
| the request of the chairman. came forward and
| read the same for the information OF the an.
| dp nee.
The report of the committee appointed &c
| wait upon Congress and ask the suspension OF
action upon the District bills till the people OF
| Georgetown could express their views upon
| the matter having been called for. Mr.. VIM. IL
Tenney made a verbal statement 10 the effeci
| that he had called upon the two Senatorial au-
| thors of the bills providing for changes in the
| charters of the two cities, nd had assurances
| from them thai all reasonable time would b.
| given IN order 20 ascertain the wishes OF the
\ people.
| Loud calls were then made for Mr. Hyde.
| when that Gentleman came forward and de-
| lvered an able and earnest argument I'm favor
| Ofannexation and other proposed changes in
he District charters. In the examination of
the subj CT il had been his aim to select the bill
efore Congress which would best promo,e the
lnteres and pi osperiy OF the District but more
especially those of Georgetown. Both the
| Harlan and Morrill, bills were OF immense
| ength-one of one hundred and twenty bid
documentary pages. and the other Of Line.y-
KIN the preparation OF which he had under
derstood that over "a year had been cons umed.
MI. Hyde then read a synopsis which h. hid
prepar. OF the Harlan bill and extracts from the
Morrill, bill, commenting upon their different
features a. he proceeded. Neither of the bills
proposed 10 do much for Georgetown. but the
Harlan bill was perhaps most acceptable. from
the fact that provision was made for the public
schools. With reference to the um pton of A
proportion of the debts OF Washington in the
event OF annexation, he Thought 30 hold George
town, that had no water debt, responsible for a
share of the SlJ0.O0 due there for that improve
nent would be unjust. The principle. how
ever, of acquiring the extension of water priy-
iieges IN Washington be approved of, a. the tax
was only levied on the property of those citi-
zens living on the line of said Improvement
Mr.. Simms, be said. had cited the sale of a GER
tain piece OF property in Georgetown at a larger
price than the same could be sold at in some To-
cations in Washington, which he (Nr. Hyde)
could not concede AZ any argument in OPPOSE
ton To annex Ration; for, 10 his knowledge "A lot
OF ground near the Presidents House. which
was purchased some years ago at two and a
bali mills per foot. could not now De bons ht an
seventy five cents per foot
Mr. Simms replied thai IL the property he al
luded TO had been situated in Washington. .qui-
distant between the Presidents House and
Georgetown, he did not think such prtce
could have been Obtained. His remarks ON the
subject at the meeting of Monday night Were
only intended TO show that becauss sales of
property were not made in Washington, there
was no reason why the prices obtained should
be low.
Mr. Hyde then adverted to the statement Mr..
Simms had made that the scheme of annexation
had originated mainly among the land specu-
lators Of Washington, for their own personal
benefit; in refutation of which he read a memo
rial OF a number of citizens, heavy property
holders, protesting against the measure.
Mr.. Simms explained that his remarks on
this subject had particular reference TO the per-
sons he met al "A specified meeting in Washing
ton, which he had attended.
Mr.. Hyde next proceeded to review the ordi-
nary advantages which he thought would ac-
cIue TO Georgetown from annexation with
Washington, such as an enhancement in the
Naiue OF property. infusion OF a spirit OF enter
prise, greater influence it'll Congress in ob-
tanning appropriations. &c; and, above all. IL
would give us Commissioners, and thereby
avoid the nuisance of elections and conseque
adverse legislation and bad officers On this
point he was particularly emphatic. and
thought If the District had been placed in the
hands of Commissioners years ago. IL NNould
have been better. He was opposed 10 all mu-
nicipal elections. Give Congress control over
Georgetown and we would find il much easier
10 obtain appropriations for the channel, street
improvements, &c., and in every sense would
advantages accrue. The speaker deemed the
passage of one or the other of the two bills a
foresone conclusion, and thou ht il best Tor the
citizens Of Georgetown TO chose the best. As TO
the question OF annexation, he cared very little
whether Georgetown annexed TO Wash
ington or vtce rersd. For his part, he should
never object TO living under any properly gov
erned corporation bearing the name of Wash
ington.
Mr. Henry Addison next adcires seci th. meet,
ton TO Washington, and wan.ed nothing to do
with that community H. had lived in George
town for upwards ofseyenty year, and thought
he knew the people there we'll any man
living. The name of Georgetown should never
he Obliterated, nor her interests and prosperity
expunged and absorbed,as they would Le if an
ne Nation ensues. She could boast of the finest
colleges, seminaries. &c, in the world. and
wanted To be let alone. Mr.. Addison herr
branched of TO make a bitter assault upon Mr.
John L. Mitchell, of character soivfndictiye
and uncallpd for to occasion real
and modification 10 fair-minded men in the
audience. The text taken by Mr.. Addison for
this assault was the course of Mr.. Mitchell an
favoringa consolidation of the District CITIES and
the county, but the underlying cause for il was
understood TO be private luminosity on account
OF old election matters: He traced the genealo-
gy OF Mr.. Mitchell, referring TO the ocC upation
Of his father. and insinuated that the son had
grown inflated by prosperity. In the course of
his structures upon Mr.. Mtchelrs remarks at
the meeting ON Monday night, he expressed
much surprise at having heard that he had sug-
gested that none but property holders should
he allowed 10 vote. This brought Mr. NJ TO his
feet, but Mr.. Addison would not be- interrupted
ard continued ms remarks for some minutes
longer, striking right ana left against an
neNation all the advocates thereof. and The ar
guments used by them in support OF their posi-
tons.
Mr.. Mitchell followed Mr.. Addison in iavor
of annexation, and repelled the assaults which
had been made upon him "a citizen with much
dignity and force. He had listened with swell
ling pride TO what Mr. Addison had said in
praise of his father, but spurned the intination
that he himself had grown purse proud. ANY
one who asserted that he had become so. must
be actuated from feelings of personal malice.
He had a right 10 complain about being drag
ged before this meeting in this manner. His
course hli been consistent with honor and fair.
ness, and ne scorned the man who asserted TO
the contrary. He had invested i'm real estate
both in Georgetown and Washington. and be-
lieved that by annexation, properly i'm both
places would be rendered more valuable. There
every advantage 10 he gained by annrXa-
tiOn, and the people of Georgetown should ac-
cepL the situation. The changes proposed in
the charters met with his entire approval and
he Was encouraged from the fact THAI there
Were seven members Of the municipal govern
mt mt of Georgetown then present and in favor
Of the change, who year ago entertained
opposite views. If by consolidation We in
crease capital, just in the same proper
ton is the demand for labor enhanced
Capital and labor go hand i'm hand. and
the attempt 10 array the one against TN, other
should meet with no encouragement. Wash
ington and Georgetown should both be one
comm unity, and the consolidated twain should
be under the control and care of Con gre>s.
Congress should have the management Of ia.
District. make laws for its government. aud ap-
point Commissioners 10 execute it's affairs a.
prescribed by that body. All elections should
be done away with. The speaker then referred
tb.ar n.rEs no do NnI.