Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-28
GEORGETOWN.
Affairs In Geepsesswu.

y
the Georgetown Councils on Thursday night
last, meeting Of the citizens OF that place was
De ID last night at the New Market Hall. TO con-
slder the changes which are proposed TO D.
made In the District charter by the Harlan and
Morrlll bills, now pending before Congress.
The hall was crowded, and among those present
were large representation OF both branches Of
the corporate Councils Of Geo rgetown N, As we'll
as several prominent citizens of Wash ington.
The questions at issue were freely talked over
before the opening OF proceedings, the ad COATES
OF each side being so generally distributed about
the nall as 20 battle all calculation with any
thing like accuracy rs 70 the predominant sen
ument represented.
At a few minutes before s o'clock, Mr. Joseph
l.. Semmes called the meeting 10 order, and on
his motion, Mr.. Jenkin Thomas was elected
President On taking the chair, he read the
call OF the meeting, and stated that there werp
three propositions tor discussion. First the
retention OF The old Charter; second, the Nor
rlll bill; and third, the Harlan bill. He hoped
there would be- a free discusslo n, and that N .
debate would be conducted with good feeling
and fairness.
The following gentlemen We're chosen Vice
Presidents: First Precinct Captain james God
dard; Second Precinct, William Ii. Teun..v:
Third Precinct. James A. Donnelly; Fourth
Precinct, Henry NJ. Sweeney. Levi Davis
was appointed Secretary.
On motion, the Chair appointed Messrs
Henry Addison, J. ID. NcCinl and J. III. Dent.
committee 10 draft resolutions, and during
their absence Capt. James III. Goddard read
from the Georgetown Courier a memorial pr
scented to Congress one year ago against the
repeal OF the town charter. signed by Mp>sr~
Henry ID. Cooke, Henry Addison, Esau Pick
rell, &. NJ. Mathews, and w. H. Rohrer
The Committee On Resolutions having re-
turned TO the hall, submitted through the chair
man the following report, which was read by
Capt. James Goddard
Whereas measures are now pending IN the
Congress of the United States having in view
the abolition of the several municipalities OF
the District of Columbia, and the consolida-
ton OF the same into one government, either by
Federal Commissioners TO be- appointed by the
Pres ident and senate. or by a mayor and legiS-
iatiNe council, 10 be elected blythe peopI-; and
whereas in the opinion OF this meeting the
commercial and industrial interests of the peo-
pie of Georgetown being wholly distinct from
and antagonlstic 10 the interests Of Washing
ton, require for their protection and develop
ment the perpetuation of our present separate
and independent municipal authority: There
ResoIred, That we tax payers and voters of
Georg. town in mass meeting assembled, with
out distinction OF class or party. do hereby
earnestly but respectfully remonstrate against
the adoption by Congress OF any change in the
government of this District which would de-
prlye US OF the enjoyment of our amount OF
franchise as a separate and independent cor
poTatlon: and We humbly pray that inasmuch
rs we have never presumed TO interfere with
our neIghbors in the management OF their own
interests we may still be- permitted 10 govern
ourselves and 10 administer our own local
affairs under charter accorded TO our anc.S-
tiers in the past century. subject only To such
laws as Congress has enacted NAV in their
wisdom hereafter enact for our government
a distinct municipality.
ResoIred, That. thankful for past benefits
and fully recognizing the supreme and eNclu-
slye legislative authority OF Congress, under
the Federal Constitution, in and over this Dis
trici, the chairman of this meeting be requested
to appoint a select committee of three citizens
10 give expression to our wishes as above de-
clared by memorial 10 Congress or otherwise:
and that said committee be authorized Ia act
separately or IN injunction with a COMMITTEE.
appointed by the corporation, as they NAV think
most conducive to the accomplishment of the
objects herein proposed
On motion of Mr.. John NJ. STAKE, the report
was received
The following resolutions We're offered by
MI. &. NJ. Mathews, as an amendment to the
above.
Resolred, That committee of three cItizans
be- appointed by the chair to ask of Congress a
suspension of action upon all pending bills
latng TO a change IN our mode of government
till the people of this town can. by a special
election, make known their wishes in the
premises
Resolred, That the Corporate authorities of
Georgetown be, and they are hereby, requested
TO order special election TO ascertain TIL sense
OF the people upon the question of a change IN
our mode of municipal government: aud the
secretary of this meeting l. hereby directed TO
certify these resolutions 10 the Mayor. To be bV
him communicated TO the Board of Aldermen
and Board OF Common Council for their ac-
ton.
Mr.. A. Hyde having been called on declined
speaking AT that time, he had not had time 10
procure sufficient data TO make such an arru-
ment IA the subject demanded. That he might
have an opportunity 10 respond to Ih- call
which had been made upon HIM, ne would NOV.
that when this meeting ad jourr 1t be - Monday
night next.
Capt. Goddard and Mr.. Henry Addison op-
posed adjournment ull late a time. ana
hoped Mr.. Hyde would agree TO an earlier
meeting. There was no time 10 lose, and il
We want for r week Congress may think us
trifing, and pass one or the other of the bills
which had been presented.
Mr.. Hyde withdrew his motion, and the
meeting then adopted a motion for an adjourned
meeting on Wednesday night.
DIR. &. II. Cragin being called on, said the res
olutions which had been offered did not meet
with his approval. He believed that the wei
fare and prosperity of Georgetown might b..
materially enhanced by consolidation and union
with Washington, for various reasons. In the
first place, there was no more reason why
Georgetown should have an independent gov
eminent than that each of the respective ward
OF Washington should, the maintenance OF
which greatly increased the expenses. liz l.
true, that local management WAS morr satisfac-
tory, but thea IL was more costly. Benefits
would accrue from consolidation. BY anneNa-
ton, our merchants would only have 10 pro-
cure one license. which would enutle them TO
do business in Washington. while now
two are required, which throw restric-
tions upon trade. Here our market IL
too small, and 10y the change the field
would be enlarged without additional cost.
ofmutual benefit. Again, Washington being the
capital of the nation casts Georgetown Oft from
many advantages which would be en- loyed wcr-
she part of the same Corporation. If ANY an
tagonism between the two places arises lt IL b,-
cause Washington Is the capital and Washing
ton had advantages because of the special legis-
lation in her favor. References had been made
by the opponents of annexation TO the heavy
debt of Washington, but when We consider the
difference in population, and that the actual
debt OF Georgetown Is upwards OF S2uOE.
while that of Washington is less than one mil
lion, il will be seen that the debt OF Georgetown
is much the greatest of the two. by the con-
solldation OF the two debts the burden of paw
ment would fall much lighter upon Georgr-
town. If Georgetown was part of Washing
ton more influence could toe exercised with
Congress in obtaining appropriations, anu per-
mission for the removal of many Instructions
TO our prosperity, ana would offer induce
me nts for securing trade which are not now en-
loyed. If a part of Washington ther- would
be no hndrance TO the erection of public build
ings in Georgetown. Congress would extend
the Improvements OF the capital here: work
would be given the unemployed; our beautiful
heights would become more desirable. and in
ducemen would bee offered 10 residents To live
here. The speaker WAS unable 10 see how
nexation with. Washington could in any way
operate TO the injury of Georgetown.
Mr.. VIM. III. Tenney said ne had lived i'm
Georgetown over halfa century, and was too
old now TO favor changes. Georgetown would
gain nothing good by annexation 10 Washington
The proposed alterations would convert two
cities into one, the reasons for which, As sci
m